Estamos de vuelta! We`re soo back.
Un otoño más retomamos con ilusión nuestra actividad epistolar y lo hacemos con un invitado mágico. Disfrutad sus cuatro recomendaciones ︎
"Vive con tu siglo, pero no seas su hechura."
Friedrich Schiller
We're soo back!
This autumn, we eagerly resume our letter correspondence, and we're doing so with a magical guest. Enjoy his four recommendations ︎
"Live with your century, but don't be its creation."Friedrich Schiller
Hola, me presento:
Nací en Donosti en 1968. Vivo en Madrid desde el año 97.
En 1984 empecé a publicar un fanzine y conocí a Teresa Iturrioz, que se había comprado un bajo de segunda mano y quería formar un grupo. Teresa es la persona de la que más he aprendido. Al principio probamos a hacer canciones con dos bajos, pero en vista del resultado yo me pasé a la guitarra. Decidimos llamarnos Aventuras de Kirlian.
En 2024 publiqué mi cuarto disco en solitario, Claros del Bosque, seguido este mismo año desu versión extensa, Nubes y Claros.
En esos cuarenta años que hubo en medio he grabado con Aventuras, Le Mans, Daily Planet, Single e Instrümental, he sacado cuatro discos en solitario y he producido también a otros músicos, como Carlos Berlanga o Nosoträsh. No tengo formación musical, toco de oído.
La música nunca me ha dado dinero de forma estable, salvo unos cuantos años que me dediqué a componer para anuncios de la tele. Es el trabajo mejor pagado que he tenido, lo malo es que no me gustaba nada. Desde que lo dejé me he ganado la vida como traductor.
Antes, de joven, trabajé cuatro años de camarero en un hotel de Londres, y luego en la tienda madrileña de Loreak Mendian. He hecho más cosas, pero creo que eso es lo principal.
Aquí van mis cuatro recomendaciones:
Hi,
I was born in Donosti in 1968. I’ve been living in Madrid since 1997. In 1984 I started publishing a fanzine and met Teresa Iturrioz, who had bought a second-hand bass and wanted to start a band. Teresa is the person I’ve learned the most from. At first, we tried writing songs with two basses, but after seeing how that went, I switched to guitar. We decided to call ourselves Aventuras de Kirlian.
In 2024 I released my fourth solo album, Claros del Bosque, followed this same year by its extended version, Nubes y Claros.
During the forty years in between, I recorded with Aventuras, Le Mans, Daily Planet, Single, and Instrümental; I’ve released four solo albums and also produced other musicians such as Carlos Berlanga and Nosoträsh. I have no formal musical training — I play by ear.
Music has never given me a steady income, except for a few years when I composed jingles for TV commercials. It was the best-paid job I’ve ever had, but the problem was I didn’t like it at all. Since quitting that, I’ve made a living as a translator.
Before that, when I was young, I worked for four years as a waiter in a London hotel, and later at the Loreak Mendianshop in Madrid. I’ve done other things too, but those are the main ones.
ITEM #1 No consumir productos de empresas implicadas en la política genocida de Israel
Porque algo hay que hacer.
- Guía del BDS para boicotear y seleccionar empresas para campañas de presión | BDSMovement
- Listado productos ampliado
Do not consume products from companies involved in Israel’s genocidal policies
Because something has to be done.
- BDS Guide for boycotting and selecting companies for pressure campaigns | BDS Movement
- Extended list of products
Item #2 Deshacerse de cosas
Hay a quien le gusta acumular y coleccionar cosas; a mí me pasa lo contrario. Cuando estoy aburrido, me doy una vuelta por la casa buscando cosas quepueda tirar o vender, y siempre encuentro algo. Aunque es verdad que para eso hay que acumular primero ;)
***
Getting rid of things
Some people like to accumulate and collect stuff; I’m the opposite. When I’m bored, I wander around the house looking for things I can throw away or sell — and I always find something.
Although, it’s true you have to accumulate first for that to work ;)
Some people like to accumulate and collect stuff; I’m the opposite. When I’m bored, I wander around the house looking for things I can throw away or sell — and I always find something.
Although, it’s true you have to accumulate first for that to work ;)
ITEM #3 Los libros de J. R. Ackerley
Es un escritor inglés de la primera mitad del siglo XX que escribió cinco novelas, todas autobiográficas, con títulos como Mi perra Tulip, Mi padre y yo o Mi hermana y yo. Se encuentran fácilmente en español y son todas estupendas, aunque si no se ha leído nada de él, yo no empezaría con Vacación hindú; antes leería alguna de las que he citado antes. Lo que no está en español son sus diarios, muy amenos, que me encantaría traducir si alguien se animara a publicarlos.
***
The books of J. R. Ackerley
He was an English writer from the first half of the 20th century who wrote five autobiographical novels, with titles such as My Dog Tulip, My Father and Myself, and My Sister and Myself. They’re easy to find in Spanish, and they’re all wonderful, although if you’ve never read him, I wouldn’t start with Hindoo Holiday — I’d read one of the others I just mentioned first.
What hasn’t been translated into Spanish are his diaries, which are very enjoyable — I’d love to translate them if anyone were interested in publishing them.
He was an English writer from the first half of the 20th century who wrote five autobiographical novels, with titles such as My Dog Tulip, My Father and Myself, and My Sister and Myself. They’re easy to find in Spanish, and they’re all wonderful, although if you’ve never read him, I wouldn’t start with Hindoo Holiday — I’d read one of the others I just mentioned first.
What hasn’t been translated into Spanish are his diaries, which are very enjoyable — I’d love to translate them if anyone were interested in publishing them.
ITEM #4 Las películas de Tsai Ming-Liang
A este director chino-malayo lo he mencionadomucho últimamente porque me inspiré en su «walker series» (películas en las que un monje camina en silencio por las calles de distintas ciudades) para los vídeos de Claros del Bosque/Nubes y Claros, mi último disco. Pero también tiene películas más asequibles, aunque siempre muy contemplativas y con planos bastante largos: entre mis favoritas están El río (1997), Days (2020), Goodbye, Dragon Inn (2003), The Hole (1998) y No quiero dormir solo (2006).
Casualmente, su próxima película walker la ha rodado en Donosti (!)
***
The films of Tsai Ming-Liang
I’ve been mentioning this Chinese-Malaysian director a lot lately because I was inspired by his Walker Series — films in which a monk walks silently through the streets of different cities — for the videos accompanying Claros del Bosque / Nubes y Claros, my latest album.
But he’s also made more accessible films, though they’re always contemplative and feature rather long takes. Some of my favorites are The River (1997), Days (2020), Goodbye, Dragon Inn (2003), The Hole (1998), and I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone (2006). Coincidentally, he’s just filmed his latest Walker movie in Donosti (!)
I’ve been mentioning this Chinese-Malaysian director a lot lately because I was inspired by his Walker Series — films in which a monk walks silently through the streets of different cities — for the videos accompanying Claros del Bosque / Nubes y Claros, my latest album.
But he’s also made more accessible films, though they’re always contemplative and feature rather long takes. Some of my favorites are The River (1997), Days (2020), Goodbye, Dragon Inn (2003), The Hole (1998), and I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone (2006). Coincidentally, he’s just filmed his latest Walker movie in Donosti (!)
