Held at the Euskalduna Palace in Bilbao
AIE Participates in BIME 2024 with a Panel and Two Concerts
Once again, the Society of Performing and Executant Artists AIE has participated in this significant annual professional fair in Bilbao. This year, the AIE panel featured two renowned artists, María José Llergo and Pablo Benegas, with José Manuel Sebastián as moderator. Additionally, two groups from the AIEnRUTa-Artistas program—Riders of the Canyon and Fillas de Cassandra—delivered captivating concerts at Café Antzokia
This year’s AIE panel at BIME, titled “Building a Music Career: A Beautiful (and Not-So-Easy) Path,” took place on Wednesday, September 30, in Pro Room I at the Euskalduna Palace, the central hub of the fair’s professional activities.
In a relaxed conversation, artists María José Llergo and Pablo Benegas, founding member and guitarist of La Oreja de Van Gogh, shared with moderator José Manuel Sebastián, host of Radio 3’s “Que parezca un accidente”, the challenges they faced early in their careers and the experiences that shaped them as artists.
When asked how music came into their lives and about the source of their creative drive, Pablo Benegas shared that there is no single path to enter this world; in his case, friendship was the spark that ignited his journey, driven by “a creative impulse, a musical urge, and a desire to express feelings with honesty.” For María José Llergo, “it all began as a game with her grandfather when she was just a little girl.” She believes music chose her from birth, seeing it as “a different way to understand the world, to communicate, and to turn pain into beauty.
Talking about the main challenges they have had to face, both artists highlighted the importance of separating personal identity from the public persona. For Llergo, “real, full, and pure life is beign at her home, which gives her perspective,” and she holds dear her grandfather’s advice: “Sing, get paid, but don’t sell out.” Benegas added that for him, Donosti is a place where he can step back and “hang up the persona,” as it’s hard to maintain a life separate from one’s profession without this separation.
María José pointed out that the personas artists create can sometimes serve as an excuse to avoid self-improvement, while Pablo emphasized that great artists are “people with depth, individual perspectives, and personality.”
The panel also explored the contrast between promoting a 1990s band and a current artist. Llergo was clear in her view that being constantly involved with social media and promotion diminishes the quality of art: “I think a lot about how I spend my time, whether I’m wasting it or investing it, and when I’m on social media, I feel like I’m wasting it all the time.” Pablo Benegas admitted that social media “demands a lot of time, and we’re somewhat past that phase, able to stay somewhat apart from the industry’s fast pace.” However, he noted that “the market is volume-driven, and nowadays, songs don’t get the second chance they once did.
Both artists agreed that social media comments should be taken with a grain of salt. Pablo remarked that “what’s said on social media should never be a reason for anything,” while María José, who has been in therapy—“the gym for emotions”—since releasing her first song in 2017, mentioned how it helps her manage feedback.
And lastly, another major topic was the lack of female representation in the music industry. “There’s still a lot to be done to equalize women’s presence in the industry,” María José stated. “As a woman, you’re undervalued and constantly questioned. You need a lot of patience to gain respect. Hopefully, a time will come when women don’t have to be afraid.” Pablo Benegas agreed, noting that “there’s still a condescending attitude toward young female artists. When they reach the top, they don’t get there the same way men do, as their journey takes a greater toll.”
Music as a grand finale
In addition to this insightful discussion, BIME 2024 attendees enjoyed performances by Riders of the Canyon and Fillas de Cassandra, two AIEnRUTa-Artistas groups, presented in collaboration with AIE, at Kafé Antzokia.
Riders of the Canyon, led by Joana Serrat along with Northern Irish musician Matthew McDaid and Barcelona’s Víctor Partido and Roger Usart, delivered a folk-rock performance characterized by superb harmony work.
The duo Fillas de Cassandra, composed of Sara Faro and María Pérez from Vigo, took the audience on a journey through history, featuring heroines from classical mythology. They blend traditional melodies with new lyrics, inspired by oral traditions, and incorporate elements of pop and electronic music.
