01Profile
A Irati Rúa Ariztegui Photo
Irati Rúa Ariztegui
Retail — Manchester
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Irati Rúa Ariztegui, I’m originally from Pamplona but I live in Manchester.
What do you do?
I’ve been working as a sales assistant at the Fred Perry shop in Manchester for over two years and doing our shop social media for over a year now.
Describe your style in three words:
Leather, fishnets, Fred.
Which music defines the teenage you?
Definitely punk rock, especially Basque punk. Bands such as Eskorbuto or Zakarrak were very important in the early punk years and still are with kids getting into the scene nowadays.
From that I moved onto Oi and Hardcore and started to listen to more music in English, all along these DIY, shouty, angry lines. I still listen to bands like Cock Sparrer, Dead Kennedys, The Redskins, 999 or Sham 69 even if I’ve opened up to other genres now.
What is the last piece of music you bought?
‘Untrue’ by Burial on vinyl. Totally copied this from Jack who works with me and brought it in to our Record Store Day event. It was released 10 years ago but has just been reissued and it’s such a good album from beginning to end.
What has been your all-time favourite gig?
John Cooper Clarke last year at the Albert Hall in Manchester. I absolutely love his poems and he is brilliant live and very funny. I could’ve sat and listened to him ramble about anything for hours.
What new music/bands are you listening to?
I’ve been listening to YOWL nonstop lately, I saw them supporting the Parrots at Soup Kitchen in Manchester a couple of months ago and liked them more than the headliners.
In a completely different style Nadia Rose is someone to keep an eye on, and definitely Cosmo Pyke too.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
What was the first song you played on repeat?
'Hitchin’ a Ride' by Green Day. I’m pretty sure I didn’t even speak English back then but I learnt the lyrics by heart anyway. I don’t really listen to them anymore but whenever I hear them it takes me back to being 13 and thinking I was well punk.
A song from your favourite album?
This answer would probably change next week, but right now it’s 'Breezeblocks' from Alt-J’s ‘An Awesome Wave’.
A song you wish you’d written?
‘Atmosphere’ by Joy Division. Imagine being so talented and writing a song that makes people feel such deep emotions almost 40 years later. To be fair I don’t listen to it too often because it’ll make me cry on a bad day.
Most meaningful lyrics to inspire change?
The whole ‘La Rage’ by French rapper Keny Arkana. I still haven’t found another song that sounds as angry and powerful as this one and that manages to transmit the message regardless of whether you speak French or not.
“Because we’ve got the rage, we’ll stand up whatever happens. The rage to go through to the end where life drives us. Because we’ve got the rage, we will never shut up nor sit down. Because we’ve got the rage, we’ll stand up whatever happens. Insubordinate, wise, dissident, humanist or rebel.”
Best song to bring people together?
‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ by Oasis. It’s been everywhere in Manchester lately and it’s proven to be an amazing anthem for the city. It proper gives you goose bumps to hear loads of people united by music and singing this song no matter what.
Best love song of all time?
Sorry about the obvious title… but ‘Lovesong’ by The Cure. I’m not a big fan of love songs as such but this one always gets me.
Is there a song you like that people wouldn’t expect?
‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears. Not ironically. It is a tune. I used to be dead particular about the music I listened to but nowadays if I like it, I’ll listen to it, even if I’m going to get laughed at. Who cares?
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Irati Rúa Ariztegui, I’m originally from Pamplona but I live in Manchester.
What do you do?
I’ve been working as a sales assistant at the Fred Perry shop in Manchester for over two years and doing our shop social media for over a year now.
Describe your style in three words:
Leather, fishnets, Fred.
Which music defines the teenage you?
Definitely punk rock, especially Basque punk. Bands such as Eskorbuto or Zakarrak were very important in the early punk years and still are with kids getting into the scene nowadays.
From that I moved onto Oi and Hardcore and started to listen to more music in English, all along these DIY, shouty, angry lines. I still listen to bands like Cock Sparrer, Dead Kennedys, The Redskins, 999 or Sham 69 even if I’ve opened up to other genres now.
What is the last piece of music you bought?
‘Untrue’ by Burial on vinyl. Totally copied this from Jack who works with me and brought it in to our Record Store Day event. It was released 10 years ago but has just been reissued and it’s such a good album from beginning to end.
What has been your all-time favourite gig?
John Cooper Clarke last year at the Albert Hall in Manchester. I absolutely love his poems and he is brilliant live and very funny. I could’ve sat and listened to him ramble about anything for hours.
What new music/bands are you listening to?
I’ve been listening to YOWL nonstop lately, I saw them supporting the Parrots at Soup Kitchen in Manchester a couple of months ago and liked them more than the headliners.
In a completely different style Nadia Rose is someone to keep an eye on, and definitely Cosmo Pyke too.
04Playlist Notes
What was the first song you played on repeat?
'Hitchin’ a Ride' by Green Day. I’m pretty sure I didn’t even speak English back then but I learnt the lyrics by heart anyway. I don’t really listen to them anymore but whenever I hear them it takes me back to being 13 and thinking I was well punk.
A song from your favourite album?
This answer would probably change next week, but right now it’s 'Breezeblocks' from Alt-J’s ‘An Awesome Wave’.
A song you wish you’d written?
‘Atmosphere’ by Joy Division. Imagine being so talented and writing a song that makes people feel such deep emotions almost 40 years later. To be fair I don’t listen to it too often because it’ll make me cry on a bad day.
Most meaningful lyrics to inspire change?
The whole ‘La Rage’ by French rapper Keny Arkana. I still haven’t found another song that sounds as angry and powerful as this one and that manages to transmit the message regardless of whether you speak French or not.
“Because we’ve got the rage, we’ll stand up whatever happens. The rage to go through to the end where life drives us. Because we’ve got the rage, we will never shut up nor sit down. Because we’ve got the rage, we’ll stand up whatever happens. Insubordinate, wise, dissident, humanist or rebel.”
Best song to bring people together?
‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ by Oasis. It’s been everywhere in Manchester lately and it’s proven to be an amazing anthem for the city. It proper gives you goose bumps to hear loads of people united by music and singing this song no matter what.
Best love song of all time?
Sorry about the obvious title… but ‘Lovesong’ by The Cure. I’m not a big fan of love songs as such but this one always gets me.
Is there a song you like that people wouldn’t expect?
‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears. Not ironically. It is a tune. I used to be dead particular about the music I listened to but nowadays if I like it, I’ll listen to it, even if I’m going to get laughed at. Who cares?