LESS CLUBS, MORE DIY! - An Interview About Barcelona Punk Scene with Josep from Discos Pinya

Urban transformations, gentrification, the dissolution of collectives, the weakening of political ties... How is the scene being affected? Josep from Discos Pinya, an insider observing these shifts and an active participant in DIY culture, walks us through the strengths and fragilities of the scene. In this interview, we discuss the scene's past and present roles, and how political bonds can be weakened and rebuilt, all through the lens of Josep’s experiences.

⁠Hellooo! Thank you for accepting our request to interview you. Could you introduce yourself to us? How and when did you become involved in this culture?

Hi! I'm Josep from Discos Pinya. I mainly played in LOUISxARMSTRONG, Mandanga!,  and Addenda but I will be giving answers to the interview as an individual.  So, I've been interested in social movements since 2004 and started getting involved in 2009. 

When we started playing with Addenda, we realized we had to organize our own shows instead of waiting for others to book us. Some friends helped us record, and we released our first music by spray-painting CD-Rs. 

Around that time, I also began getting involved in squats, meetings, cooking vegan meals,  youth centers and I remember organized a two-day festival in 2012 called PlayFastOrDont (like the Czech festival) as it was based on a blog I help running at the time, and until today it's kinda my nickname, Josep playfast.

Around that time, we also played in other cities in Catalunya, such as Girona and Lleida, and became friends with people from Vic, Manlleu, and Torelló, where many touring bands performed. By 2013-2014, I started DIY booking and touring with the bands I played with across Spain and Europe. Additionally, with a couple of friends, I was involved with a squatted place called CSA La Rampa, where many bands came to play and we learned a lot. 

What, in your opinion, sets Barcelona's punk scene apart from other cities you've toured in or visited? Is there a unique spirit or dynamic here that makes it different?

As I haven't lived in any other big city for a long time, I can't compare BCN's punk scene with other places, but I can point out a few things that make me a little sad and that probably not everyone would agree with,  but some of my friends do agree.

I also have to admit that every time I have stayed in a city while touring, I felt a bit jealous of what "they" have and "we" don't. This includes infrastructure, the people involved in the projects and collectives, not to mention the average quality of some of the musicians we played with. It often seemed easier and more enjoyable almost everywhere else I've been than Barcelona, but maybe that's just some kinf of traveler's syndrome

BCN, aside from the punk scene, is unique in many ways as a Mediterranean city with a beach and great weather. However, the policies aimed at making it like every other big city—catering to tourists and undergoing gentrification—are changing it forever. This process arguably started with the 1992 Olympic Games and continues with events like the 37th America's Cup this summer in 2024.

Returning to the punk scene, it's not immune to negative attitudes or the gentrification process. I'm not just talking about venues and squats disappearing due to gentrification, but also social tendencies and behaviors within the punk audience. This includes the comfort of promoters and bands, concerts that are only musically related but not connected to DIY values, bands flying in for a single concert, punk audiences booking Airbnb's to attend festivals, and a lack of political culture.

Barcelona used to be a squatter's paradise, with youth centers (which are very important) and lots of punk bands and collectives. However, growing up here has made it difficult for me to see it with fresh eyes. It's a bit sad to admit, but I feel like some groups and collectives just go their own way. You can feel it when you try to organize two concerts together because both have touring bands from different places, and some people don't feel like merging them. Additionally, there is a noticeable difference in how some organizers care for local bands versus rolling out the red carpet for touring bands.

Given these external pressures and internal dynamics, how significant are the political events happening in your city right now? Do you think your scene is an effective platform for conveying a political message?

As I mentioned earlier, the intersection between political events and the punk scene in Barcelona has diminished since around 2012-2015. When I first became enamored with punk and anarchism around 2002 at the age of 12-13, I envisioned a robust connection between the two that has since evolved for me.

In terms of political events in the city, there is a vibrant array of activism. Groups supporting causes like the Palestinian struggle, anti-tourism movements, and opposition to major sporting events such as the America's Cup in 2024 are very active. Housing trade unions are also fighting against evictions and gentrification, with ongoing efforts in my neighborhood to protect Romanian settlements from eviction. There are groups that engaged in direct action, including protests and negotiations with local authorities, to seek political resolutions rather than resorting to police intervention.

Anarchist groups continue to organize meetings at squatted social centers, adding to the mosaic of activism. However, the direct influence of punk as a soundtrack for these movements has shifted significantly in Barcelona over the past decade or so. For instance, even within the anarchist block party I've been involved in for years, there's been a noticeable divergence. Some participants feel disconnected from punk or express a lack of enthusiasm for it, leading to decisions not to feature punk bands at events. Instead, alternative performances or DJ sets have taken precedence. 

It was solved by setting an event "Kaos! a Vallkarka" with punk bands on the Sunday afternoon instead of Friday or Saturday. 

Regarding whether the punk scene remains an effective platform for political messaging, I believe it still plays a role, but it's no longer the sole or primary conduit. Punk subculture, zines, and lyrically-driven songs have historically served as impactful channels for conveying political messages, which was certainly true for me. However, I've come to recognize that deeper engagement often requires delving into literature, essays, participating in talks, and engaging in debates. 

These avenues provide a more nuanced understanding and prevent us from merely skimming the surface of complex social and political issues.

Thinking back over your years of involvement, what stands out as your most memorable concert experience—either one you performed at or attended as a listener? Could you share that story with us?

One of the best experiences for me was definitely touring and having the chance to play in Türkiye, Istanbul and Ankara, which is the furthest away I've ever been from home.

Then, the best performance I enjoyed playing was with LOUISxARMSTRONG at Fluff Fest in 2023, and it was a dream come true.

We had attended Fluff Fest for many years and toured the Czech Republic numerous times. We were scheduled to play at the 2020 edition when our LP came out, but instead of a European tour for LxA, COVID brought the world to a halt. We thought it wouldn’t make sense to ask to play three years later without new material, so we released an EP. One of the songs has lyrics that say:

WHAT DO WE WANT?

Plan the economy, take back control of our lives. 

We don't want to suffer one more second. 

We want to distribute the excess.  

Coloured band t-shirts, tours, splits and collaborations, 

Squats that don't burn out for shows. 

We want to play at Fluff Fest.  

We want no more than everything! 

How prevalent and important is the DIY culture in your area? What experiences have you had in making your own music or organizing events?

Well, I think it fucking is, for me and those around me.

There was a time when we didn’t even want to play or book at non-squatted places or youth centers, refusing bars and pubs, so we booked all the shows ourselves.

As there are fewer and fewer squats and we are getting older, due to some level of comfort, more and more collectives are doing punk shows at places I don’t enjoy at all and that lack a connection with DIY ethics.

Sometimes it’s hard to work with such big effort and then have to fight or argue with the audience due to their lack of respect for paying entrance fees, their behavior during dancing, taking off their shirts, taking care of the space, etc. But I presume that's as old as the hills...

Most of the concerts I've been involved in organizing have taken place in squats and youth centers. Each time, we chose which social movement or cause to support with the benefits. At the different venues I've been involved with, we always donated the money and never kept it. With Discos Pinya, most of the money we get is from sales of records, shirts, etc., which we share among the bands.

We always ask for vegan meals for the bands and also provide food for the audience to create a nice environment and show that living as a vegan is possible, affordable, tasty, and that going to shows isn't just about getting wasted. We also try to create safe spaces.

Years ago, we tried to have political talks before the concerts, but it seemed no one was interested, so we stopped doing it after a while, and I kept that political talk thing in the anarchist groups i was involved.

Even though I was in three active bands and connected to both the political and DIY punk scenes for many years, I ended up keeping them somewhat separate. I was involved in anarchist groups in my neighborhood for almost 10 years, a collective that had nothing to do with punk but with anarchism. I felt that most, though not all, of the punk audience, besides attending concerts and writing/singing lyrics with slogans, had no big connection with social movements or demonstrations. The true struggles—house evictions, police brutality, organizing demos, meetings—are carried out by social movements, and there's nothing wrong with that. I just don't know if it was me idolizing the punk scene because I think it happened in other cities too, but it was somewhat disappointing in this aspect.

Also, I miss the presence of vegan discourse alongside vegan bands. It seems it has become old-fashioned to make meat-eaters feel uncomfortable speaking out.

Moving from production to presence, what are your thoughts on diversity and inclusivity within the Barcelona punk scene? Why do you think it's crucial to actively make space for different voices and perspectives?

Sure thing! As a normative person, I'll keep my answer brief. As organizers, we always strive to ensure that our concerts don't feature bands consisting solely of cis-hetero men. We work to create a safe space at every venue we set up, and each of us is committed to making that happen and highlighting it.

Could you tell us about the punk collectives currently operating in Barcelona? What contributions do these collectives make to the scene and the community?

I'll focus on collectives whose members my collective and I meet often at our respective shows, rather than naming collectives working in ways I don't like. I think it's healthier that way, and it's how we started becoming friends with them.

On the other hand, I have the impression that some people only go to their own concerts or attend the really cool ones, and then there are those you see only at festivals or big events. There's no obligation to attend DIY shows, but it's sometimes shocking to organize a show where you only know five people in the audience, even though there are maybe 50 people there. This almost happened at the last two shows we did.

I have felt closer to collectives like La Plaga DIY, with whom we share mutual interests and support. They are 5 to 10 years younger than the Discos Pinya people. They set up shows often in various punk sub-genres, organized their own festival, and invited some of our bands. I enjoy the fact that some of their bands sing in Catalan, which, along with punk and DIY ethics, forms our intersection. Another favorite is Ojala Este Mi Bici, who are 5 to 10 years older than us. They are passionate and work hard at everything they do, and you know you'll have a good time at any of their shows.

Beyond the music and the events, how significant are zines or other printed publications in your culture today?

I have to admit that I've been a little off from new zines even before the pandemic... but I also have the impression it's not a big thing anymore in the Barcelona punk scene. I remember loving zines that were not from Barcelona, also I don't see so many people selling them at shows.

Thank you so much for your time and honesty. Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers before we wrap up?

Less Clubs More DIY! 

Thanks for giving me ALL that space hope it wasn't too long, I hope I had done any contribution in the good way and I hope it gives you some new thoughts!