Obrint Pas
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Valencia , Spain |
| Products | Music albums |
Obrint Pas (meaning "Breaking Through") was a musical group originating from Valencia, in the Valencian Community. Their sound was a fusion of rock, ska, reggae, hardcore punk, and folk styles, enriched by traditional instruments such as the Valencian dolçaina. Their songwriting addressed themes of protest, solidarity, the unity and independence of the Catalan Countries, the promotion of the Catalan language, and Valencian cultural identity, while also emphasizing antifascist and antiracist messages. Their artistic output had a significant impact on those educated in Valencian following the Franco era.
History
Established in 1993, Obrint Pas launched their first tape in 1994, which secured their spot at the III Tirant de Rock festival. These initial festival performances were pivotal in establishing their reputation.
Their first studio album, La revolta de l'ànima, was released in 1997. The self-titled album Obrint Pas came out in 2000 via the label Propaganda pel Fet. With 2003’s Terra, they expanded their musical experimentation. The 2004 release La Flama broadened their international presence through tours across Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Morocco, and Western Sahara.
The band's last album, En Moviment (2005), is a live recording featuring collaborations with artists including Alex from Inadaptats, Fermin Muguruza, and Al Tall. This album was recorded during a tribute concert in Valencia commemorating ten years since the passing of Ovidi Montllor. Notably, it achieved chart success in Spain as the sole Catalan-language group to do so.
2006 Internacionalista Tour onwards
In 2006, they undertook the 2006 Internacionalista Tour, performing in countries such as England, Norway, Czech Republic, and Argentina.
Their fifth studio album, Benvingut al Paradís ("Welcome to Paradise" in Catalan), was issued in 2007 and featured cover art depicting Muhammad Ali. That same year, Valencian journalists Antoni Rubio and Hèctor Sanjuan published Del Sud. El País Valencià al ritme dels Obrint Pas, which narrates both the band’s trajectory and fifteen years of cultural development within the Valencian region.
World record Lipdubbing
On 24 October 2010, in Vic, a world record for the largest lipdub was set using Obrint Pas's 2004 track La flama, involving 5,771 participants.
Members
- Xavi Sarrià – Vocals and guitar
- Jaume Guerra – Bass guitar
- Miquel Gironès – Dolçaina, vocals, percussion
- Marc Guardiola – Drums
- Robert Fernández – Guitar
- Miquel Ramos – Vocals and keyboards
Discography
- La revolta de l'ànima (1997)
- Obrint Pas (2000)
- Terra (2002)
- La flama (2004)
- En Moviment! (Live album) + Un Poble en Moviment! (Live DVD) (2005)
- Benvingut al Paradís (CD) + Assaltant el Paradís (DVD) (2007)
- Coratge (CD and book) (2011)