Diego Galaz Ballesteros was born in 1976 in the Gamonal district of Burgos, Spain, a neighborhood with which he has always maintained a strong personal connection. He began studying western classical music at the age of six at the local conservatory, where he was mentored by the composer Alejandro Yagüe and received extensive training over more than six years from the distinguished violinist Isabel Vila. Although rooted in classical tradition, Galaz’s interests soon expanded to encompass traditional and contemporary folk music.
During his youth, he played guitar in several local bands, engaging with genres ranging from folk and Celtic music to funk and singer-songwriter traditions.
In 1996, Galaz relocated to Madrid to continue his education at the Instituto de Música y Tecnología. This move marked a turning point, as he began collaborating with a wide range of musical groups. Amid a growing interest in Irish pub culture and Celtic music, Galaz’s rare specialization in the violin provided numerous opportunities.
In 1997, he joined La Cabra Mecánica during its pop phase and became part of the band Revólver, invited by frontman Carlos Goñi to perform on the “A Solas” tour. Throughout this period, Galaz developed a reputation as a versatile and sought-after violinist, performing and recording with prominent artists such as Joaquín Sabina, Jorge Drexler, Carlos Núñez, M Clan, Ismael Serrano, Pepe de Lucía, Coque Malla, Pedro Guerra, Luis Pastor, and Alasdair Fraser, among many others.
Galaz further immersed himself in Iberian folk traditions as a member of La Musgaña, one of Spain’s most celebrated folk ensembles. He later co-founded Zoobazar, a world music quartet with whom he recorded two albums, Uno and Dos. While both projects eventually concluded, Galaz is no longer affiliated with La Musgaña, and Zoobazar has since disbanded, they showcased his commitment to cross-cultural musical exploration and his growing interest in nontraditional instruments.
In partnership with accordionist Jorge Arribas, Galaz founded Fetén Fetén, a duo that combines original compositions with traditional musical heritage. The project is notable for its grassroots funding model, bypassing traditional record labels in favor of crowdfunding, and for its innovative instrumentation, featuring violin-trumpet, musical saw, and other repurposed or handmade instruments. Fetén Fetén has released multiple albums and remains Galaz’s primary creative outlet.
Galaz is the creator and artistic director of the Festival de Instrumentos Insólitos de Burgos, a celebrated annual event dedicated to unusual instruments and their performers. In parallel, he has cultivated a robust educational career, offering masterclasses at institutions such as the Escuela de Música Creativa (Madrid), the Aula de Música Tradicional y Popular (Barcelona), and the Fiddle Camp programs initiated by Alasdair Fraser.
Galaz has contributed to a number of film soundtracks, including El gran Vázquez and Primos, and composed the score for the documentary Argentina, la casa desaparecida (2002). His music also featured in the official catalogue of photographer David Palacín for the 2002 Dakar Biennale, alongside contributions from Youssou N’Dour and flamenco singer El Cabrero.
In recent years, Galaz composed the official music for the 800th anniversary celebrations of the Cathedral of Burgos and performed at related events. He continues to collaborate with contemporary artists such as Rozalén, contributing arrangements and live performances. Additionally, he remains a core member of Nacho Mastretta’s orchestra and has appeared at prestigious venues, including the Olympia theater in Paris.
In 2015, Diego Galaz was named pregonero (official speaker) of the San Pedro and San Pablo patronal festivities in Burgos, a testament to his deep connection with his hometown and his cultural impact on the region.
Renowned for his mastery of both classical violin and rare instruments such as the musical saw and violin-trumpet, Galaz is widely recognized as a singular voice in Spanish music. His work is characterized not only by technical skill but also by an open-minded, exploratory spirit that embraces musical hybridity, humor, and innovation.
Discography:
Solo:
Canciones y Paseos (2015)
with Fetén Fetén:
Fetén Fetén (2011)
Bailables (2014)
Cantables (Sony Music, 2016)
Melodías De Ultramar (2018)
Cantables II (2021)
Books:
El Mágico Planeta de los instrumentos insólitos (2019)
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.