El Naán, founded in 2009 in Tabanera de Cerrato (Palencia), Spain, is a creative collective rooted in the ethnic spirit of Spanish and the wider Iberian traditional music. Their work combines music, poetry, and visual arts, forging a modern interpretation of Castilian heritage while embracing global influences.
Drawing from the “mesetaria (flap top mountain or mesa) aesthetic,” El Naán reimagines traditional rhythms, textures, and landscapes, creating an innovative approach to folk music. Their lyrics bridge academic, pagan, and oral traditions, breathing new life into Spanish poetry. This ethos is enriched by recordings from global travels, mixing international voices with their sound to craft a universal musical narrative.
The group’s live performances are immersive experiences, combining ancient instruments with contemporary elements like jazz, ethnic melodies, and spoken word. These rituals of sound and imagery captivate audiences, creating a communal and transformative atmosphere.
El Naán has performed at major festivals across Europe, including in Ireland, Poland, and England, where they were featured on the BBC. Their second album, Código de Barros, was distributed by the ARC Music label. Their third album, La Danza de las Semillas, received the Best European Album 2018 award from the Transglobal World Music Chart and ranked fourth in the Top 100 Worldwide.
Although the lineup may vary, key members include: Adal Pumarabín on percussion; Carlos Herrero on stringed instruments, lead vocals; César Díez on electric bass; César Tejero on saxophone; Héctor Castrillejo, poetry, rhapsody, video art; Javier Mediavilla on electric guitar; and María Alba on percussion, vocals.
Discography
De Babel a Itaca (2009)
Código de Barros (2013)
La Danza de las Semillas (2017)
Germinal (2021)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.