The Adarrots folk group consists of 7 people from Ibarrezkerra. Iñigo Espiña (violin), Iñigo Carballo (alboka) and sendoa Gil (percusión) have been in charge of reviewing the tenth anniversary of the band and the disco-book he has edited, Adarraren Hotsa, on this subject.

They met for the first time in 2004 to enliven a meal in Ortuella, and since then, despite the changes that members of the group have experienced, Adarrots has made his music endure. “In these 10 years we’ve had a lot of things happening,” Sendoa Gil recalls. Among others, they have published a model and two albums, Haizekada (2009), Zazpi dut (2012) and the most recent, Adarraren Hotsa (2014), all self-produced by the group itself.

They use instruments of traditional Basque music (alboka, txirula or kaxoia), combining them with other instruments (violin, clarinet or guitar). But “we adapt them to our own way,” says Iñigo Carballo, the group’s albokaris. “We started making versions, playing songs of traditional Basque music or known Basque musicians, but at one point we decided to start making our own songs,” the albokari continued. “And we took a step further, from bars and small concerts to big venues,” says Iñigo Espiña, violinist.

In 2009, Adarrots' friends won the award to the new groups at the well-known Folk Mendebala Festival and thanks to the award they recorded their first CD: Vendaval. Also at the Eurofolk Festival in Córdoba (Spain) he was awarded the prize and opened the door to the international projection. In Portugal, Italy and Ireland they were also offered live. “For us it was very important, because we had the opportunity to take Basque music out. But we were surprised that in a festival like the one in Spain a group that sings in Euskera was awarded.”

Commitment to self-production

Although the first album was produced by the Mendebala festival, which was its prize, the following two albums have been self-produced by themselves. “With the recorded Haizekada album we talked to several record labels, but seeing how things were, we decided to make the next album on our own,” says Carballo. “You only have to look at the situation in which groups like us find themselves, to realize that the role of the label is not so necessary. It’s important for us to start with creativity and control the whole process,” said Espiña.

They have departed from traditional Basque music, but Adarrots has opted for the updating of old melodies. “We play traditional songs and rhythms from Euskal Herria but at the same time we try to create our own songs,” says Sendoa Gil. “It’s a music we’ve created ourselves. However, as we use the instruments of traditional Basque music, the alboka, etc., it gives us that traditional touch. The songs on the last album, for example, are all created by ourselves. However, most of the time we use traditional rhythms (arin-arin or dances), those structures are at the base of the songs,” explains Iñigo Carballo. As for the creation, “Iñigo is part of the melody of alboka, to which each contributes, adding layers,” continues the violinist.

Basque music on the left margin

“From the beginning we decided to create in Basque. In our region, on the left, singing in Basque is not usual. It's hard, and we didn't get a lot of people there. However, in the Left Margin there are more and more Euskaldunes and more and more Euskera are heard. Thanks to the militancy of many people,” the albokari explained. “Our team is a reflection of this situation. On the left side there are Euskaldunzaharras, Euskaldunberris, in the process of Euskaldunization and people who do not know Euskera. In our group the same thing happens.”

Adarrots' latest album, Adarraren Hotsa, is not just a record, but a book-record that commemorates the 10th anniversary of the band. “We wanted to tell our story,” says Iñigo Carballo. This paper consists of three formats: DVD with the documentary that explains the trajectory of the group; CD with 10 songs of the last years, one for each year, plus 4 new songs showing the development of the group; and, finally, a 40-page notebook, with photos of the group and some reflections. The direct of Adarrots shows the three formats, as in the concert you can also see the documentary and photos.

Among the most important friends and companions Adarrots has made in these years are Asier Erzilla and Unai González, Kepa Junkera’s usual sound technicians, among others. All records that have been recorded since the first album, Haizekada, have been recorded in the Balea studies. “In its beginnings, above all, Asier’s assistance was fundamental. He taught us how to produce and record the album,” according to Sendoa Gil. “Their welcome and complicity has always been total,” says Espiña. Unai González himself collaborates in the direct as a technician, “and that is very important because he knows well what the sound of the group is,” according to the violinist.

“The new album Adarraren Hotsa reflects very well the character and development of the group. We have made the wish a reality. With this album we wanted to close a period of 10 years, and we wanted to put everything we learned in this way into practice,” said Iñigo Albokaria. It will be the tour of Euskal Herria that will witness the main news of the day.