Music and literature, eternal dance partners

Miqui Otero and Ramon Mas

Moderator: Clàudia Rius

Several authors have confessed that they envy music for its immediacy, for the instant emotional reaction it sparks in others. Perhaps many choose to include music in their writing precisely because of how it has impacted them personally. For example, in an interview about his latest novel, Orquesta [Orchestra], Barcelona author Miqui Otero put it this way: “A song is the closest thing we have to a time machine; it triggers memories.” Indeed, Otero’s love of music is one of his hallmarks: there’s a musical reference to be found in each and every one of his books. The same can be said of Ramon Mas, a Catalan author and publisher who has been involved in hardcore and punk music for years. Els murs invisibles [The Invisible Walls] is an ode to friendship and a unique account of part of the history of the Catalan underground music scene, based on his personal experience. We’ll talk with Otero and Mas to explore the relationship between music and their literature.