Mastretta (musician)
Encyclopedia
Mastretta is the artistic alias of Ignacio Mastretta Rodríguez, (Barcelona
; May 9, 1964); a Spanish
musician
, composer
and record producer
.
musician, since he moved as a young child to Santander where he studied piano
at Conservatorio Jesús de Monasterio of Santander
.
His first music project was named Las Manos de Orlac, a band formed in 1987 that played pop
and caribbean music
, where he sang and played a lot of instruments. With this band he recorded two albums, La Furia (1988) and Salud y Pesetas (1989). He then moved to Madrid
in 1991 and from 1992 until 1999 he worked as a sound technician in the famous studio El Sol. He also worked at Sala Maravillas, working with international and local bands throughout the expansion of alternative rock.
novel).
He had critical success, and it was in December 1998 when he released his first album: Melodías de Rayos X. Instrumental sounds took a new step with the vocals of Ana Belén
. Although Melodías de Rayos X was not an electronic music album, it was still chosen by the editors of El País as The best electronic album of the '90s.
In 1998 he became the official composer of Spanish designer Jesús del Pozo
's fashion shows, and in 1999 he published the EP Música para el Desfile de la Colección de Otoño-Invierno 1999-2000 de Jesús del Pozo. By that time he had already collaborated with his music for Volkswagen Polo and Bitter Kas ads.
In January 2000 his second album Luna de Miel was issued: an interesting work where 10 female voices give some warmth to the compositions. Curiously, the lyrics were written by Mastretta –with help from his brother, Fernando- and voiced by women from different nationalities: Julieta Venegas
and Alaska from Mexico
, Rubi from Argentina
, Beatrice
from Italy, Gemma Corredera from Cuba
, Rasha from Sudan
and, from Spain
Raquel Pascual, Irantzu Valencia from the band La Buena Vida
, Cristina Lliso, Ana Belén
and Ajo from the band Mil Dolores Pequeños. The link between the songs in Luna de Miel is the irony and sadness among women in distress with everyday problems. Due to the concept of collaboration, only two live presentations were done in Madrid
for two days in May, 2000 at the Colegio Mayor San Juan Evangelista.
In February 2000 he published the soundtrack of Asphalt the fourth film of Daniel Calparsoro, which was nominated that same year in the XV Premios Goya
and the Goya Award for Best Original Music. In May the soundtrack of the short film Malas Compañías by Malagan Antonio Hens.
On the occasion of the XI Semana de Cine Fantástico y de Terror de San Sebastián
, in 2000, he published Bascombe a CD single inspired in Sci Fi films, with versions of the music from Star Wars
and Mars Attacks
.
In 2001, besides playing throughout the American continent beside Julieta Venegas
, he composed the soundtracks for the feature film El Sueño del Caimán by Beto Gómez and the short film Desaliñada by Gustavo Salmerón, and in November, Música de Automóvil An instrumental album that reflects his characteristic sound, but always with an unprecedented point of strangeness added.
He has performed at international festivals such as Pop Komm in Germany, Arezzo Wave in Italy, Sónar
in Barcelona and in Mexico, United States.
, Peret
and Josele Santiago. He has remixed Fangoria
and Titán
and he has collaborated with numerous band and artists like Renato Carossone, Peret
, Los Enemigos, Los Planetas
, Mercromina and Pauline en la Playa.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
; May 9, 1964); a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
Early years
Even though he was born in Barcelona, Nacho (short for Ignacio) Mastretta is considered a CantabricCantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
musician, since he moved as a young child to Santander where he studied piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at Conservatorio Jesús de Monasterio of Santander
Santander, Cantabria
The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
.
His first music project was named Las Manos de Orlac, a band formed in 1987 that played pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and caribbean music
Caribbean music
The music of the Caribbean is a diverse grouping of musical genres. They are each syntheses of African, European, Indian and native influences, largely created by descendants of African slaves...
, where he sang and played a lot of instruments. With this band he recorded two albums, La Furia (1988) and Salud y Pesetas (1989). He then moved to Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in 1991 and from 1992 until 1999 he worked as a sound technician in the famous studio El Sol. He also worked at Sala Maravillas, working with international and local bands throughout the expansion of alternative rock.
Instrumental music on an indie label
By the same time, he started developing a personal instrumental style that didn't quite convince the multinational record companies, until Subterfuge Records, an independent label from Madrid, used his style to open a new music section in the label. Under the name Música para un Guateque Sideral in the summer of 1998, the instrumental single Highballito was released (Highballito is the name of a Mexican cocktail that appears in a HemingwayErnest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
novel).
He had critical success, and it was in December 1998 when he released his first album: Melodías de Rayos X. Instrumental sounds took a new step with the vocals of Ana Belén
Ana Belén
Ana Belén is the artistic name of María del Pilar Cuesta Acosta, a Spanish actress and singer. She was born on 27 May 1951 in Madrid.- Biography :...
. Although Melodías de Rayos X was not an electronic music album, it was still chosen by the editors of El País as The best electronic album of the '90s.
In 1998 he became the official composer of Spanish designer Jesús del Pozo
Jesús del Pozo
Jesús del Pozo was a Spanish fashion designer. Del Pozo was the recipient of numerous professional awards during his career....
's fashion shows, and in 1999 he published the EP Música para el Desfile de la Colección de Otoño-Invierno 1999-2000 de Jesús del Pozo. By that time he had already collaborated with his music for Volkswagen Polo and Bitter Kas ads.
In January 2000 his second album Luna de Miel was issued: an interesting work where 10 female voices give some warmth to the compositions. Curiously, the lyrics were written by Mastretta –with help from his brother, Fernando- and voiced by women from different nationalities: Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas Percevault , known professionally as Julieta Venegas, is a Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer, who sings pop-rock in Spanish. She speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish fluently. She has a twin sister, Yvonne, who is a photographer...
and Alaska from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Rubi from Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Beatrice
Beatrice
Beatrice is a name derived from the Latin name Beatrix. It is a feminine form of the late Latin name Viator which meant "voyager, traveler". It was also a common name amongst early Christians, though the spelling was altered by association with the Latin beatus, meaning "blessed". The French form...
from Italy, Gemma Corredera from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Rasha from Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and, from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Raquel Pascual, Irantzu Valencia from the band La Buena Vida
La Buena Vida
La Buena Vida is an indie pop group from San Sebastián, Spain. The band was formed in 1988 and continues to make music as of today. They have recorded 7 albums and 14 EPs. Their music is a form of pop also known as the Donosti Sound, a 1990s indie pop movement in San Sebastián.-Biography:The...
, Cristina Lliso, Ana Belén
Ana Belén
Ana Belén is the artistic name of María del Pilar Cuesta Acosta, a Spanish actress and singer. She was born on 27 May 1951 in Madrid.- Biography :...
and Ajo from the band Mil Dolores Pequeños. The link between the songs in Luna de Miel is the irony and sadness among women in distress with everyday problems. Due to the concept of collaboration, only two live presentations were done in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
for two days in May, 2000 at the Colegio Mayor San Juan Evangelista.
In February 2000 he published the soundtrack of Asphalt the fourth film of Daniel Calparsoro, which was nominated that same year in the XV Premios Goya
Goya Awards
The Goya Awards, known in Spanish as los Premios Goya, are Spain's main national film awards, considered by many in Spain, and internationally, to be the Spanish equivalent of the American Academy Awards....
and the Goya Award for Best Original Music. In May the soundtrack of the short film Malas Compañías by Malagan Antonio Hens.
On the occasion of the XI Semana de Cine Fantástico y de Terror de San Sebastián
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
, in 2000, he published Bascombe a CD single inspired in Sci Fi films, with versions of the music from Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
and Mars Attacks
Mars Attacks
Mars Attacks is a science fiction trading card series released in 1962. The cards feature artwork by science-fiction artist Wallace Wood and tell the story of the invasion of Earth by cruel, hideous Martians. The cards depicted futuristic battle scenes and bizarre methods of Martian attack, torture...
.
In 2001, besides playing throughout the American continent beside Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas Percevault , known professionally as Julieta Venegas, is a Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer, who sings pop-rock in Spanish. She speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish fluently. She has a twin sister, Yvonne, who is a photographer...
, he composed the soundtracks for the feature film El Sueño del Caimán by Beto Gómez and the short film Desaliñada by Gustavo Salmerón, and in November, Música de Automóvil An instrumental album that reflects his characteristic sound, but always with an unprecedented point of strangeness added.
He has performed at international festivals such as Pop Komm in Germany, Arezzo Wave in Italy, Sónar
Sónar
Sónar is an annual three-day music festival held in Barcelona, Spain. It is described officially as a festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia Art. Music is by far the main aspect of the festival....
in Barcelona and in Mexico, United States.
As a record producer
As a producer he has worked with Liquits, Tonino CarotoneTonino Carotone
Tonino Carotone is a Spanish singer-songwriter. The majority of his childhood and adolescence were spent in Pamplona, Spain. Although Tonino has had a lifelong love for Italian music, he did not visit Italy until 1995 when he flew there in order to avoid Spanish military service...
, Peret
Peret
Pere Pubill Calaf , known as Peret, is a Catalan Spanish Romaní singer, guitar player and composer, and the main representative of Catalan Rumba. Peret is known for the song Borriquito, and he represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 and performed at the Olympic Games in Barcelona...
and Josele Santiago. He has remixed Fangoria
Fangoria
Fangoria is an American magazine devoted to horror and exploitation films, which has a number of associated brands:* Fangoria Comics* Fangoria Films* Fangoria RadioFangoria may also refer to:* Fangoria , a Spanish electro pop band...
and Titán
Titán
Titán is a Mexican electronic band formed in 1992 from the industrial band Melamina Ponderosa, where Emilio Acevedo and Julián Lede first met each other, later Jay de la Cueva joined the band....
and he has collaborated with numerous band and artists like Renato Carossone, Peret
Peret
Pere Pubill Calaf , known as Peret, is a Catalan Spanish Romaní singer, guitar player and composer, and the main representative of Catalan Rumba. Peret is known for the song Borriquito, and he represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 and performed at the Olympic Games in Barcelona...
, Los Enemigos, Los Planetas
Los Planetas
Los Planetas is a Spanish indie group from the city of Granada which started out in the second half of the 1990s and continue now through the 2000s...
, Mercromina and Pauline en la Playa.
Studio Albums
| Year | Title | Label | Note |
| 1998 | Melodías de Rayos X | Subterfuge Records | Chosen by El País as the Best Electronic Album of the '90s |
| 2000 | Luna de Miel | Subterfuge Records | 11 tracks sung by 10 guest female vocalists |
| 2000 | Asfalto | Subterfuge Records | Original Soundtrack of Asfalto by Daniel Calparsoro |
| 2001 | El Sueño del Caimán | Subterfuge Records | Original Soundtrack of El Sueño del Caimán by Beto Gómez |
| 2001 | Música de Automóvil | Subterfuge Records | Instrumental recording (with one vocal track sung by Julieta Venegas Julieta Venegas Julieta Venegas Percevault , known professionally as Julieta Venegas, is a Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer, who sings pop-rock in Spanish. She speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish fluently. She has a twin sister, Yvonne, who is a photographer... ) |
| 2008 | ¡Vivan los Músicos! | Nuevos Medios | Recorded at the end of 2007 |
Singles and EPs
| Year | Title | Label | Note |
| 1998 | Highballito | Subterfuge Records | Single |
| 1999 | Música para el Desfile de la Colección de Otoño-Invierno 1999-2000 de Jesús del Pozo | Subterfuge Records | EP for fashion designer Jesús del Pozo's show |
| 2000 | Bascombe | Subterfuge Records | Issued along with the "Semana de Cine Fantástico y de Terror" of San Sebastián |
| 2000 | Malas Compañías | Subterfuge Records | Original Soundtrack of the short film En Malas Compañías by Antonio Hens |
| 2002 | Reparto a Domicilio | Subterfuge Records | Original edit and 4 mixes |