Triki up was Kepa Junkera’s second album and was released in September 1990, following his return to the Euskal Herriko Trikitixa Txapelketa (the Basque Country Trikitxa Competition) —where he had achieved third place in 1988— and after collaborating on several albums, including two by Oskorri, two by Tapia eta Leturia, and one by the rock band Naste Borraste, originally from the San Ignacio neighbourhood of Bilbao. He had also composed the song for the 1987 Ibilaldia (a Basque school festival) in Zornotza, further consolidating his presence within the Basque music scene..

Imanol Urkizu, singer and pandero player from Orio, took over Motriku’s position after the latter moved to Catalonia to continue his studies. Imanol recalls that during a village festivity in Betelu (Navarre), Kepa played them the demos that would later become the album: “Zabaleta and I were really surprised because the style was completely different from what we were doing.” Even today he revisits the album from time to time, sometimes using pieces from it in his pandero lessons, and insists that “that album broke many taboos within the world of trikitixa; in my opinion, it remains one of Kepa’s most complete works.”

The repertoire combines ten compositions based on traditional rhythms with three freer pieces closer to jazz: “Erdiko geltokia”, “Bera” —where Imanol Urkizu’s voice meets that of Itxaso González— and “Untzihaitz”, which carries hints of bossa nova. According to Javi Alzola, the album’s saxophonist, the recordings began with Bixente, Anton and Txarli from Oskorri, whom Kepa greatly admired, accompanied by Aitor Landeta on drums and Alzola himself on saxophones and flute. Alberto Rodríguez later joined to complete the definitive line-up. Javi recalls that the aim was to create a different sound, integrating the triki into the band while alternating solos and arrangements with jazz influences —a process that demanded extensive rehearsals and collective effort.

Coming from the jazz world and with experience singing alongside Amaya Uranga and Gontzal Mendibil, Itxaso González contributed the first female voice ever featured on a Kepa album with the song “Bera”. As she recalls, the recording process was slightly unconventional: “Kepa gathered us all in the studio, we listened to the song, tested the vocals, defined the different parts and Jean Phocas encouraged us to record directly. I think this way of working gave the track freshness and naturalness.” All compositions were performed by the full band and enriched with keyboards by Frédéric Gaillardet and MIDI programming by accordionist Joxan Goikoetxea. Kepa continued collaborating with lyricist Xabier Amuriza on “Akelarretik Josapatera”, while also turning to the young bertsolari Jon Sarasua for “Bera”, “Espetxea” and “Zer espero”, addressing themes ranging from love to reflections on prison life and employment uncertainty, thus breaking new thematic ground. The cover photograph, taken by Mikel Alonso in Barakaldo, shows Kepa serious in the foreground while Imanol and Zabaleta smile behind him, captured during a break between a soundcheck and the concert.

Record label: Elkar. Production: Kepa Junkera.