More than a footnote

The band that pretty much single-handedly reintroduced traditional Maltese instruments and music to the local scene is reuniting for a new, local performance after eight years. Ramona Depares interviews members of the newly-rebranded *Etnika.

Originally conceived to encourage the revival of Maltese traditional and folk music within a contemporary setting, music project Etnika acquired a strong following through the years. And, although it’s been eight years since the band’s last performance, this following has remained as loyal as ever.

Evidence of this is the air of excitement permeating the music scene upon news of the musicians’ (and dancer’s) reunion for a performance of *Etnika Footnotes later this month.

As the rebranding of the project name itself, from Etnika to *Etnika, should hint, exciting changes have been afoot since members – Andrew Alamango, Walter Vella, Alison Galea, Oliver Degabriele, Francesca Grima and Andrej Vujicic – officially reunite on the local front. I caught up with them to find out more.

What have the founders of Etnika been up to in these past years and what led to the decision to take a hiatus?

Andrew: I think it was a much needed break from seven years of managing a big group and an ever-growing annual concert like Etnikafe that was getting bigger, more expensive and more complicated. I think that most of us needed to pull back and focus on our own personal musical development.

We went on to pursue our own projects – me working on Malta’s Lost Voices, Walter Vella heading Trania, Alison Galea with Beangrowers and The Shh… We were also involved in a number of international projects. I studied the oud in Cairo, Istanbul and Crete under some very distinguished masters of oriental music, Oliver Degabriele performed in Paris and toured internationally with Akalé Wubé and Festen, Francesca Grima and Andrej Vujicic were based in Seville and touring worldwide with Puerto Flamenco, Eduardo Trassierra Trio and a multitude of other projects. I think it was good to step back from the local scene and focus elsewhere.

Has there been a change in line-up?

Andrej: It is not so much a change, as much as a reduction in numbers. This is mainly due to touring constraints as well as the fact that half the band lives and performs overseas. As we started touring abroad we felt the need to present the project to the Maltese audience in its current set-up. There is obviously potential to expand in the future as the energy and contribution of the full band will be missed.

Walter: The band has certainly become more compact with a back to basics attitude in mind. Percussion has been trimmed with more accent on the string instruments, with electric keys providing moods and colour. With this new setup, the sound has become raw and uncomplicated, but with clear harmonic overtones that can be distinctly heard and appreciated.

How long have you been working on *Etnika Footnotes?

Oliver: For the past year. It was a long process of selecting the right songs among Etnika’s past repertoires, adapting them to the new line-up and most importantly rearranging them to make sense to us.

Percussion has been trimmed, with more accent on the string instruments, with electric keys providing moods and colour

Has Etnika’s style evolved throughout this time?

Oliver: Etnika has made it a point to move through different styles and genres throughout the years. Jazz, flamenco, cabaret, għana, electronica, hip hop, ska … we’ve tried practically everything! We have kept this stylistic variety in this show, carefully picking artistic directions that we felt are most relevant to individual songs, as well as to the musicians making up the new line-up.

What can we expect from the concert?

Andrej: The drive to present different approaches to Maltese roots music and culture is within the band’s DNA. We are working on a new sound with always a few surprises in store, while allowing the collective nostalgia for the project and songs to guide us home.

Andrew: The distinctive Etnika energy and trademark. A well-packed session of good music, recognisable songs and memories. More sensibly-arranged tunes which still touch and have a strong emotional impact, energetic and fun, lyrical and creative use of instruments.

And what made you choose the name Footnotes?

Andrew: A footnote denotes further explanation, expanding on an idea, providing new details to the story. Hence, the asterisk mark in our new branding. Footnotes is also a remembrance of all those who contributed to the Etnika idea and to its success, from researchers, musicians, folks singers, lyrical poets and more.

Andrej: Unaware at first, Etnika definitely closed a chapter in its story in 2007, after the show Karavan Petlor. Before embarking on a new chapter, whatever that may be, we feel we wanted a reinterpretation of the old material as we feel about it now. An unwritten text between the lines, a heartfelt footnote to ourselves 10 years ago.

Etnika was started in order to revive traditional instruments and music. Would you say you have been successful in raising more awareness and reviving the genre?

Alison Galea: My answer to this question is a big, resounding yes. Etnika has not only revived traditional music, but also made Maltese lyrics once again an acceptable and modern-day language that is used by newer bands. Since the last shows in Malta, we can now enjoy more bands singing in Maltese than ever before.

Oliver: The Etnika project started off in a galaxy far, far away… it really does feel like it. It has been 15 years, but the music scene in Malta has evolved so much since then. It has become the norm for singers and bands to express themselves in Maltese, to inspire themselves from Maltese instruments, folk traditions, pop culture, poetry… This was not the case when Etnika was conceived.

Etnika definitely helped sow and spread some interest in what “Maltese world music” could sound like. However, we do not want to stop there, and want to push this further with the new *Etnika project. There are still a lot of avenues to explore, new instruments and sounds to use, new ways of using the Maltese language in song, new inspirations to be taken from our għana singers and musicians…and we are all very excited to delve deeper and keep the *Etnika project a forerunner in this genre.

Andrew: Absolutely successful in reviving the awareness and use of traditional instruments over the years. If anything this is totally to Etnika’s credit and those who pushed for the reconstruction and education of these traditions. Etnika managed to revalidate these within a new context, making their use appealing and interesting.

Malta had one last exponent in traditional bagpipe music and he has now passed away – but now, there are now a few young and middle-aged people who have taken up the vocation and responsibility.

I have taught dozens of young people and adults as well as children on techniques of traditional tambourine playing and their application in any form of music. This is definitely a success. Furthermore, there are more people who have developed interest in the construction and research of these instruments.

Would you say the scene in Malta has changed in any way during your absence with particular reference to folk and fusion music?

Andrew: I think there is definitely more of an awareness and acceptance of local folk and popular music as an inclusion and statement in local music and it makes sense that people express themselves in a more regional and local way, rather than import Nordic and western music traditions which don’t necessarily have any connection with the culture. We are clearly representing a regional culture with a local branding. I feel our identity is far more of a regional one than just an islander one. Saying we are Maltese is bigger than the rock itself.

Oliver: Even though there are new singers, young guitarists who are versed in the għana tradition, the local folk scene seems content with staying as is, within the confines of a few local bars and social gatherings.

Tunes which have a strong emotional impact, energetic and fun, lyrical and creative use of instruments

However, there have been an impressive amount of bands and artists that have been inspired by the tradition and taken Maltese music a step further. Brikkuni, Brodu, Kantilena come to mind… but there are many more. Not necessarily folk acts; these are all projects that have made it normal to sing in Maltese and yet unique and special in a more international context.

And this is important, considering that the music scene in Malta has, in the past few years, grown out of its self-conscious little shell and is starting to look beyond Maltese shores.

Bands and artists are looking to export their music and tour other countries. Maybe, this is the most important change in the scene. Malta and its music is not isolated any more, but it is easier than ever to show it off. We are excited to be part of that process once again.

Etnika was also known for merging traditional folk with theatre and flamenco. Will these two elements also be present in the new work?

Andrej: For the Footnotes concert we have stripped down the theatrical elements and very much focused on the music and the new arrangements.

Trying to find the minimal arrangement that will make the song work, finding new sounds and instrumentation, enjoy the freedom of experimenting and playing together, without the constraints of a large-scale, mounted production.

Francesca will also be present in several numbers, working to incorporate dance and footwork in new ways.

Francesca: My approach will be to deconstruct the knowledge and techniques of flamenco dance and reassemble to the music of *Etnika.

I will be experimenting with the use of the percussiveness of the Maltese language as inspiration in creating new footwork patterns and contemporary choreographies.

In the little that is left of Maltese traditional dances, the woman has no individual, strong or emancipated presence, so one of the challenges is to borrow that aspect from flamenco, yet representing the contemporary maltese woman with a unique Maltese sentiment.

Are we to expect more of a regular presence from *Etnika?

Andrej: The band has regrouped primarily as a touring band, with the focus of performing internationally and already had two shows in London and Rome. We would like to do more locally and record a new album, followed by concerts hopefully next year.

Andrew: Partly because we are all dispersed as musicians and because the local market is quickly saturated, we will mainly be playing over-seas. However, we are certainly committed to performing annually and being present locally .

Walter: We worked hard to create new harmonies and an altogether new sound, so it will be a sin to let it all go again. I believe with this new setup, we are more flexible to carry on creating new music and to further continue to raise an awareness about Maltese music.

*Etnika Footnotes takes place on August 21 and 22 at 9pm at Blue Box at M Space, Msida. Tickets are available online.

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