Cesk Freixas

Cesk Freixas
Background information
Birth nameFrancesc Freixas i Morros
BornSant Pere de Riudebitlles, Catalonia
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, politician, writer
Years active2004–present

Francesc Freixas i Morros (born 1984, Sant Pere de Riudebitlles, Alt Penedès, Catalonia, Spain) is a Catalan singer-songwriter. Freixas has released a sampler, seven albums, and a series of covers of international singer-songwriters as a contribution to the revitalization of the Protest song in the Catalan-speaking countries.

Biography

Freixas started performing as a member of a Sant Sadurní d'Anoia based band called Pangea. They did mainly rock-song covers.

His first solo performance took place in January 2004 in Igualada. In April 2004, he performed alone for the second time and used the live recordings for the sampler.

Freixas' first album appeared a year later, in 2005: Set voltes rebel (Bullanga Records) (Seven Times a Rebel).

In 2005, together with members of the fairly well-known band called Inadaptats, Freixas created and performed a show to pay homage to the Valencian singer-songwriter Ovidi Montllor.[1]

In 2006, Freixas uploaded a set of covers of international[2] singer-songwriters including Silvio Rodríguez, Víctor Jara, Ovidi Montllor, Raimon, and Bob Marley, under the name of Les veus dels pobles lliures (The Voices of the Free Peoples).[3]

The next two albums have a slightly more modern sound and include some pop-rock songs with a touch of electronic music: El camí cap a nosaltres (The Path Towards Us)[4] (RGB Suports, 2007), and La mà dels qui t'esperen (The Hand of those who await you) (Temps Record, 2009).

The fourth album, Tocats pel foc (Touched by the fire)[5] (Temps Record) appeared in 2012. It features a more live-like sound, with a significant presence of Acoustic guitars. Freixas described it as a homage to Manuel de Pedrolo.[6]

In November 2013, Freixas published his first book: Paraules per a Gaeta (Words for Gaeta), thanks to the Publishing Cooperative Tigre de Paper.[7]

Protesta, the fifth album appeared in May 2014:[8] under two formats:[9] a CD with unedited material and also a DVD of the concert marking a decade of performances.[10][11] The concert had taken place just after the death of Freixas' father.[12]

Freixas has so far performed over 1500 times.[13] In 2015, he was awarded the Catalan Album of the Year Prize by the Radio Station Ràdio 4,[14] as well as gaining popular recognition; he has won several Enderrock Awards including for Best DVD/Documentary.[15]

The sixth of Freixas' albums, Proposta, was launched in 2017[16][17][18] when Freixas became a father.[19]

In 2019 Freixas is presenting his seventh album: Festa Major. [20]

Cesk Freixas has also contributed to several albums either cooperative[21][22] or by other artists, such as Projecte Mut's 10 anys i bons,[2] #paualpalau by Pau Alabajos, or En les nostres mans, by Andreu Valor.

Political and cultural activities

Cesk Freixas is a member of two political organizations within the Catalan National Left: Candidatura d'Unitat Popular and Coordinadora Obrera Sindical.[23] Cesk Freixas has also expressed his support to Palestinian activists,[24] the Catalan culture and language,[25][26] and tackling poverty[27] among others.[28]

His political engagement[29] might explain why his concerts have attracted political criticism and allegedly boycott by Spanish Nationalists and Conservatives. In 2009, the Spanish Conservative Party and a Spanish Nationalist Party unsuccessfully tried to have his concert in Figueres cancelled.[30]

Since 2005, he has worked in the production and organization of the Trobada de Cantautors dels Països Catalans, a Gathering or Meeting of Singer-songwriters from all over the Catalan-speaking Countries. Artists such as Quico Pi de la Serra, Jaume Arnella, Miquel Gil, Albert Fibla, Feliu Ventura, and Pau Alabajos have taken part.[31]

In the elections to the Catalan Parliament Freixas has held symbolic responsibilities under the candidacy of CUP in 2012 and 2015.[32][33] He has also contested or given active support to CUP in Local elections.[34]

Since June 2016, Freixas has also appeared regularly in Catalunya Ràdio[35] and is very active online.[36]

Discography

  • 2004: Maqueta (self-edited)
  • 2005: Set voltes rebel (Bullanga Records)
  • 2006: Les veus dels pobles lliures (self-edited): cover album.
  • 2007: El camí cap a nosaltres (RGB Suports)[37]
  • 2009: La mà dels qui t'esperen (Temps Record)[38]
  • 2012: Tocats pel foc (Temps Record)[5]
  • 2014: Protesta (Temps Record)[8]
  • 2017: Proposta (DMusical)[39]
  • 2019: Festa Major (u98)
  • 2021: Memòria (u98)

Books

  • 2013: Paraules per a Gaeta (Tigre de Paper Edicions).[40]
  • 2016: Alè de taronja sencera (Tigre de Paper Edicions).[41]
  • 2020: El delta de les paraules.
  • 2022: Llegendes i rondalles catalanes. [42]
  • 2022: Contes catalans d'avui i de sempre.

Awards

  • 2008: Enderrock Award Popular Vote Best Singer-Songwriter.[43]
  • 2010: Enderrock Award Popular Vote Best Singer-Songwriter.[44]
  • 2011: Enderrock Award Popular Vote Best Singer-Songwriter Live.[45]
  • 2013: Enderrock Award Popular Vote Best Singer-Songwriter, Best Album, and Best Live Singer-Songwriter Performance.[46]
  • 2015: Enderrock Award Popular Vote Best DVD/Documentary.[47] Catalan Album of the Year according to Radio Station Ràdio 4.[14]
  • 2021: Language Associations Coordinator Joan Coromines National Award to people or organisations to work to defend, promote or normalise the Catalan language and culture. [48]

References

  1. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Toti Soler, Feliu Ventura, i membres d'Obrint Pas i Inadaptats, en el darrer homenatge a Ovidi Montllor des del món alternatiu" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: L'aniversari en companyia de Projecte Mut" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas penja sis cançons a internet en homenatge a 'les veus dels pobles lliures'" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  4. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas recorre 'El camí cap a nosaltres'" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  5. ^ a b Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas prepara 'Tocats pel foc'" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  6. ^ NacióDigital. "NacióDigital: Cesk Freixas: "Pedrolo és un referent de l'independentisme d'esquerres"" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  7. ^ associats, Partal, Maresma i. "Les paraules de Cesk Freixas per a Gaeta". VilaWeb.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: La protesta de Cesk Freixas a L'Auditori" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  9. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas gravarà un CD+DVD en directe el 2014" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  10. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas, La Folie i Sr Chinarro, concerts encisadors" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  11. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: El primer final de gira de Cesk Freixas" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  12. ^ "El cantautor Cesk Freixas viu el seu concert més difícil i emotiu al cicle enciSAT!". Andreuenc (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  13. ^ "CESK FREIXAS". CESK FREIXAS (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  14. ^ a b Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas guanya el Disc Català de l'Any de Ràdio 4" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  15. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: El palmarès històric dels Premis Enderrock" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  16. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas, transportant l'esperit d'una terra" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  17. ^ "TV3 Interviews Cesk Freixas". ccma. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  18. ^ Castillón, X. "Cesk Freixas presenta la seva 'Proposta'a Girona". El Punt Avui (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  19. ^ "Cesk Freixas estrena disc i paternitat". RAC1. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  20. ^ ceskfreixas (28 November 2018). ""Festa Major", el nou disc de Cesk Freixas". Cesk Freixas (in Catalan). Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  21. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas i Pau Alabajos presenten avui a Gràcia Venim del nord, venim del sud" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  22. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas i Roger Mas, protagonistes del Salvem l'Empordà" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  23. ^ Tornada, Revista La. "Cesk Freixas: 'Si volem crear coses noves, necessàriament les haurem de crear amb un somriure' | El protagonista de la setmana". www.latornada.cat (in Catalan). Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  24. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas i Marwan, cantautors solidaris amb Palestina" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  25. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: A l'equador del Correllengua amb Dijous Paella i Cesk Freixas" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  26. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Les sis hores del Camp Nou" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  27. ^ "Cesk Freixas dóna veu a entitats gironines que treballen per la cohesió social en un concert únic del festival Strenes". Ara.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  28. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas i Pau Alabajos, compromesos" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  29. ^ "Cesk Freixas: "Em sento representat per Teresa Forcades"". Ara.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  30. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas actuarà el proper dissabte a l'Acústica de Figueres" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  31. ^ associats, Partal, Maresma i. "La cançó d'autor protagonitza la nit a Riudebitlles". VilaWeb.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ "Resultats i fitxa". Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  33. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Què votaran els músics el 9N?" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  34. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Músics a les eleccions municipals" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  35. ^ "Cesk Freixas at Catalunya Ràdio". Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  36. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Els músics catalans que més ho peten a les xarxes socials" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  37. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas presenta el seu nou disc a l'Apolo de Barcelona" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  38. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: El nou disc de Cesk Freixas es dirà La mà dels qui t'esperen" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  39. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Cesk Freixas – Proposta". enderrock.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  40. ^ "Paraules per a Gaeta". Tigre de Paper (in Catalan). Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  41. ^ ceskfreixas (4 March 2016). "Alè de taronja sencera". CESK FREIXAS. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  42. ^ "Llegendes i rondalles catalanes d'avui i de sempre | Penguin Llibres".
  43. ^ "VilaWeb – Diari Electrònic Independent". vilaweb.cat. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  44. ^ associats, Partal, Maresma i. "La nit dels 'e-nderrock'". VilaWeb.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  45. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: I la votació popular ha decidit que..." (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  46. ^ "El penedesenc Cesk Freixas és un dels grans triomfadors en els Premis Enderrock 2013 | RTVVilafranca". RTVVilafranca (in Catalan). 25 February 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  47. ^ Enderrock.cat. "Enderrock.cat: Txarango arrasen a la votació popular" (in Catalan). Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  48. ^ "La Llibreria Quera, Diari de la Llengua, Cesk Freixas, Dàmaris Gelabert i Núria Cadenes, Premis Nacionals Joan Coromines 2021". 15 November 2021.