AGOTEAK (Agoteak label 2025)

Agoteak is a cultural and artistic project made up of seven musicians from the Basque Country. The bass player of the group, Lander "Ilarbass", told Iker "Beñaranks" at a concert by artist Roy Ellis that singing roots reggae in Basque (Euskara) was a good idea, as well as making public his intention to unify the historical memory of Basque culture. Since it's known that from the Middle Ages there was a racialized ethnicity in the valley of Baztan which carved wood and sculpted stone masterfully, and which now remains in Bozate: the so-called carrots (blondes), are they Gascons? Vikings? However, the modern name that has come to us is Agoteak.

On the other hand, this marginalized group of people of unknown origin has not only kept the craftsmanship alive, but has also offered us the Santxotena Museum, created in collaboration with Jorge Oteiza. A significant work found there is the wooden head we've used for the back-cover. At the same time, we've adopted the symbol "Y" of the duck foot that the agotes were supposed to wear, and that highlighted the existence of these "Others" as a sign of the minorized cultures around the world.

4 YEARS 4 SONGS
Throughout this four-year journey, we've worked on a wide repertoire, four different premises and lots of collaborations. The group was first formed in 2016, by the hand of bass player "Ilarbass", in the premises of Igara, with guitarist Eneko "Berdu" or trumpeter Beñat "Bikario". Later in 2020, the singer "Beñaranks", the pianist Aitor "Dubrktor", the trumpeter Iker "Selektah" and the drummer Ivan "MoreiReggae" met in Martutene, where the first song Aldarri was created. Then, due to the pandemic and some changes, we took the opportunity that our friend Xabi "Makulu" from Lasarte gave us to rehearse alongside them in Uzturre Square, our current place of creation. It was then that the guitarist Jorge "Iortx" and the trombonist Unai "Fontan" arrived, and Etsaia , Mr.Jackson and Larrosak were born. This songs make up the A side of this LP "showcase"; the B sides are the Dub versions, in collaboration with Roberto Sánchez.

Needless to say how important have the guitarist "Toto", who accompanied "Berdu", and many other musicians been, such as the singers "Black Jiko" and "Lua Matheus", or Iñaki "Tronbonman" and "Oskitz", who have shared great gifts for having been part of the group for some time. Thanks to all our friends and family who have been by our side: Amona Puri, Myriam, Lorea, Amaia, Peña Taberna, El Torero Boxeador among many others. This project would not be possible without your support. We especially enjoyed the recording process, led by Roberto Sánchez, at the A-Lone Ark Muzik Studio in Santander, in the summer of 2023, and Ibon Larruzea , for his master's work, as well as Revolutionary Brothers, to enable our first live performance at the reggae festival held at the Zipotz Jaiak in Gros. Greetings to designer Mikel Calvo, to the concept of wood that has proved very beautiful and really appropriate, as well as to the main symbology of Agotes.
From Jamaica to the Basque Country, let's continue to share cultural resistance through music for generations.

Enjoy the journey!

Produced and backed by Agoteak and Roberto Sánchez
Recorded and Mixed by Roberto Sánchez
At A-Lone Ark Muzik Studio
Mastered by Ibon Larruzea in Euridia Studios
Distributed by ARK Distribution [email protected]
Designed by Mikel Calvo

Players of instruments:
Voice: Iker Beñaran
Bass: Lander Ilarraz
Drums: Ivan Moreira
Keyboards: Aitor Etxeberria
Guitar by Jorge Ortega
Trumpet: Iker Gaskon
Trombone: Unai Fontan

Available at:
Bandcamp https://alonereggaeshop.bandcamp.com/ https://agoteak.bandcamp.com/
Discogs https://www.discogs.com/seller/lone-a...

ARK Distribution contact: [email protected]

https://www.loneark.com
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