Willy Bárcenas is back in the spotlight — and not just on stage. In 2026, his name is making waves not only in the packed venues of Taburete fans, but also on TV screens — the musician has taken on a new challenge as a contestant in a popular television show. For Bárcenas, it’s not just another project, but a real jolt that, as he admits, changed the way he sees himself and life itself. He doesn’t hide it: a lot has changed for him in recent months, and now he’s convinced — the best is yet to come.
While some artists chase trends, Bárcenas follows his own path. He’s open about not sharing the current obsession with modern musical fashions. His band Taburete has long become its own universe, where fleeting fads have no place. “We’re like a separate island,” he admits. And this island seems only to be growing stronger: their own studio, independence from labels, packed venues, and a schedule so full there’s barely any room for rest.
His own path
Bárcenas doesn’t like to talk about awards or radio airplay. He isn’t interested in what’s on top right now or who’s setting the rules in the music market. He’s convinced that the most important thing is to keep your head and not get carried away by the rush. “Discipline and calm — that’s what matters,” he says. This year, Taburete has dozens of concerts lined up across Spain and Latin America. Bárcenas has no illusions: success is not just about talent, but also hard work — and he’s ready for the marathon.
Yet behind the easygoing exterior lies a serious approach. Barsenas admits: sometimes he just wants to disappear from the spotlight, but the stage and the audience keep calling him back. He isn’t chasing fame, but he has no intention of giving it up. His goal is to strike a balance between his personal life and his career, to stay true to himself amid the whirlwind of events and not let circumstances knock him off course.
New horizons
Taking part in the TV show was a real test for Barsenas. He admits he never thought he was capable of so much of what he had to do on air. “I didn’t even know I had that kind of balance,” he laughs. But it was this experience that helped him believe in himself and his abilities. “If you work hard and don’t give up, almost anything is possible,” the musician says. The television project was not only a challenge but also a source of pride. Barsenas doesn’t hide that at times he lacked determination, but now he knows—limitations exist only in our minds.
This year is a special one for him. He isn’t making grand plans, but he wants to hold on to what he already has: stability, peace of mind, and confidence in tomorrow. For Barsenas, professional recognition is important, but so is personal happiness. He doesn’t like to talk about his private life, but admits there’s someone by his side who supports and inspires him.
Personal space
Willy Bárcenas makes no secret of it: his home is his sanctuary. Together with his wife, poet Loreto Sesma, he lives in Madrid in a bright, modern apartment. He prefers not to reveal the neighborhood—what’s personal should stay private. The couple rarely appear together in public, choosing to keep their relationship out of the spotlight. For Bárcenas, that’s a matter of principle: publicity shouldn’t destroy what matters most.
Their wedding in 2023 was an important milestone, but even after that, they didn’t change their habits. In a world where every move of a celebrity becomes public property, Bárcenas and Sesma opt for silence and privacy. It’s not a pose, but a conscious choice. The musician is convinced that only by living this way can they preserve harmony and not lose themselves amid the whirlwind of events.
The story of Taburete
Taburete was formed in 2014, when Bárcenas and his friend Antón Carreño decided to try their hand at music. The band was originally called Altramuz y Taburete, but after their first concert, they shortened the name to the punchier Taburete. According to the musicians, they wanted something simple and memorable, without references to family names or the past. Taburete represents lightness and change—not family histories.
Over the years, the band has released five albums, gained thousands of fans, and even filled the Movistar Arena. Bárcenas doesn’t like to dwell on the past, but he admits the road wasn’t easy. His father, former Partido Popular treasurer Luis Bárcenas, was at the center of a major scandal, but his son chose his own path. For him, music became more than a career—it was a way to prove that everyone shapes their own destiny.
Outside the System
Today, Taburete is more than just a band—it’s an independent project with its own philosophy. Barsenas isn’t afraid to go against the grain and create music that defies convention. He doesn’t seek critical approval or chase after trends. For him, the most important thing is to be honest with himself and his listeners. Perhaps that’s the key to his success.
Willy Barsenas never tires of repeating: the main thing is not to stop. His story is an example of how to stay true to yourself in a world that changes too quickly. He isn’t afraid of change, but doesn’t blindly follow it either. His island is a place where music lives by its own rules, and success comes to those who aren’t afraid to be different.
