Etxepare Basque Institute Music Award 2025: Izaro

The ninth Musika Bulegoa awards celebrated the work of eleven Basque artists and bands. Izaro won the Etxepare Basque Institute Award at the gala held on 14 May at the Jimmy Jazz venue in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

The Etxepare Basque Institute Music Award recognises the work of artists who promote Basque music beyond our borders. This year, the jury’s decision was unanimous.

Izaro Andrés not only composes, creates and sings incredibly well. She has taken the Basque language and culture to new, unexpected and diverse territories. With her own talent, sensitivity and great presence, she has performed on international stages, combining Basque with other languages, opening new paths, forging bonds and uniting voices.

For all these reasons –and more– she has been recognised for her role in raising the profile of the Basque language and culture internationally..

“This award is really exciting for me because in recent years we have been travelling a lot, spending long hours with ‘new’ families... For me, what we are experiencing now is a dream come true, and I believe that dreams often die due to a lack of resources. So I´m really grateful for being able to help sow seeds at home and away from home; we couldn´t do it without the Etxepare Basque Institute, and honestly, I´ll always bring you the most beautiful flowers I can find. Thank you.”

Izaro Andrés (Mallabia, 1993) began playing guitar and composing music while at university. She performed acoustic concerts here and there during that time. In 2016, she recorded her first album, ‘Om’.

 Izaro Andrés has been a composer and vocalist for ten years. She has released six albums in total, featuring lyrics in Basque, Spanish and English: ‘Om’ (2016), ‘Eason’ (2018), ‘Limones en Invierno’ (2020), ‘Limones de Oro’ (2022), ‘Cerodenero’ (2023) and ‘Izaro Gabonetan’ (2025).

She has collaborated with international artists such as Daymé Aroce, Alex Ferreira and Bratty, creating film soundtracks, starring in and directing a documentary, preparing international tours and dancing on stage. Without forgetting where she comes from, she is always open to new journeys, working under the motto ‘the revolution of tenderness’.

Musika Bulegoa Awards

The Musika Bulegoa Awards are designed to celebrate the Basque music industry, promote artists’ work, raise awareness, support their careers, and provide a platform to showcase their talent.

A total of eleven prizes are awarded, eight of them by a professional jury, and an honorary prize awarded by EHMBE for outstanding achievements in music. There is also an audience award, chosen by popular vote. This year´s winners are:

• Soinuak Haizean, for their work in bringing classical music to younger audiences.
• Olatz Salvador, for her album ‘Zainak eman’.
• Verde Prato, for the album ‘Erromantizismoa’, in collaboration with Bronquio.
• -Bloñ for the quality and originality of ‘Bañolet kantuz’.
• Libe for her ability to create her own identity and atmosphere with the album ‘Azal ezten’.
• The band Arineketa, for combining tradition and innovation.
• Eneritz Furyak, with ‘hhh’ for blending experimentation with a voice rooted in tradition.
• - Gorka Urbizu, with his first solo album, ‘Hasiera bat’, for conveying the most complex emotions through simple compositions.

 The audience award went to the Zabaldika Quartet. This year´s Música Bulegoa honorary award went to Benito Lertxundi for his lifetime achievement.