After 17 years, Leire Martínez will no longer be the lead vocalist of La Oreja de Van Gogh. In a statement Monday, the Spanish band announced that the group had parted ways with Oreja de Van Gogh’s second singer.
“After 17 marvelous years filled with music and emotions we’ll never forget, we’d like to announce that the professional journeys of Leire and La Oreja de Van Gogh will go down different paths,” read the statement in Spanish. “The decision has been hard to make, but it comes after much time of reflection and deep conversations, in which we have not managed to align our different ways of living the group.”
“This concludes a fascinating time that we all will carry in our hearts and that has allowed us to enjoy the best profession in the world,” the statement continued.
Martínez joined the group — also comprising Pablo Benegas, Xabi San Martín, Haritz Garde, and Álvaro Fuentes — in November 2007 following the departure of original vocalist Amaia Montero, who quit to pursue a solo career.
Over the last several months, fans have hypothesized that Montero might be reuniting with the band, after she made an appearance — after years away from the spotlight — to sing “Rosas,” Oreja de Van Gogh’s most-recognized hit, with Karol G during a show in Madrid.
Montero fronted the group for the band’s most-recognized LPs, including 2000’s El Viaje de Copperpot and 2003’s Lo Que te Conté Mientras te Hacías la Dormida. Their greatest tracks came with Montero at the helm, including the class “Rosas,” and tracks such as “La Playa” and “Puedes Contar Conmigo.”
With Martínez at the helm, Oreja de Van Gogh released five albums, including only a few hits with Martínez at the helm, including “Jueves” and “Muñeca de Trapo.”
Martínez addressed the rumors of Montero’s return to Oreja de Van Gogh in an interview with Navarra Television’s Cara a Cara just last month.
“Indeed, I don’t like disrespect, and it doesn’t matter to me that people say that Amaia is returning to the group… What I don’t like is that my presence is ignored when people say that,” Martínez said. “Whether it’s true or not is something that I’m not thinking about right now, and it will be the group that has to say if this will be so.”
She continued, “What I don’t like is people saying, ‘Great, she’s coming back.’ And what about me? People forget there’s a singer in this group. I’ve been in this group for 16 years, and I find it ugly to see that it seems like my work doesn’t matter, that lack of appreciation.” Martínez added, “I don’t like it. I don’t find it funny, but I understand what the game is.”
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