For more than 30 years, April 20 is no longer just any date. In 1991, the Valladolid band Celtas Cortos put it on the musical map and almost four decades later, they are still in top form. Coinciding with such a special week, on the 19th they released their new album, El mundo del reverse; Both that day and the next they offered two massive concerts in Madrid; and this Saturday they arrive in Barcelona. And among so much celebration, Goyo Yeves, musician and founder of the group, has attended La Vanguardia from Valladolid.
-You are still here 40 years later, and all because of a French teacher.
That's how it is. At school, four students who played an instrument and a French teacher who played the violin and knew Celtic music met together, and there we formed a group and began to discover that style. I'm the only one left from that first formation. However, the Celtas Cortos were born a little later, in 1986, when we got together with some other friends, entered a contest and won.
-This The World Upside Down shows that you continue to want to make new music.
We never lack ideas and desire. If you look at our history, it's rare that two or three years go by without something new. It is important that people see that we are still there. We are aware that at concerts half of the songs are old ones and that many people would continue coming to see us even if we don't publish anything new. But as artists we need to feel that we continue creating things. On this new album there are very interesting mixes that we had never done before.
-For example, the songs you have recorded with the Virtuós Mediterrani Chamber Orchestra of Alicante.
It is very curious. Two years ago, a Venezuelan violinist, Gerardo Estrada, appeared at a concert in Asturias, telling us that he knew us, that he directs the Virtuós Mediterrani Chamber Orchestra and that he would love to do something for us. On this new album they participate in five songs, three of them instrumental, and their arrangements have been adapted like a glove. I was in the recording that we did with the orchestra in Alicante and I only thought that the magic that was being experienced would not be lost on the CD, and we have achieved it. Music is infinite!
-You also once again make a social complaint on topics such as Goodbye President or The World Upside Down itself.
It is something that has accompanied us since we were born as artists. We've always had that fist raised. We understand that when writing songs you have to position yourself and express both your emotional feelings and a certain ideology or sociopolitical concern.
-Has that caused you any problems?
More than we are aware of, although it is not very noticeable. We have played in town halls, which is basically the bulk of our work, in parties of all colors, but there is some anecdote about something you have said, some demand, and it has not gone down well. However, it is not something that has taken away our jobs. Music should be above this. We don't do rallies, we make music.
-You have other songs like Tranquilo majete or Skaparate nacional that, despite the passing of the years, are still relevant.
And it's very sad. You change two names or a small number of those letters and everything is the same. Too bad, because you always hope that progress will help you improve, but then you look at it and you haven't improved at all. In our songs we try to seek unity and solidarity on certain topics. It is important that we fight and come together for certain things.
-Now that you are immersed in the tour of your new album, this Saturday you will stop at the Razzmatazz room in Barcelona.
Returning to that room is very intense and exciting. In the early '90s we were there for three days when it was called Zeleste, just when we were climbing at full speed. Furthermore, the back cover of Tell Me a Story was made there with a piano that was in one of the rooms. We are very curious to know if it is still there and, as it is, we will repeat the photo. We hadn't been in Barcelona capital for a long time. We will play some new songs and also those dozen songs that everyone wants to hear. Some of our friends will also come to dance, Celtic Flow, which gives it a different touch. And playing in a room is very special. We love the close vibe.
-In addition, it coincides with the week of April 20.
On April 20, everyone remembers us. It has already become a kind of birthday. Also, for this new album, we forced it a little to coincide with the date. In fact, in February we had to step on the accelerator because we weren't there. And the two concerts in Madrid this past weekend have been a tribute to that date.
-How have these two concerts been in Vistalegre?
I'm still landing. It was an idea from our office and at first we were not clear about it. We are no longer a box office group, with large theaters, and we were very scared. But at Christmas the first date was already sold out and although at first we said no, in the end they squeezed us in for a second day and we took the plunge. There have been about 15,000 people between the two days in Vistalegre, something unrepeatable. We are not used to that, to that production, and I am delighted that it is an exception.
-You have had great collaborators for the occasion.
When the idea of doing a first concert arose, we thought about calling someone to accompany us and give it a more special touch. And when the show was announced, there were even people who offered. In the end we almost had to hit the brakes. And by doing a second day, we were able to accommodate other people. It was a great cast: Miguel Ríos, Rozalén, Fito, Carlos Tarque, Mikel Izal, the Tanxugueiras... Everything went very well. Some images that have been recorded will come out, at least for us.
You have said on more than one occasion that you consider yourself lucky just to be able to make a living from music.
It is a privilege and I prefer it that way. When you're up there you do very well but then you fall and get something you can't see. We have been in that intermediate term for 20 years, fighting not to descend, maintaining the type and making a living from this is a privilege. Our end will be when people tell us they are fed up.
Four decades provide good times but also bad times. One of them was the departure of Jesús Cifuentes in 2002.
It was the hardest and most difficult. Especially because of the decision, because he caught us at a time when we were very creative, but he felt exhausted and wanted to do something quieter. So, we thought: What do we do? Something instrumental with another name? And in the end it occurred to us to continue but with another singer, Antoine. And it didn't go badly for us: in three years we made an album and 150 concerts. We all collaborate a lot and if we hadn't continued with the brand, I don't know if we would be here now. But the media went down a lot and there was no longer interest for a second album. They told us: “With Jesus yes, but if not…”. We thought it was the end.
And how does Cifu's return to the group come about?
His exit was very natural and contact was never lost. We were born as friends and we continue to be. He was going to see us, we him... And on the 20th anniversary of the group, those at Warner, who are now no longer with any record company, wanted to release something and since we still had a relationship with Cifu we talked about adding a song and that was the beginning back to the ring. And then in 2008 with Retales de una vida, which was played endlessly, it was another revolution and our second life.
The naturalness of letting go seems to have been the key.
We are understanding and tolerant people with certain personal needs that someone may have. If you have to tour, there is a lot of coexistence. If we can't even talk to each other... I can't even imagine it. That's why many bands end up breaking up, more for reasons of coexistence than artistic reasons. Of course there are frictions and we collide, but we talk about it and reach an agreement. That is the key to staying together.
But good things have also happened to you: since 2018 you have a street in Valladolid, your city.
I still can not believe it. It is in the Delicias neighborhood, where I grew up, and it is just going to the institute. The street previously had a name after a fascist priest but luckily it was changed. When the plaque was unveiled we had a small ceremony and played some acoustic songs. It seems so nice to me that in many years, when we no longer exist, someone will ask “what is this?” and another responds “it was a group from here, who had been there for many years…”. We have always felt that the people of Valladolid feel we are theirs.
Four decades later, what can the future hold for you?
The new album gives us a business card with 13 new songs and we are very excited about the video clip, about the feedback on social networks... And about the future, we consider doing a live show in a theater or some collaboration, for example. We continue to think about ideas and projects. That is having enthusiasm. Otherwise I would be sitting waiting for the manager to call me and tell me “tomorrow you have to be in such and such a place to play.” And we are not in that, at all.
