MARTA SALICRÚ
Radio Primavera Sound Director and Music Journalist
SUBCULTURE
Night Tales with
Night Tales with
Radio Primavera
Sound
Images by Alba Rupérez
Our friends at Primavera Radio give us the low-down on the festivals this year, and what makes a good night out in Spain.
What’s your name? Where are you from?
My name is Marta Salicrú and I was born and raised in Barcelona, where I have always lived, except for a brief period in London back in the early 2000s.
Describe your style in 3 words
Minimalist, vibrant, smart.
What were your top memories of Primavera this year?
The Blur show at La Riviera, in Madrid, a 2.500 people sized venue; getting to finally see Japanese singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu live, after years dying for it; and having the chance to interview long time favourites like Sparks or Perfume at Radio Primavera Sound studio at the venue.
What was the first record you played on repeat?
Probably the first CD I recall buying with my own money, R.E.M.’s ‘Out of Time’, in the early ‘90s.
What is your ‘get ready’ ritual? Talk us through it.
I decide what to wear in advanced, I either wash my face or shower depending on the hot, I do my hair and put some makeup on, heavy on the eyes but barely on the rest of my face, I put on some perfume (the same fragrance I've been using for years) and then I dress, all while listening to the artist I’m going to see that night.
You have the aux in a cab, what do you play?
I would play Jessie Ware’s ‘That! Feels Good!’, which I saw both at Primavera Sound Sao Paulo and Portugal’s Paredes de Coura recently and I simply adore.
Walk us through a typical night in Spain, start to finish?
In Barcelona I’d start having dinner at a place where they serve natural wine, and if there’s no gig to attend to, then cocktails and then dancing and chatting at Nitsa Club, Sala Apolo’s club night at the weekends.
What do you think makes a good night out?
I love dancing, so the best part for me is having the DJ playing songs I can dance to.
How would you wear the Fred Perry Shirt on a night out?
Recently I like to wear it with something you wouldn’t necessarily expect, like floral capri pants or platform sandals.
What is your favourite independent venue in Spain, and why?
I’m very emotionally attached to Sala Apolo in Barcelona, where I started going clubbing before being the age to legally do so, and where I have been lucky enough to see amazing gigs by the likes of Janelle Monae, Pet Shop Boys, St. Vincent and Beach House in front of pretty small audiences.
Tell us about your best night of all time?
One that comes to mind is a pretty recent one at Primavera Sound 2022, the first edition of the festival after the pandemic, with Danny L Harle turning the stage into his Harlecore Club. I danced my heart out even though it was 5 AM and I had been working at the festival from early morning, got very emotional and felt deep happiness there. I had the time of my life.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
My partner and I used to end our DJ sets at Barcelona club Razzmatazz with the 1970s Spanish downtempo pop hit ‘Porque te vas’ (meaning ‘Because you are leaving’). More recently, I’ve turned to When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way' by Sparks. Both are great songs to end a club night, with amazing endings.
What’s your name? Where are you from?
My name is Sergi Cuxart, and I’m from Barcelona.
Describe your style in 3 words
Classy bodega metal-head
What were your top memories of Primavera this year?
Something that I luckily get to live every edition, seeing the sun rise on the stage where DJ Coco is closing, or interviewing and seeing my favourite artists.
What’s it like to be a young, Spanish creative today?
Not sure if I am young or creative anymore, haha, but I guess that there are plenty of rising underground scenes where people are making really cool things. Especially where young people are picking distorted high-volume guitars again.
What was the first record you played on repeat?
I was only twelve and easy to impress but yeah, Stadium Arcadium by Red Hot Chili Peppers.
What is your ‘get ready’ ritual? Talk us through it.
Getting a shower while the AOR Classics playlist is on repeat, and then dressing up while checking that there isn’t too much of my cat’s hair on it.
You have the aux in a cab, what do you play?
Everything You See Is Me by Rasa, Estrelar by Marcos Valle or, again, that AOR Classics playlist.
Walk us through a typical night in Spain, start to finish?
First of all, what we call “la previa”, some beers on the terrace before anything else, like at 7pm or so until we remember to have dinner, mostly some tapas, Chinese food, tacos, pizza or anything that won’t take us that long and will be cheap. Then again, maybe some more beers or any fancy drink and after that to the club of your choice. Then, it’s up to you if you want to continue after the club is over.
What do you think makes a good night out/what's the best part?
Simple. Having fun is obviously mandatory. Getting a little bit tipsy, not too much, with your friends while your favourite music is playing. It doesn’t get much more difficult than that.
How would you wear the Fred Perry Shirt on a night out?/Why is the Fred Perry Shirt such a staple on nights out?
Is there any other option than wearing the Fred Perry Shirt on a night out? It’s classy, stylish and fits perfectly in any scene.
What is your favourite independent venue in Spain, and why?
Sala Vol. It’s industrial and kind of cosy at the same time. I’ve seen plenty of great gigs there, the bartenders are cool and the drinks are quite cheap too.
Tell us about your best night of all time?
It must have been at some music gig or festival for sure. Maybe Refused playing at Sala Apolo? Seeing Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Mogwai the same night at my first Primavera Sound, Botch reunion show at Hellfest, seeing The Mars Volta twice in a week... Not sure about this one.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
Africa by Toto
What’s your name? Where are you from?
My name is Izaro Bo, I was born in the Basque Country but have been living in Barcelona since 2000.
Describe your style in 3 words
I-Love-Vintage.
What were your top memories of Primavera this year?
Auditorium acts such as Laurie Anderson, Swans, John Cale and Boris were exquisite, very powerful and unforgettable this year. But besides the music, my fave memory of this last edition is getting to know and taking photos with Michael Imperioli from The Sopranos -whose band Zopa was playing PS 2023-. Aaaaaah! (fan moment).
What was the first record you played on repeat?
I loved digging in my dad’s record collection when I was a kid. The Beach Boys, Queen or Ultravox were some of my favourite albums. But my own first vinyls were MC Hammer, Milli Vanilli, Glenn Medeiros, Europe and, of course, Roxette. Does it make any sense? Please don’t judge me ahaha… I remember being obsessed with Björk’s ‘Debut’ when it came out in 1993. ‘Big Time Sensuality’ really hit me when I first heard it on the radio. I was eleven years-old.
You have the aux in a cab, what do you play?
Guided By Angels by Amyl and the Sniffers, Pain by Boy Harsher, Your Pulse by Minami Deutsch or Topdown by Channel Tres.
Walk us through a typical night in Spain, start to finish?
Best nights usually start having some ‘cañas’ in a terrace or a bar and saying you’re going home early. Spoiler: you can’t remember the rest.
How would you wear the Fred Perry Shirt on a night out?
The Fred Perry Shirt immediately boosts my confidence. I like mixing it with very feminine garments such as skirts and high boots.
What is your favourite independent venue in Spain, and why?
Sala Apolo is the best venue in Spain, no discussion. I’m also very emotionally attached to Dabadaba, a small venue in San Sebastian with a very well curated programme.
Tell us about your best night of all time?
Best nights are like Vegas ahaha You know: what happened in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas.
Best song to end an all-nighter? Digital Versicolor by Glass Candy.
What’s your name? Where are you from?
My name is Johann Wald. I’m from Torremolinos, Málaga.
Describe your style in 3 words
Scruffy, comfortable, standard.
What were your top memories of Primavera this year?
Taking my two-year old daughter to see Wednesday and feeling her vibing on top of my shoulders.
What’s it like to be a young, Spanish creative today?
It’s an exciting era, because younger people seem to be getting more chances to expose their talents and find some sort of retribution. It was very different years ago.
What was the first record you played on repeat?
Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet.
What is your ‘get ready’ ritual? Talk us through it.
Making filtered coffee while listening to Laaraji and that sort of stuff.
You have the aux in a cab, what do you play?
Taylor Swift.
Walk us through a typical night in Spain, start to finish?
Start with wine in a bodega. Eat something delicious. Catch a friend djing at some bar, hit a club like Nitsa, and end up eating breakfast at El Rincón Del Artista or at someone’s flat, occasionally going down to buy more cans of beer.
What do you think makes a good night out/what's the best part?
Dinner with friends. A table of three or four. At least three different bottles of wine. Visit different unexpected spaces of a city. End up in someone’s flat saying silly things for an hour before making the smart decision to go home and sleep.
How would you wear the Fred Perry Shirt on a night out?/Why is the Fred Perry Shirt such a staple on nights out?
It’s classy and transitions well.
What is your favourite independent venue in Spain, and why?
El Pumarejo. It’s a cultural association in Hospitalet, out of the centre, and they constantly programme edgy creative shows from exciting local artists, and they all collaborate with each other, so there’s kind of a Utopian vibe within those walls.
Tell us about your best night of all time?
The other night my daughter fell asleep at nine and didn’t wake up until eight in the morning the next day.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
Rose Laurens - American Love.