Nacho Vegas: Music as Resistance Against Fascism

Nacho Vegas sits in a restaurant overlooking the harbor of Gijón, the coastal city where he was born 51 years ago and where he still makes his home. Over a glass of white wine, the Spanish musician speaks with quiet intensity about his upcoming album, Vidas semipreciosas, set for release on January 23.

The conversation reveals an artist whose personal history and political convictions are inseparable from his creative output. Vegas emerges not merely as a musician, but as a cultural figure deeply engaged with the urgent questions of our time, particularly the fight against rising authoritarianism.

We have to combat it in every way possible.

His words carry the weight of experience, shaped by a lifetime in a city that has witnessed Spain's complex political transformations and by a family that passed down a clear ethical compass.

The album's emotional core centers on a tribute to Vegas's mother, a figure he initially viewed through the traditional lens of maternal sacrifice. In his youth, he admits, he was drawn more to the authoritative presence of his father, who commanded respect in their household of three brothers.

His mother represented the quiet, abnegated woman who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. But adult perspective brought profound revelation: she was the constant force, the educator who shaped their characters and instilled the values that guide him today.

Those values were explicitly political. Vegas recalls how his parents made a deliberate educational choice that became an early political lesson:

My mother explained why both she and my father chose public school. I was delighted with that decision, because those who went to private schools were unbearable snobs.

This early understanding of class consciousness and educational equity formed the foundation of his worldview, transforming what could have been mere parental preference into a statement of principle.

The new album arrives at a moment when Vegas feels artists bear particular responsibility. Political commitment and attention to human affections are not separate concerns but twin pillars of meaningful creative work.

His approach rejects the notion of art as mere entertainment or escapism. Instead, he positions the musician as a participant in broader social struggles, using the unique platform that music provides to engage with pressing political realities.

The title itself, Vidas semipreciosas (Semi-Precious Lives), suggests a meditation on the value of ordinary existence in an era of dehumanization. It reflects an artist who sees beauty and dignity in lives that might otherwise be overlooked or dismissed.

For Vegas, the fight against fascism is not an abstract political position but a practical necessity requiring concrete action through cultural production.

Gijón itself shapes the artist's perspective. The Asturian city provides both the setting and the sensibility for his work—a place where industrial heritage, working-class identity, and cultural vibrancy intersect.

His decision to remain rooted in his birthplace rather than seeking opportunities in Madrid or Barcelona reflects a commitment to provincial authenticity. The harbor view from his regular restaurant becomes a metaphor for an artist who draws strength from local identity while engaging with universal struggles.

The 51-year-old musician represents a generation of Spanish artists who came of age during the democratic transition and now witness new threats to those hard-won freedoms. His longevity in the industry demonstrates that political conviction need not compromise artistic integrity.

What emerges is a portrait of an artist who has maintained his principles while evolving his craft, always returning to the fundamental lessons learned in childhood.

The album's dual focus on political struggle and intimate relationships reveals Vegas's belief that these spheres are fundamentally connected. The song dedicated to his mother demonstrates how personal bonds can be the source of political consciousness.

This integration of the private and public represents a mature artistic vision that refuses to compartmentalize human experience. For Vegas, the values that shape family life are the same values that must guide political action.

The upcoming release promises to be more than a collection of songs—it stands as a testament to an artist who has remained faithful to the lessons of his upbringing while confronting the challenges of the present moment.

In a cultural landscape often dominated by commercial calculations, Vegas's work reminds us that music can still serve as a vehicle for conscience, memory, and resistance.

The release of Vidas semipreciosas on January 23 offers listeners an opportunity to engage with an artist who refuses to separate beauty from conviction. Vegas's journey from the public schools of Gijón to his current position as a respected musician demonstrates that political clarity and artistic achievement can reinforce each other.

His message is clear: the fight against authoritarianism requires engagement from all sectors of society, and artists possess particular tools for that struggle. The album promises to be both a personal statement and a political intervention, rooted in the values passed down from mother to son.

For those seeking music that confronts rather than evades, that connects intimate feeling to collective concern, Nacho Vegas continues to offer a compelling example of what it means to be an artist in troubled times.