“It hasn’t even been half a year since we left O.T. and the strongest things of our entire lives have already happened to us,” he acknowledges. Juanjo Bona (Magallón, 2003) during a talk in a central hotel in Madrid. At his side is Martin Urrutia (Getxo, 2005), fellow editor of Operación Triunfo 2023 and romantic partner. Together they join forces in what is their first joint single, The flash. An unusual topic, to say the least. The track, with a cut and melody far from any commercial convention that can suffocate the radio formula—or the omnipresent TikTok—has been produced by the Catalan electronic pop duo Hidrogenesse. A wise move that was already carried out a few years ago by the rare bird television Amaia Romero after her successful time there talent show and that, in advance, invites us to want to know more about the musical conjunction that Juanjo and Martin make up. The letter that both sign, almost encrypted, flirts with the idea of connecting in such an honest way that words are not necessary to communicate. Something that the young people experienced in first person during their sentimental flowering in the aforementioned television academy, when dozens of cameras intruded among their first kisses and affections (which, inevitably, forced them to come up with their own language that thousands of fans from their homes they tried to decipher).
The flash is, genuinely, an x-ray of what they are trying to shout to the world through chords. A proposal that is seasoned with a video clip in which both search for each other without much success in a black and white forest. Drama is assured. It should not seem inappropriate, according to Juanjo Bona and Martin Urrutia, the song arose during an unexpected and homely rainy afternoon – with stormy weather – in which their inspiration was sharpened. Almost like an epiphany that today turns them into the free verse of a hurried machinery that, luckily, has not stolen even an iota of authenticity from them. And that ability to avoid the obvious, whether you want it or not, ends up paying off.
GQ: You have managed to capture your personalities, until now musically antagonistic, in an intimate song that pays close attention to aesthetics and lyrics. Is The flash What did you expect from your collaboration or have you simply improvised?
Martin: We had a previous idea and the final result goes very hand in hand with that concept. We have gone hand in hand with Hidrogenesse to create the theme.
Juanjo: The collaboration has been just as we expected, both musically and visually.
GQ: We talked about the creative process: how did you compose the lyrics together?
Martin: It all started with ideas, concepts and images that brought us closer to what we wanted to convey with a song of ours. We emphasized flash and storm, which are strong visual concepts. Then, we thought about people who could help us carry out the idea and Hidrogenesse came to mind, who are two incredible and very peculiar guys.
Juanjo: We took care of the chorus and they gave structure to the verses. They also contributed resources such as whistles, lovebird sounds and other concepts that we relate to the storm and the light that it carries with it. They understood everything perfectly.
GQ: Since you left O.T. you have surprised with a personal sound that advocates, in the case of Juanjo, for folklore, and in the case of Martin for indie, this artistic movement is definitely the least O.T. that we have seen in a long time. Was it proposed to you to follow a commercial pattern after leaving academia?
In unison: No.
Martin: We were both pretty clear about what really moves us and the key is to follow those instincts. Furthermore, when you surround yourself with a team that supports these ideas, different and special things come out like this collaboration.
Juanjo: More than external pressure, in my case it was a personal decision. I imposed myself not to be so commercial. I gave importance to my differentiating elements: folklore and my way of being. The moment you understand what makes you different, everything flows like a river.
GQ: You recently spoke with MAYO and you told me that you felt the need to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way in order to take advantage of the exposure after the program. You, on the other hand, are clearly distancing yourself from the mainstreamAre you afraid of losing the opportunity to create a commercial theme after the boom of O.T.?
Juanjo: No, in fact, quite the opposite. If we didn’t have the exposure that OT has given us, making this type of music would have been more complicated. We have taken advantage of the boom to differentiate ourselves. For me, the triumph is being able to have found the musical path individually. If what you offer is real, it will go well.
Martin: Thanks to the exposure you have given us O.T. We have the opportunity to offer something different from what the rest does.
GQ: What will be the sonic lines that your respective albums will follow?
Juanjo: My album will come out in mid-February and in it I will mix jota with pop, using lyrics similar to the songs I have already released. I will pay tribute to different stages of my life with a common thread that will be folklore with a dreamlike and almost story-like aura.
Martin: I’m going to start thinking about my musical project now because until now I’ve been involved with the series. Mariliendre. I think I know where I want to go, both musically and aesthetically. I have references. I plan to mix indie sounds with pop music to create something more alternative and different.