Los Tenampas is eagerly anticipating their summer performances, venturing into new venues each year despite over a decade in the music industry. August promises to be particularly demanding, with approximately 100 concerts scheduled, a "luxury" for the band.
The group conducted an anthropological study to understand the appeal of ranchera music in Navarra and the Basque Country. Mikel, the youngest member and social media manager, suggests that Navarra can be considered the "cradle of Mexican song groups".
“"We are privileged. We love being able to live what we are experiencing as a family"
The founders of Los Tenampas are Patxi Artuch and his two sons: David and Mikel. Mikel, the youngest, manages social media and describes himself as the group's "chatterbox". They express that singing with their father and brother, as a family, is "amazing" and they feel "privileged".
Mikel Artuch, a former pelota player, found inspiration for this musical style during a trip to Mexico in 2009. The karaoke music he brought back sparked the idea for Los Tenampas. "Singing with your father and brother, as a family, is incredible. We are privileged," he states.
The popularity of Mexican music is attributed to several theories, including migration, language, and its suitability for accompanying social gatherings. The influence of Mexican cinema and radio in the 1950s, along with the popularity of Basque pelota (jai alai), also played a role.
They believe Mexican music is experiencing a "golden age" in the Basque Country, becoming an essential part of any festival. They highlight Navarra, Euskadi, and La Rioja as regions where this music is highly popular.
The group performs in locations such as Hernani and Lasarte-Oria, describing the audience as "very pleasant, very nice, and very dedicated". On July 25th, they will also perform in Soraluze, expressing their fondness for visiting Gipuzkoa.
To sustain numerous consecutive concerts, they emphasize the importance of rest and vocal care. "This is a job. We have to take care of ourselves to deliver the expected level and make the audience enjoy themselves," they state, prioritizing the audience and the music above all else.
