Eder Portolés did not consider sharing her music until after turning 30. Following the pandemic, a surge in the desire for shared cultural experiences led to her being hired as a resident artist at a hotel in Portugalete. She has since been involved in various musical projects, including Miss Blue and the neojazz group Eder Portolés & Triology, consistently integrating her feminist activism and commitment to equality.
Through the podcast Sintonizadas on Vinilo FM Radio, she created a platform dedicated to music by women. She also participated in a feminist Roma women's choir in Bilbao with the association Amuge and has collaborated with acts such as Coro Gospel Bilbao and Big Band Bandits Orquestra.
Realizing she was neglecting her own artistic path, Portolés began shaping her new project, drawing inspiration from soul, pop, and jazz. The initial stages were more challenging than anticipated, due to a busy schedule and the need to precisely define her musical direction. "When you create songs, it's out of pure necessity," the artist explains.
Her family, described as having a 'jipi' spirit, has always been connected to culture and art: her great-grandmother was a zarzuela singer, her great-grandfather a comedian, and her aunt a dancer. For Eder, music serves a therapeutic and healing purpose. "The way you sing connects with your mind and body, with the unique essence each of us possesses," she states.
Her debut EP, E-motion (2025, Errabal jazz), features six songs recorded at Mecca studios in Oiartzun with live musicians. The lyrics, in Basque, English, and Spanish, address significant contemporary issues such as bullying, toxic relationships, motherhood, and personal growth. "I don't know if I'll ever write a romantic love song," she admits.
The title E-motion itself points to emotions and movement, which Portolés believes is where learning resides. She champions the inseparable bond between dance and music. She will perform with her full band on Saturday, June 27th, at 13:30 in the Jardín de Falerina in Vitoria-Gasteiz as part of the Korterraza festival.
In her first solo release, Eder Portolés blends styles like pop, sophisticated soul, R&B, jazz, and rock. The E-motion EP includes covers of 'A Natural Woman' by Aretha Franklin and '(I Really Got to Use) My Imagination' by Gladys Knight & The Pips. Portolés emphasizes that the underlying constant in her music is her "essence" – her unique way of expressing her artistic and musical vision.
The live band accompanying her includes José Gallardo (alto and tenor saxophone), Kike Mora (electric bass), Carlos Velasco (electric guitar), Daniel Donny López (piano), and Ander Zulaika (drums). The saxophone, particularly in tracks like 'Deeply' or 'Lovely Girl', adds a distinctive touch, showcasing Gallardo's virtuosity. "José is part of the sound of E-motion," says Portolés, describing him as an "intimate friend" and a "highly competent" professional.
