[ad_1]
In the 2020 calendar of La Oreja de Van Gogh there was a tour of the United States these days. Also the premiere of the song ‘Hug me’, from the album that are about to be released. Pablo Benegas, guitarist of the group, says that before the quarantine they had already chosen that theme, although their lyrics now sound very pertinent.
With ‘Abrázame’, the era of ‘Planeta imaginario’, the album that is already four years old, is behind us and another stage in a musical career of more than 25 years by the pop group from San Sebastián (Spain) known for hits like ‘Rosas’, ‘La playa’ or ‘Jueves’.
The five members of LOVG (thus abbreviating their name) are sheltered in their homes and since March they did not meet again. They could not even record the video for ‘Hug Me’, which must have been animated to come out, and they did not meet to give interviews about its release in the media. Each member – Xabi San Martín, Álvaro Fuentes, Haritz Garde, Pablo Benegas and vocalist Leire Martínez – attended separate telephone interviews with world media. It was the opportunity to speak with Benegas.
“The first two years of Planeta imaginario we were on tour and the next two, writing the new album,” said the guitarist. For us, songs are the most important thing and we dedicate the time they need. Until we have the album and feel that we have given everything, we don’t release it. And we know that it is against the current of how the industry is going, in which they continually release songs. We have other times, we can afford it. ”
Can there be pressure watching others premiere almost every two weeks?
This is how we understand this. For us, music is not a business, nor do we care about the challenges of the industry. Writing songs is transmitting emotions, telling experiences, undressing. It is sincere. So it doesn’t matter the pace of the rest. We know that we are not risking our lives on each album, that we are enjoying the journey and we have no goals to overcome. In 25 years we have lived everything in music and we want to continue enjoying dedicating ourselves to music. We feel privileged for it.
What is the story of ‘Hug Me’?
We locked ourselves in the rehearsal room we have in San Sebastián to write and it was the first song we wrote. It tells the story of a love that takes time. Those who have had a long relationship know what wear and tear entails, routine. But the lyrics are hopeful in the sense that they love each other so much that they know that together they can succeed.
Who brought inspiration?
We make the songs between the five of us. We are testing, we are giving opinions, we are changing, until we get to where we want. Everything passes through everyone’s hands. We learned to compose in the group, so it became our way of making songs.
What was left in suspense when the isolation began?
We had just finished recording the album. We would have to be packing our bags to go on tour to the United States, we had a month of concerts there. Then a summer season in Spain. It was going to be a year of touring and launching.
And look where we are: living a tremendous situation, because a moment as exciting as delivering a new song to the audience becomes bittersweet, with contained emotion and concern. There are people fighting for their lives, that changes the perspective of everything. We are also separated. It is the first time that we launch without being together, without seeing what we feel and without that complicity of so many years. It is a rare moment.
To write songs is to transmit emotions, to get naked. It is sincere. So it doesn’t matter the pace of the rest. We know that we are not risking our lives on each album, that we are enjoying the journey
What brand will this emergency leave in music?
It is early to guess the future, it is the most worrying of all. We have broken reality and so it is difficult to try to understand what follows. So we don’t put a face on it. I can’t imagine what our next concert will be like. We are in the process of understanding and shaping everything. This will be one of the sectors that will later revert to normality. You will suffer. In return, it is wonderful to see how the culture sector has turned to understanding the need of people to cope with the situation: cinema, literature and music have turned to give content to people.
What moments have marked LOVG the most?
The first times are the most beautiful of the group: our first concert, a local award that we received when we had our first demo. The first concert with Leire (Martínez). And with it, another award in San Sebastián, the Golden Drum, which they give to those who bear the name of the city throughout the world. But I dare say that the most beautiful moments have been private, due to the complicity we have. We say that the LOVG story is not about music, it is about friendship.
The first concert with Leire … were you afraid of the comparison with Amaia Montero?
No. Leire gave us back many first times after the entire stage with Amaia in which we experienced tremendous success. We were going at a speed impossible to assimilate. We were a little anesthetized with what was happening, I don’t know if it was a form of protection or if we were dying of success.
When Leire arrived, we returned to those values and reasons why we had come together more than ten years earlier. It made us regain the sense of being together. It gave us freshness. It was suddenly a new world. We acted as hosts and she rejuvenated us and gave us back many first times.
LILIANA MARTÍNEZ POLO
On twitter: @Lilangmartin
[ad_2]
