The Unintended Consequences of a Difficult Time
The pandemic has left a deep mark on society, and Stay Homas is no exception in the music scene. Despite the unexpected success they experienced during confinement, their experiences reflect a context of vulnerability and complexity. Even big names like Manu Chao and Pablo Alborán joined his musical journey, bringing a certain dose of bewilderment as well.
Reflections of a Revelatory Documentary
The recent documentary ‘Stay Homas: The Band That Should Not Exist’ has been presented at the Atlàntida Mallorca Film Fest. Are you ready for a story that balances passion with skepticism? The film, directed by Oriol Gispert, Nick Bolger and Ramon Balagué, takes us from a domestic environment, surrounded by takeaway food, to the world stage with their performances. However, the depth of the conflict seems to remain on the surface, somehow avoided.
An Incomplete Narrative?
With a third of the footage dedicated to celebrating success, the film gets lost in the mundane, failing to capture the true emotional journey. If the documentary seeks to capture the magic of creating music at such a tumultuous time, it stays too close to the surface, failing to explore the more intricate aspects of their experience as a group.
The Hidden Challenges behind Enthusiasm
A highlight of the documentary comes when some fans ask to be taken in, reflecting the pressures and expectations placed on artists. After all, joy and responsibility can bring down even the most determined. The reality of the music industry and interactions with agents like Ixent Sampietro, who help formalize its growth, are issues that need more attention and depth.
A Lost Opportunity
Despite the notes of humor and tenderness that emerge from his music, the documentary again makes a mistake similar to that of his songs: an excess of enthusiasm that ends up taking them out of their real context. Realizing that expectations are often overwhelming, artists end up confronting their own demands to keep going.
A Reflection on Happiness and Personal Wear and tear
The true beauty of music comes from going beyond the shiny surfaces and exploring the moments of exhaustion. Their songs possibly reflect a desire for mutual knowledge, a strength born of authenticity. But at the end of the day, the documentary leaves something missing: an opportunity to discuss the bitter side of fame, which would show a fuller picture of what it means to be an artist in a world where the title of ‘musician’ often carries more weight than it would seem at first glance.