Joan Roca, bassist of Antònia Font, dies

PalmaThe historic bassist of Antònia Font, Joan Roca, died early this Wednesday at the age of 54. His passing represents a great loss for Catalan music, after a career closely linked to one of the most influential and beloved bands of recent decades. Roca began to be part of the group, practically, from its beginnings and participated in the evolution of the formation until it became a musical phenomenon, with albums and songs that have marked several generations, including Alegria and Taxi.

Antònia Font was born in Mallorca in 1997, with Pau Debon on vocals, Joan Miquel Oliver on guitar, Jaume Manresa on keyboards, Pere Debon on drums, and Pere Estarellas on bass. Joan Roca replaced the latter on bass, right at the beginning of the band, which thus consolidated the definitive lineup.

In 1997, Antònia Font recorded a four-song demo and played their first concert in Bunyola. Two years later, they released their first album, the start of a career that would make the band one of the great references in Catalan pop.

Consolidation arrived with A Rússia (2001) and, above all, with Alegria (2002), the album that opened the doors to the general public. Subsequent works included Taxi (2004), Batiscafo Katiuscas (2006), Coser I cantar (2007), Lamparetes (2011) and Vostè és aquí (2012), with now essential songs such as 'Alegria', 'Wa yeah!', 'Calgary 88', 'Dins aquest iglú', 'Viure sense tu', and 'Me sobren paraules'.

With lyrics by Joan Miquel Oliver, the voice of Pau Debon, and its own universe full of astronauts, Mediterranean landscapes, and everyday characters, Antònia Font built an unmistakable identity. Joan Roca was a key player on bass.

One of the most outstanding moments of the first stage was Coser I cantar, recorded with orchestral accompaniment and distinguished with the National Music Prize of Catalonia. The tour culminated in 2008 with a memorable concert at the Gran Teatre del Liceu.

After sixteen years of career, the group separated in 2013, but eight years later announced their return with Un minut estroboscòpica (2022) and a tour that passed through Primavera Sound, Palau Sant Jordi, Liceu and Mallorca Live Festival, among others.

In 2023, the Editorial Council of l'ARA Balears awarded Antònia Font the Special 10 Years Prize. This distinction recognized that the Mallorcan group, through its music and lyrics, has made available to society the values that ARA Balears shares and defends.

Beyond Antònia Font, Roca also developed other projects, such as the experimental jazz trio Geometrical Sardine, with Jaume Rosselló and Pep Aspas. The group's next concert was scheduled for this Saturday at MoboFest, coinciding with the festival's tenth anniversary, and everything points to it being suspended following his death.

"Thank you, Joan, for making us sing, dance, laugh, and dream"

The President of the Government, Marga Prohens, has lamented the artist's death in a message published this Wednesday on social networks: "Thank you, Joan, for making us sing, dance, laugh, and dream. For making us feel so much joy and for being part of our lives through music".

Prohens has conveyed her affection to Roca's family, his friends, and all the members of Antònia Font, whom she has defined as “the soundtrack to great moments and so many stories”.

She also alluded to a stanza from the song 'Tristesa', included in the album Alegria (2002): "From my insufficient sky, of mineral rain, of umbrellas in the snow. Of such indifferent trees, of stopped clocks, of impossible feelings. Sadness, joy, sadness". Today we all change joy for sadness. From today on, this song will no longer sound the same without the unmistakable sound of your bass", she wrote.