Discos L'Aguañaz

Discos L'Aguañaz is an independent record label based in Avilés, Asturias, Spain, dedicated to Asturian-language music across a range of genres. It was founded in 1993 by Xune Elipe and Fernando Rubio, both members of the Asturian rock band Dixebra, together with Piedad Gutiérrez. The label's name comes from a place name in the Sierra del Cuera, in eastern Asturias. Its stated motto, "Los nuevos soníos d'un vieyu país" ("The new sounds of an old country"), reflects its mission to support emerging Asturian traditional and rock musicians while also releasing the successive works of Dixebra, as part of the band's move toward self-management. The label was created after Dixebra's contract with the FonoAstur label, which had released their first album, expired. Xune Elipe and Fernando Rubio decided to take the risk of launching their own label. In its first ten years, L'Aguañaz released more than thirty recordings, and for its first seven years it did not request subsidies from the Principality of Asturias government, demonstrating that a record label could be sustained with its own resources. In October 2006, an agreement was announced whereby L'Aguañaz integrated into the publisher Ediciones Ámbitu, forming what was described as "the largest Asturianist company." Among the artists who have released records on L'Aguañaz are Asturian-language rock bands such as Dixebra, Avientu and Skama la Rede, and folk groups including Corquiéu, Skanda, N'Arba, La Cigua, Balandrán and La Coḷḷá Propinde. Some of the label's most important projects have been its compilation albums, notably L'asturianu muévese (1997), in which 20 rock groups from across Spain sang their songs in Asturian, and Rock'n'llingua (2004), which gave six emerging rock bands the opportunity to sing in the Asturian language. Since 2000, the company has also published the Anuariu de la música asturiana, an annual review of Asturian-language music. Another major success has been the Xeneración Folk compilation series, featuring various folk artists across four albums. The label also operates the sub-label Goxe Records, dedicated to artists less connected to folk, such as Toli Morilla, Anarquía Positiva and Dark la eMe.

Discos L'Aguañaz was founded in 1993 in Avilés, Asturias, by Xune Elipe and Fernando Rubio, members of the Asturian rock band Dixebra, together with Piedad Gutiérrez. The label's name derives from a place name in the Sierra del Cuera, in eastern Asturias. Its creation followed the expiration of Dixebra's contract with the FonoAstur label, which had released the band's first album. Xune Elipe and Fernando Rubio decided to take the risk of launching their own label, aiming to help emerging Asturian traditional music groups and to release Dixebra's successive works, marking an important step toward the band's self-management. The company's motto is "Los nuevos soníos d'un vieyu país" ("The new sounds of an old country"). In its first ten years, L'Aguañaz released more than thirty recordings. For its first seven years, the label did not request subsidies from the Principality of Asturias government, demonstrating that a record label could be sustained with its own resources. In October 2006, an agreement was officially announced whereby L'Aguañaz integrated into the publisher Ediciones Ámbitu, forming what was described as "the largest Asturianist company." Among the artists who have released records on L'Aguañaz are Asturian-language rock bands such as Dixebra, Avientu and Skama la Rede, and folk groups including Corquiéu, Skanda, N'Arba, La Cigua, Balandrán and La Coḷḷá Propinde. Some of the label's most important projects have been its compilation albums, notably L'asturianu muévese (1997), in which 20 rock groups from across Spain sang their songs in Asturian, and Rock'n'llingua (2004), which gave six emerging rock bands the opportunity to sing in the Asturian language. Since 2000, the company has also published the Anuariu de la música asturiana, an annual review of Asturian-language music. Another major success has been the Xeneración Folk compilation series, featuring various folk artists across four albums. The label also operates the sub-label Goxe Records, dedicated to artists less connected to folk, such as Toli Morilla, Anarquía Positiva and Dark la eMe.

• 2006

  In October, officially integrated into the publisher Ediciones Ámbitu, forming "the largest Asturianist company."

• 2004

  Released the compilation Rock'n'llingua, giving six emerging rock bands the chance to sing in Asturian.

• 2000

  Began publishing the Anuariu de la música asturiana, an annual review of Asturian-language music.

• 1997

  Released the compilation L'asturianu muévese, featuring 20 rock groups from across Spain singing in Asturian.

• 1993

  Founded in Avilés by Xune Elipe, Fernando Rubio and Piedad Gutiérrez.

Independent Asturian-language record label promoting new Asturian music and self-management for artists.

• L'asturianu muévese (1997 compilation)

• Rock'n'llingua (2004 compilation)

• Xeneración Folk compilation series (four albums)

• Anuariu de la música asturiana (annual publication since 2000)

1. 1Official websitearaz.net
2. 2Wikidata entry for Discos L'Aguañazwikidata.org
3. 3Spanish Wikipedia article on Discos L'Aguañazes.wikipedia.org