PVSSYDÒNIA

After releasing their debut album Punk Fenicio and the now-legendary video for Sa matança de ses Feixes, Pvssydònia burst onto Ibiza’s music scene like a wrecking ball. We spoke with Inés Roig (bass) and Marta Yanini (guitar) about how it all started, where they’re at now, and what’s next for the island’s first all-female punk band, who are completed by Esther “Akirasaturno” (vocals) and Marta Mallach (drums).

Which of your songs would you dedicate to this summer – and why?

Marta: Ibiza Hools, a satire about mass tourism.

Inés: The song tells the story of a tourist who heads to Sant Antoni, a few things happen to him, and he ends up jumping off a balcony. Honestly, it could apply to any summer in Ibiza.

What brought you together as a band? Shared music tastes, ideas, activism?

Inés: We started playing just for fun, but also to draw attention to some of the problems we were seeing around us. Most of us are either not from Ibiza or have lived elsewhere, and when we came back, we saw that while there was a growing punk scene, what it really lacked was a women’s band. What unites us most is our activism – we’ve got a lot to say.

Marta: The band is also a way for us to channel protest. In a way, it’s good for the soul.

Is it true that none of you really knew how to play when you started? What was the learning process like?

Marta: Yeah [laughs]! We got together one day at my house and just started playing. I had played a little guitar before, Inés was just starting out on bass, and the other Marta had picked up the drums. And we just went for it. We’ve taken some classes along the way and gotten better over time.

Outside of punk, what do you each do for work?

Inés: I’m a geologist and work as a project technician for an environmental foundation. The other Marta is also an environmental tech – she’s a biologist. Esther, our singer, works in accounting and admin.

Marta: I studied Fine Arts and I’ve been a high school teacher since 2002.

Your video Sa matança de ses Feixes really boosted your image, your sound, and definitely your message.

Marta: Yeah, it gave us a big push early on, but now we’re ready to start a new chapter. It’s time to create again. We’ve got a couple of shows lined up in Castellón and Valencia, and then we want to focus on making new tracks.

Inés: Exactly. That video helped establish us as a band, but right now we want to shake things up and keep creating – we’re at that point where it’s time to evolve.

What’s the live music scene like on the island?

Inés: Honestly, I’m pretty optimistic about the scene in Ibiza. For such a small island – and considering how the electronic scene could easily overshadow everything since it’s part of the Ibiza brand – I think the alternative scene is actually thriving. We can’t complain. In fact, we really do feel like we’re getting gigs. Whether they invite us back is another question (laughs).

Marta: Yeah, there’s a decent amount of movement. At the very least, the punk scene is starting to make a comeback.