Summer is approaching and with it the local festivities, open-air festivals and festivals, the ideal time to listen to the lyrics full of optimism that Lal'ba presents in No hi ha dies dolents (Promo Arts Music), the first work by the duo formed by Alba Soler and Ferran López with Lluís Alcón in the production, some friends of Olesa de Montserrat who began their journey as a modern wink in some caramelles to end up involved in a project with electronic bases that give shape to pop music designed for live performances. That was his objective when preparing the album, to make festive music "because our day to day, our soul is like that," explains Ferran in a bar in Sants a few days after the album was released.
“We are two cheerful, happy and optimistic people” Alba points out in reference to the name of the album, remembering however that it is an ironic message “because we also have bad days, but you learn from everything, that's how we take it”. With this optimism they undertook an album recorded in the home studio that Ferran built during the pandemic and that has been produced with the collaboration of Lluís Alcon.
"The pandemic affected us a lot," explains Ferran, who highlights how it has prevented them from developing as a traditional group, "we couldn't talk about the songs or rehearse the songs before recording them," an increasingly widespread situation.
The songs on No hi ha dies dolents explore different sounds with references to all kinds of groups, from Txarango to Gloria Gaynor, passing through ABBA, because "now you don't listen to an entire album", explains Alba, who considers their influences infinite , as reflected in their Spotify lists where "I can listen to a reggaeton song, then an electronic one, another more pop song or one from my parents' days." Some influences that hide sonorous references in some songs, and that also pick up on the trend of adding sardana sounds, as they do in Parella Imperfecta, the story of a blind date that begins to the rhythm of the sardana to become a bachata.
"We considered making a record to find the music that we would like to defend" Ferran explains about the creation of the record, noting that it has been easier for them "than the previous songs", those that emerged after covering a caramella in trap format, with Ferran producing the theme and Alba getting behind the microphone for the first time.
For this album they have had the collaboration of Delafé and the blue flowers, with whom they have worked on Que es pari el món. “They are very clear about their sound and what they can risk”, Ferran highlights of this joint work, explaining how they made proposals outside their comfort zone that the Delafé “knew how to take to their field”. The result was very positive for the duo from Baix Llobregat, because "having another artist give you an opinion about what you do before it is published gives you the ability to manoeuvre". A good relationship that materialized in the recording of a video clip. "They came to the studio at Ferran's house, there was a very good vibe" recalls Alba.
In No hi ha dies dolents, mixed by Roger Rodés, the Roba Estesa have also collaborated in A thousand questions, a song that talks about the privileges granted by being born in the first world, raising the question of what would have happened when born in another place or moment.
In the live performances the couple expands to become a quartet with Lluís Alcón on drums and Eli Pons on keyboards while they reserve the vocals and bases. “We have grown up with the banda format and we didn't fake it,” says Ferran, defending this option because “it looks more like a show, and we feel less naked when there are musicians on stage with whom we can interact and bring the show to life”. The same is the opinion of Alba, who sees the band as an added value, "it forms part of our identity, now there are many urban bands made up of a singer and another person behind the computer." Ferran goes further and values it as a challenge compared to the use of recorded samples. In this sense, having a band reduces exposure in case of errors, "many things can happen, but we always have a cushion behind us," he recalls. The experience can be enjoyed at various concerts this summer, highlighting the Empordà Music Festival and, of course, the Cruïlla.
