Kepa Junkera

Published by DEIA, Jan. 26, 2012

Einstein said that “imagination is more important than knowledge” and I totally agree with that statement. Many times, though necessary, limited knowledge restricts our evolution in many ways of life and it is the imagination and its development, because of the lack aforementioned before, what makes us explore and achieve new talents and goals that could even seem impossible. The shortcomings pushes us to fight and conquer what we want and the abundance invites us to a more comfortable life but far less rewarding.

In the history of our “trikitixa” it also has been going through different eras until reaching us today and enjoying a more than promising future filled with stunning quality interpreters. But I really enjoy looking back and remembering past times where the trikitilaris, people who were mostly related to the fieldworkers and in their spare time would practice with some old triki. Searching its secrets slowly in conquering, always under the yoke of “hit-error” the function and the soul of this incredible instrument. Last week died one of those “heroes” who fought in another time, lack of schools, books, accordions of thousands of dollars but who replaced them all with enthusiasm, imagination and desire. Jose Mari Soraluze Epelde, born in 1941 in the valley of Martirieta, Azkoitia, and even though his father and grandfather were dulzaineros, Epelde chose the triki as a tool to express what he wanted. Together with his brother they performed in countless plazas and pilgrimages but always when their work in the fields permitted them and with no doubt having a proper style, as in all the eras, it was their hallmark.

The lack of a school, of a guide, made all those who learned to play on their own, had no choice but to develop a personal way of interpreting, creating a huge variety of styles, because the absence pushes to conquer and the way for the conquest always find his award.

Gurekin Beti, Agur Epelde!

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Published by DEIA, Jan. 19, 2012

The huge Himalayan Mountains rises into the sky challenging the man who tries to conquer it. Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Annapurna, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Everest are some impressive peaks of the Himalayas that have become the focus of countless hikers and mountaineers from around the world, seeking adventure, risk, and overcoming, sometimes even finding death.

But as famous as the names I mentioned above is also the people who have linked their existence and way of life to these mountains, The Sherpa. That is the name of these people who live at the center and south of the Himalayas who for years have worked in each of the mountaineering expeditions organized for the conquest of one of the many giant mountains that populate this area.

I recently read an article about this town that caught my attention. Most Sherpa live in the eastern region of Nepal and it is estimated that today there is about 180,000 worldwide, spread across China, Tibet, Nepal and India. Their skill at crossing through challenging mountains and the continuous contact with Western culture has shaped their way of life completely in the past they were farmers and traders.

Since the last century have been requested to accompany the mountaineers in their adventures through the most rugged place of the planet showing not only showing toughness or skill but mental strength that is amazing in which drives and allows these people, short in stature with a huge heart, to achieve feats and always from a subtle way.

How many people have crossed the enormous crater of anonymity on tiptoe having been instrumental in the achievement of a desired company?

If for centuries they have venerated their great sacred mountains as home of the gods, today the Sherpa help anyone brave who wants to conquer for a moment, the spectacular views that the gods jealously guard their mansions and everything under the humility and sweetness of calling themselves “the tigers of the mountains.”

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Published by DEIA, Jan. 12, 2012

We’re so used to hearing that this or that species, animal or plant,

has had to change their eating habits, his way of prosecutors and even his way of life, due to the changes that we, humans, caused in the world. No wonder we talk about industrial restructuring or profesional recycling, and it doesn´t strikes us to reflect on the evolution and personal development of the individual but, instead, with all the people with whom I discussed the matter we have before us have been amazed at the result of our history.

Valloria is a village situated at the western end of the Italian Riviera, the Mediterranean Sea. Here as in many other villages had held a mass exodus of young people to cities in the hope of a better life. Angelo Balestra was one of those that left their home to seek work in the big city and especially in Milan. Every time he returned home he would break down. Of the hundreds inhabitants the village had now there were only 30 elderly, more and more old houses, full of cracks, leaky roofs, etc. Angelo and a few friends took action on the matter and created an association called “The three sources”, in charge of raising funds to repair homes and buildings and to build a small museum. So, after some initiatives they thought that they had to wake Valloria up from it´s slumber: Why not use the doors of the abandoned buildings as murals where paint artist and local artists work to convert the town into something like an open art gallery?

Said and done. The success of the idea has been so enormous that even painters from the United States, Germany, Switzerland and Ireland have asked to participate in what has been called the Village of Painted Doors. Now not only did it increased in population but Valloria is also a place that attracts business and tourism. Art is not only the capacity of expression, but also holds the magic of the human soul capable of transforming loneliness and death into a gathering and into life.

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Published by DEIA, Jan. 5, 2012

How many secrets holds our planet? What life processes are hidden in each and every corner of this small living greenhouse called Earth? On many occasions, and after noticing a shocking amazing episode of nature, I think that there must be countless of unique events taking place around us and for various reasons they remain unknown or far away from our knowledge.

Not long ago, a BBC team working on the documentary series FROZEN PLANET directed by David Attenborough, has managed to record a historical event in images, something absolutely fascinating. The challenge was to film for the first time a phenomenon that only occurs in very cold-water. The truth is that there is a moment in which a portion due to the cold-water freezes creating an ice wrap around it that freezes everything. That layer of ice slowly but steadily falls due to the density of salt until hitting the bottom of the sea, at which at that point the path continues along the surface freezing anything it touches including any form, whether it is alive or not, anything that crosses its path. This phenomenon, never before filmed, is known by the name of Brinicle. The recording took place on the island of Razorback taking advantage of its geographical position is more likely to form Brinicles, the team had to work very hard, because all this discovery forced them to repeat again and again dives without knowing if they have achieved what they were looking for. Finally, after long periods under water, they achieved what more they desired, images showing once again the countless treasures of our home, Earth, which holds the most fascinating life forms and the most amazing natural processes.

Healthy envy is what I call the feeling I have when imagining the adventure of this team of people who had the courage and boldness to embark on such a project when no one before had done it. What a treat to experience it in person!

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Published by DEIA, Dec. 15, 2011

The flow of life fits the different events perfectly, like if it is a puzzle of million pieces in question. Thus, events that happen in our lives that at first we dislike and represent major disappointments, after some time, we see that it fits perfectly in our destiny, as if it wasn’t possible to live at that present moment.

In Germany I just found a curious case that has made me meditate about these thoughts I have come to. The Death Strip is the name of a large nature reserve that’s along the now defunct borders between the two Germanys, the East and West, is the example of this. Half a century ago Germany was divided into two and the 1,400-km. border that was build with barbed wire, mines, booby traps and plenty of soldiers that kept people from escaping the eastern to the western side. Well, in this oasis of peace where nobody wanted to step out because of the fear of reprisals, becomes to develop new ways of life and it’s amazing.
This green belt is now home to 600 endangered species becoming one of the most attractive places in Germany if we talk about enjoying nature.

Life always wins lost ground, abandoned illusions or even parts of the human soul that now lay sleeping. War, conflicts, hatred… are sometimes the most unexpected evolution engine, and in some cases, and only in some, are the beginning of a required destination that some times, like in this one amazes everyone.

Maybe one day, instead of speaking of a particular geographical location, we will end up describing the general state of the planet.  The question is if we will be in it or not.  I bet so, but that alone doesn’t mean much.  We have to be part of the change and not the guilty part.  Let’s go for it!

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Published by DEIA, Dec. 8, 2011

Sometimes the simplest is the most expensive and the projects that are simple on a technical level and of its necessary infrastructure become difficult to fulfill desires.

I’m not going to tell here all the “strange” coincidences that happened in order to work together Rolando Luna in Habana Sessions, but it is true that when one finishes a job and enjoys the result,  you can’t imagine of having finished it any other way. The young pianist, arranger and composer Rolando Luna is one of those extraordinary Cuban musicians with an incredible talent. Together we recorded our live performance of the themes in the CD HABANA SESSIONS.
It is very comforting to perform with a band behind you, with many musicians, where the music takes its maximum physical dimension. But I have also experienced times when playing with another wonderful musician where we could create and inspire each other’s talent. For years I have tried to get this strange connection to export and what I wanted to express, reflect and record in Habana Sessions. Next week I will fulfill the dream of bringing it all together in direct. Vienna on 12 and 13^th of December, the 14^th of Dec. in Bilbao and the 15^th of Dec. in Barcelona will be the places and dates of this special tour. A meeting between Rolando Luna and I, no frills, no tricks, in direct contact with the public, a few meters away, alone, with a piano and a triki, without shades of instruments, only with hands that nude rhythms and melodies,  natural, gather together the right ingredients to create a soft and delicate soufflé filled musical magic.

Habana Sessions is the result of an inner need to feel the closeness of the public to experience an intimate encounter free of the thousands of watts and visual effects. A return to the essence, the original of a meeting of two musicians who could well be in the hall of any of our homes. A cocktail of scents, emotions and feelings which the icing is put by all those who own the moment: the public.

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Published by DEIA, Nov. 24, 2011-11-28

From my point of view there are two ways in coming to a conclusion. One is from knowledge, from the wisdom learned through studies, collaboration, etc., and the other is through intuition. Many times it so happens that someone all of a sudden is able to explain to by means of proofs, with proven acts, what many of us considered to see or to peek thanks to our intuition and our experience in life.
Listening to the radio I hear an interview with Dr. Mario Alonso Puig in relation to his book “Reinventarse” (Reinventing). In it the author discusses many issues that would be able to write hundreds of columns, but among all of them, I would highlight the importance of words and emotions. To make it short, Mario Alonso Puig reveals, in his book the true value of what one hears, of what one says, of what we think and how all this interacts with our emotions to slowly build up you innermost being.

The process of making the human being is a complex according to the author and, no doubt, depends on many factors. One of the most important is related to people, environments and trends around the individual. If the person is surrounded by people who love them, positive experiences and is able to hold his or her life trying potentiating the kind or more human side of him or herself, more easily will he or she achieve the goals and desires that yearns since, probably they make better use of their  potential.

Instead, those who are surrounded by negative people, ideas and conclusions generate dark feelings; greatly limiting their own being, and therefore, your chances of becoming what they really want. Emotions such as anger, resentment or jealousy generate states of blaming others but conclude affecting both those who experience it and often subject to major changes in the hormonal balance.

Expressing the positive and throwing the negative away is as important as for who gives as well as for the person that receives.

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Published by DEIA, Nov. 17, 2011

Rightly or wrongly we all try to stretch the most of our youth. Health, energy and, above all, the illusion that surrounds us are the hallmarks of it. Not many years ago a 60 year-old person was considered old and was beginning to cease certain daily activities. Today, I guess it could be because of our way of living but also for other reasons, the elderly have to face an abrupt cessation of activity. And as it is, reading a very surprising article I found about a mountaineer.

Carlos Soria was born in Avila in 1939, which lived through the war, and since then he has never stopped dreaming of the mountains, one of his great passions in life. This upholsterer worker, always linked to mountaineering, ascended his first eight thousand at 51 and since then has carried out a series of expeditions until this spring, and with his 72 years, has been able to crown the Lohtse. Next March he wants to try the Kanchenjunga, Annapurna and then finally closing the Dhaulagiri mountains.

Anyone who reads this article would think Carlos is a lucky man, and yes it is true, it is. But also we must make a second reading of history, Carlos’s knees hurt, his back bothers much, and until he retired he couldn’t live intensity his passion.

To carry out his Everest expedition he had to borrow money from the bank, demonstrating a strong personal involvement in what he wanted. A friend of mine says “do not look at my achievements, let’s analyze my efforts.” We usually always stay with the outcome of things without realizing what the person betted and lost on the way. Every dream, every achievement carries a price we have to pay and are the ones who decide to go ahead with it or not. Moreover, in the case of Carlos, this is all possible by keeping your mind young, as I have always said, it is there, where things are born, die and coexist all that we can do or not.

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Published by DEIA, Nov. 10, 2011

Hamburg is a beautiful city. No one would imagine at first glance the state it was after the Second World War; we can still see traces of that period remembering the moments of total barbarism that are experienced in the course of any war. But these people were not content in accept the suffering and the devastation but worked hard to achieve what it is today, a city with fascinating cultural attractions.

On Tuesday, November 8th, we played in a room called Fabrik, which is a magical place. This building, now transformed into a concert hall has hosted bands such as Nirvana, Steel, Radiohead … The funny thing about this place is that at the time of the First World War it was a munitions factory  and now has established itself as one of the best live music venues in Hamburg. When I go on stage in places like this, my imagination goes beyond trying to figure out the life it had in that old factory or what would had exactly at same place where I’m playing, dim lighting with a pilot light blue. Often when people talk about protecting and restoring our heritage, whether it is in the form of wonderful places, art, traditions, etc.., I think that it ignores this type of legacy, perhaps not as nice or valuable, that industrialization has left us in the form of factories, flags, etc… Although usually underestimates the importance of industrial heritage, I think that it is part of our way of life, a way to evolve within an established order, and no doubt the result of the efforts and the dedication of the people.

Ending the concert… a unstop ringing in my imagination of the metallic percussion of the machines, workers’ voices … and all of that accompanied our music to accompany, now more than ever, sounds like a definite future in the past, that is, in the present.

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Published by DEIA, Nov. 3, 2011

How many of us listen to music, read poems, watch movies, etc… and see ourselves reflected in those stories and adventures in which are narrated in them? In many concerts people have told me what a song of mine has made them feel or personal experiences to relive again with my music.

The other day, listening to some vinyl that I have around, I went back to enjoy one of the iconic songs in rock history, Layla, Eric Clapton. The story of a man who falls in love with a woman who loves him in her heart but can not reciprocate. I remember when I discovered this song that I always thought that I would be dedicated to any friendly Layla of Eric, but at the end I discovered that he talked about Pattie Boyd, George Harrison´s wife at the moment, the ex-guitarist of the Beatles. Eric, one of the greatest guitarists of all time, felt a great attraction to the wife of whom was also his friend George. The Londoner was not oblivious to the stares and attention of the guitarist and between them they started to reach a special type of complicity.  In Pattie’s own words, Clapton was not easy to express his feelings if it was not by stanzas or verses, and in one of those occasions when they were meeting, the musician presented this song, which is a kind of rhythmic declaration love for her. After a difficult period of encounters and disagreements, they separate taking different roads and that’s when Eric takes refuge in drugs and alcohol. But this story has a happy ending, because Clapton eventually managed to conquer Pattie´s heart and married in 1979, fulfilling a dream long cherished by the nickname of God. I ‘m a big fan of Eric Clapton, his way of caressing the notes, to become one with his guitar. But how much suffering there is to experiment to unite in marriage the talent and the desire of oneself? What strange reason lies in that people empathize more with a theme that expresses the intimacy of its author? I hope to explain in my next album.

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