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Days of Rona: Igor Etxebarria of Melmak

Posted in Features on April 24th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

The statistics of COVID-19 change with every news cycle, and with growing numbers, stay-at-home isolation and a near-universal disruption to society on a global scale, it is ever more important to consider the human aspect of this coronavirus. Amid the sad surrealism of living through social distancing, quarantines and bans on gatherings of groups of any size, creative professionals — artists, musicians, promoters, club owners, techs, producers, and more — are seeing an effect like nothing witnessed in the last century, and as humanity as a whole deals with this calamity, some perspective on who, what, where, when and how we’re all getting through is a needed reminder of why we’re doing so in the first place.

Thus, Days of Rona, in some attempt to help document the state of things as they are now, both so help can be asked for and given where needed, and so that when this is over it can be remembered.

Thanks to all who participate. To read all the Days of Rona coverage, click here. — JJ Koczan

melmak Igor Etxebarria

Days of Rona: Igor Etxebarria of Melmak (Sopelana, Spain)

How are you dealing with this crisis as a band? Have you had to rework plans at all? How is everyone’s health so far?

Hi! We have been surprised by all this situation. We live each in different cities so we stay in our respective homes with our families. No rehearsals for an undetermined time.

We had planned to give a show on April 3rd and continue with the process of creating the songs that will be part of the new album to celebrate our 10 years as a band, but now everything it’s in the air because of this situation. We already have about five songs finished but we have some more to finish. We have to wait for all this to end to know what steps will be the next.

All the members of the respective families are well, healthy (except the typical matters of the age).

What are the quarantine/isolation rules where you are?

The rules here are very strict. We can only leave our homes to go to the supermarket or the drugstore. You can only go to work in companies that are related to essential goods, so I work from home. We have been locked up at home for 2 and a half weeks and begin to notice mental fatigue….

How have you seen the virus affecting the community around you and in music?

Wow, everything we knew has changed (maybe forever). This situation brings out the worst and the best of the human being and there are people who have become the police on the balcony and many other people who help others in whatever way they can.

In music, we have to wait all this to end to see in what situation is the underground, which was bad before. Many festivals around Europe have been canceled and we don’t know how and when concerts can be organized in the future.

I organize the Inkestas Rock Festibal in September and I still can’t know if it will be possible or if there will be bands that have to cancel. Bands like Hexis, Rosy Finch or Black Tundra have been confirmed until now but everything is in the air…

What is the one thing you want people to know about your situation, either as a band, or personally, or anything?

We are well, waiting for what the future will be like both as a band and on a personal level. Meanwhile, I am trying to capture a personal project with songs in a different style than what we do with Melmak. There is more free time, and we need to distract ourselves with something to spend our free hours. That and enjoy being with my wife and my son full-time.

https://www.facebook.com/melmakdestroy
https://www.instagram.com/melmakdestroy
https://melmak.bandcamp.com/album/social-distance

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