The festival ME_MMIX is preparing a new edition in Mallorca and Menorca between November 13 and 24, 2025. The event will feature more than 50 activities across over 10 venues and will include the participation of nearly 100 artists. Leading it is Mateu Malondra, professor of electroacoustic composition and audiovisual media at the Conservatori Superior de Música de les Illes Balears, and the alma mater of a project that champions sound research and interdisciplinary creation.
In this interview with UEP! Mallorca, Malondra explains the trajectory of the festival, its philosophy, and the challenges faced by a cultural proposal that combines music, cinema, installations, and performative actions.
The beginnings and evolution
“ME_MMIX is a platform for transitional music that started in 2013,” recalls Malondra. The project, however, has not had a continuous trajectory: “For work and funding reasons, there were periods of pause. Now we aim to consolidate it as a festival for Palma and Mallorca in November.”
From that first attempt until today, the festival has been gaining ambition and scope. “We have expanded the initial lines, and now, in addition to contemporary and electronic creation music, we add jazz, progressive rock proposals, and family formats. Also documentary cinema and audiovisual installations,” he explains.
“There isn’t a single audience, but many audiences that intersect, moving from one cultural sphere to another. Culture is plural, and the festival aims to reflect that”
– Mateu Malondra
Research Music and Hybridizations
The central concept of the festival is creation music. Malondra defines it as: “It is music that comes from the investigation and research of sound languages, visual interaction, or experimentation within physical spaces. It is research music within any field.”
Based on this idea, ME_MMIX combines very diverse aesthetics. “We always ask that proposals have a site-specific aspect, even if they present albums or new works. We want to give importance to live performance as a unique and almost unrepeatable event,” he emphasizes.
New Formats and Styles
In 2025, the festival introduces novelties. “For the first time, we are making a proposal within the rock environment, with progressive and experimental influences,” Malondra announces. There will also be activities designed for children and a show combining jazz, rock, and electronic elements.
Likewise, contemporary classical music is promoted: “There are composers presenting works and instrumentalists performing them, always with an innovative approach.” According to Malondra, the diversity of languages is one of the defining features of ME_MMIX.
Small Concerts and Annual Cycle
Although the main festival takes place in November, the project has already opened up to a broader calendar. “Thanks to the communications team and collaboration with venues, we have been organizing small concerts since July. It has worked very well, and next year we will launch a regular cycle,” he explains.
These activities serve as a bridge between the islands. “On the 4th we go to Menorca with Geometrical Sardine. It is a step towards consolidating a Balearic circuit,” he points out.
Motivations and Objectives
When asked what drives him to organize the festival, Malondra is clear: “The motivation has always been to make experimental environments known that do not enter mass or commercial circuits. We want to reach an audience that seeks different identities and especially promote diversity.”
A diversity he considers essential: “There isn’t a single audience, but many audiences that intersect, moving from one cultural sphere to another. Culture is plural, and the festival aims to reflect that.”
“I would highlight the inclusive atmosphere we want to create, the hybridization, and the intention to convey inclusive cultural ideas within sound environments and playful spaces”
– Mateu Malondra
Own Productions and Collaborations
Among this year’s proposals, Malondra highlights the productions created directly by the festival. “We will have a tribute to Llompart, with the participation of Joan Miquel Oliver, Toni Toledo, Jaume C. Pons Alorda, and myself. It is a project of hybridization and risk, a coming together of musicians from different backgrounds.”
He also emphasizes the presence of a French ensemble linked to the Institut de Musique Contemporaine, which will perform music by Martin Matalon: “In terms of interpretive quality, it will be a concert to follow.”
The program extends with names such as Marta Verde, José Venditti, Alter Face, or the Mallorcan piano duo Tomeu Moll and Albert Díaz.
Cinema and Family Activities
The festival also includes a documentary cinema section. “We are premiering in Spain Notation, by Marion Kalter, about Pierre Boulez. It is a documentary by an Austrian visual artist who closely followed him and presents a unique perspective,” explains Malondra.
The family dimension also has a place: “There will be playful and inclusive activities, with formats designed for children and proposals that combine music and other disciplines.”
The Role of Theaters and the Cultural Sector
Asked about the cultural situation in the Balearic Islands, Malondra offers a broad reflection: “Each sector is different. Rock bands depend on stable venues, jazz could grow with more halls, and classical music is mostly linked to public theaters and festivals. Everything needs to be strengthened.”
He also points out the need to reinforce contracts: “Public theaters must make an effort to give exposure to quality proposals and achieve a stable level of fees at the European level.”
Diversity and Inclusion
Throughout the interview, Malondra insists on the festival’s role as a meeting space. “I would highlight the inclusive atmosphere we want to create, the hybridization, and the intention to convey inclusive cultural ideas within sound environments and playful spaces.”
Additionally, the program incorporates DJ performances, such as sessions by Ishak Benavides, which will bring an electronic and contemporary dimension.