AKATZ – 12 Años de Exitos – CD

Akatz was formed in late 1992 in the coastal town of Bakio by five friends determined to fill the boring hours of the harsh winters in the “Tropical Euskadi.” From the very beginning, the band wanted to champion an original repertoire and achieve a unique sound, all with the goal of experiencing it live on stage.

Like any large band (ranging between 9 and 12 members since 1995), Akatz has experienced continuous lineup changes, with the core group of pioneering founders keeping the Caribbean flame alive. Over time and through various influences, reflections from other latitudes and cultures (R&B, jazz, swing, Latin, Brazil…) have been added to their sound. Between 1992 and 2004, they performed more than 100 concerts in a wide variety of venues, including bars, concert halls, nightclubs, open-air festivals, local town festivals, contests, and music videos. They also released self-produced CDs: Ez zaitez gera dantza gabe (a demo recorded in 1994 featuring 8 original tracks in Basque, Spanish, English, and instrumentals); One car (a demo recorded in 1996 with 7 new tracks in Basque, Spanish, English, and instrumentals); Akatz (a self-released mini-CD recorded in 1998 with 4 new tracks); and Particular Costa (a promotional CD recorded in 2000 with 7 tracks, introducing two covers for the first time). Additionally, they participated in several compilations: Brixton Cats + the Rudies (2 tracks), Global Ska 2, Brixton Cats + the Reggaeboys, and Spanish Town Reggae. All of this experience set the stage for the market release of 12 Años de Éxitos, the first full-length album by Akatz, where the band makes its grand debut featuring collaborations with guest artists such as Freddie Reiter from NYSJE, Roberto Sánchez, Myriam Quiñones, and Alain Michel.