Ipar Haizea marks Kepa Junkera’s first symphonic approach. The project brings together eight emblematic works from his career, reinterpreted instrumentally alongside the Euskadiko Orkestra Sinfonikoa. The trikitixa, alboka, pandero and txalaparta intertwine with classical instruments, creating a natural dialogue between tradition and academic music. Kepa describes the album as “an encounter between diverse musical influences, where some songs evoke classical sounds, others move towards contemporary language or even recall film soundtracks.”

The recording took place in August 2011 in a makeshift studio set up at the OSE headquarters in Miramon, Donostia, and the album was released in March 2012 accompanied by a tour across the main cities of southern Euskal Herria within the KlasikAT concert cycle. The concert programme faithfully followed the sequence of the album, with Kepa leading on triki and percussion, while Argibel Euba and Iñigo Olazabal contributed txalaparta, pandero, alboka and other traditional instruments.

The arrangements were created by Frédéric Manoukian, while the orchestra was conducted by Enrique Ugarte, a musician from Tolosa based in Munich, experienced in bringing diverse languages such as jazz into the symphonic universe. The project represented a challenge: a self-taught trikitilari facing a large ensemble of academically trained musicians. Yet Kepa achieves a balanced interaction: sometimes the orchestra subtly accompanies him, while at other moments it dominates the musical discourse with the trikitilari remaining in the background. Kepa points out: “We created small borders between classical and traditional music. I value their work and, in turn, they value the freshness of mine,” adding that he enjoyed “complete freedom in both the pieces and the arrangements.”

Iñigo Alberdi, general director of the OSE, highlighted the orchestra’s motivation in approaching different rhythms and harmonies: “Everything is music, both the popular and the symphonic.” The album’s title, Ipar Haizea (“Northern Wind”), emerged from an experience Kepa had after recording, while walking towards his car: “The cool and humid northern air brings energy, the smell of freshly cut grass and the scent of afternoon snacks, reminding me of the force of the wind in our latitudes.”

The repertoire combines classic compositions by Kepa such as “Zolloko San Martinak & Huriondo”, “Bok-Espok”, “Señora moça”, “Gaztelugatxeko martxa”, “Bihar arte” and “Madagaskar” with more recent works such as “Berhueta” and “Hiri”. The eight tracks exceed one hour in length, with expansive developments and highly detailed arrangements and performances that give the album an epic and cinematic atmosphere.

Record label: Infernuko Auspoa & Hiri Records. Production: Kepa Junkera.