Ojos de Brujo

Ojos de Brujo is a band whose main idea is making music on the basis of flamenco going ahead to different styles. The first seed started to grow around 1990 when Ramón Giménez (flamenco guitar) and Juanlu (bass) began to play together. In 1996 the band had their first line-up as a result of several Barcelonese jam sessions - musicians of various projects coincided in the city, worked together and created the themes that were finally recorded in ‘Vengue’ ( 2000, Edel Records). At this time Ojos de Brujo defined themselves as a group of different musicians in collaboration (Dani and Beto from Macaco, Muñeco of Amparanoia, Antonio Rodríguez from Los Flamencorros, Xavi Turull from Amalgama, Marina Abad from Aguita Tope, Panko from Electric Funkdango…

‘Vengue’ was released in various countries as Belgium, Netherlands, France, Italy and Germany. This first discographic work was successfully presented in national and international tours and festivals like Pirineos Sur, Grec, Ethnosur, Bam, Mercat de Vic (Spain), Sfinks (Belgium), Nîmes (France), Womad (Canary Islands/ Spain). All these events were performed by a more stable band: Ramón Giménez, Juanlu, Marina, Xavi Turull, Panko, Sergio Ramos, Maxwell Wright and other musicians such as Malú (dancer), Antoni Restucci (mandolina), Loli (dancer, jaleos, claps). Simultaneously with the tours, the band worked in different remix-projects with national and international Dj’s like Angel Dust, Solo los Solo, Baby G, Apollo 9…

In Autumn 2001 Ojos de Brujo takes the decision to work on their own, they break their contract with Edel Records and start the tour ‘Abriendo puertas’ (Opening doors) playing all over the Spanish territory. The popularity of the group and their album ‘Vengue’ continues to grow, the album appears as best of the year in several publications and radio lists. It sells 20.000 copies in eight months and accumulates around 40.000 copies. In September 2002 Ojos de Brujo presents the second album ‘Barí’ - produced and released with their own label La Fábrica de Colores, an artistic platform created to promote not only the group’s own work but also other projects which share similar ideas. The second work of the group represents the progression of ‘Vengue’ - it is “more mature, more experimental too, and reflects the respect for Planet Earth and the importance of popular wisdom”.

Simultaneously to the edition of the album, Ojos de Brujo continues to participate in important festivals like the ones in: Mexico DF, Viñarock and Womad (Spain), Arrezzowave (Italy), Popkomm (Germany), Les Escales (France), Festival Oye Listen (Belgium), Womex (Germany)... The year 2002 ends with a huge tour through Spain, Belgium and Netherlands with complete sold-out shows. ‘Barí’ has sold more than 35.000 copies in almost three months. ‘Barí’ has already been released in Belgium, Netherlands, UK, France, Italy, Portugal, Japan, Germany, Sveden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. The next aim is the release in US, Mexico and Brazil.

La Fábrica de Colores has auto-produced two videos with Arco y flecha - an artistic musical and videographic platform: ‘Tahitá’ and ‘Ley de la gravedad’. The label has also produced a fanzine and comic called ‘Rumba contra el mundo’ (Rumba against the world). They are developing a video and diapositive project that has already been shown in their tour ‘Calé Barí’. The group’s popularity has also grown through their sound tracks for different movies as ‘Amnesia’ by Gabrielle Salvatore (Italy), ‘Volverás’ by Antonio Chavarrias (Spain/Mexico) and the appearance in the documentary about musician Gato Pérez ‘El Gran Gato’ by Ventura Pons (Spain).

Listen to / view sample clips