BIME 2024: Basque. Music.

Montana is an indie-rock band from Bilbao known for their ability to blend diverse musical influences into a distinctive sound. Rober Une, Guillermo Shelly, Ekain Alzola, Dani Thomas and Jon Fresko have crafted an elegant musical experience, featuring incisive lyrics and a continual drive to push musical boundaries. Their first album, ‘Sin la red’, was mixed by Rafa Sardina, renowned producer and winner of 18 Latin Grammy awards.

In the last two months, Montana have presented two singles, ‘Me Sienta Bien’, selected number 1 in Los 40 Principales Euskadi, and ‘Tú’, a collaboration with Gabriel de la Rosa, vocalist from Shinova. ‘Tú’ has gained thousands of listens and has also been selected number 1 in Los 40 Principales Euskadi.

La Furia is the musical brainchild of Nerea Lorón Díaz. In one decade and four albums (‘No hay clemencia’, 2013; ‘Vendaval’, 2017; ‘Pecadora Volumen I’, 2019; ‘Post Mortem’, 2022), La Furia has grown in consciousness, tenderness, order and irony. Joy has emerged, but rage remains a defining characteristic. Now, a deep sadness that fills her voice and flow paves the way for a new era – one that will begin now and end, like everything else, when she decides. It is a new stage that is not – nor does she intend it to be – outside her own time. Her next album is set to be released at the end of 2024.

The post-pandemic period was left behind when Unai Madariaga (vocals/guitar) released his first solo album. From that experience, and from the synergy with Eneko Ajangiz (guitar) as producer, EZEZEZ was born. Within weeks, Álvaro Olaetxea (Capsula) joined on drums and Mikel Irigoyen on bass.

In 2022 they released their first album: ‘When I Think Something is Funny, I Smile’. With just one album released, they have already attracted the attention of the music press, receiving an 8/10 review from Mondosonoro.

Do-it-yourself militancy and an overflowing creativity meant that by December 2023 the band’s second LP, ‘Katuzaldia’, was out. Once again, recording, mixing and mastering by the band themselves. And yes, editing too.

EZEZEZ define a sound and image that, with this second album, comes across as much more powerful. Influences? How about Parquet Courts, Viagra Boys or Idles? Although we could go on with stylistic extras that trace a timeline from the nostalgia of 70s psychedelia to 90s grunge. All of this is powered by the strength of punk, liberated from stigmas through melodies and a completely contemporary theme.

As Ruta 66 defines it, ‘a punk video game, inspired by the underground of Bilbao´s most beautiful arts: iron, river and rust’.