El Guiri Andalu
Tarifa is that little slice of paradise where cultures, festivals, wind, and sea come together. But beyond the postcard image, there are passionate souls shaping the town’s musical identity.
Among them is Idris, also known as El Guiri Andalu — a unique artist whose heart beats to the rhythm of Tarifa.
His nickname is a warm wink: guiri is the term locals use for foreigners showing up with sunscreen and flip-flops. But Idris, though his roots are elsewhere, is Tarifeño through and through — a perfect fusion of his origins and his love for Andalusia.
Idris is 24 now, but his bond with music began early.
At just 10 years old, he joined the choir at San Mateo Church in Tarifa, where his musical journey started. Singing, guitar… he dabbled in everything. Music theory? Not really his thing. But the guitar never left his hands — he took lessons here and there while developing his own style.
What drives him is playing, experimenting, feeling.
Around age 16–17, he began exploring production and recording. Then at 18, he took a gap year to travel before moving to Bilbao to study economics.
The first year went well, but the cold and damp of the Basque Country weighed on him — too far from the warmth of his native Andalusia. Add the pandemic hitting in his second year, and he returned to Tarifa.
Back home, Idris dove headfirst into music. Guitar, production, vocals… he experimented constantly, honing his unique sound.
He later moved to The Hague, in the Netherlands, with hopes of entering the Conservatory. Jazz, bossa nova, acoustic guitar — he felt right at home.
After four intense months of preparation, he didn’t pass all the entrance exams, but the experience sparked a new sense of purpose.
So back to Tarifa — and let’s be honest, there are worse places to take a break 😄 — and a key encounter: the local orchestra, La Banda, offered him the chance to learn all the wind instruments for next to nothing. Idris jumped at it.
That’s when he discovered the trombone — love at first sight.
He realized it shares the same range as the male voice, a musical revelation that changed everything. Determined, he set his sights on another Conservatory — this time in Barcelona.
The challenge was big, but he succeeded in joining the “professional” level, which let him fast-track his training to just one year.
But Barcelona didn’t feel right. Still, he pushed on with a clear goal: to enter the Conservatory of the Canary Islands. And he made it!
Every summer, Idris returns to Tarifa to perform, often as a duo with his friend Alex.
In bars, on the streets, in chiringuitos… his unique sound catches people’s ears. But he also wanted a diploma — just in case — so he started studying Sound Engineering in the Canary Islands.
Mornings are for class, afternoons for the Conservatory. He explored the world of live performance, but it’s in the studio where he truly came alive.
In his first year, Idris joined a Big Band. The following year, his days were packed with learning and flourishing musical projects.
The trombone became his secret weapon.
With more and more opportunities coming his way, finishing five full years at the Conservatory started to seem impossible — too much work, too many gigs. A decision had to be made.
In summer 2024, Idris returned once again to Tarifa.
He built his own studio and began producing seriously. The energy clicked — El Guiri Andalu started making a name for himself.
That winter, he chose to stay in Tarifa with Alex and explore a new creative rhythm.
Today, he creates at his own pace, in slow cooking mode, carefully shaping his musical identity.
On stage, Idris performs as a duo with a drummer and a loop station, turning each show into a true one-man experience.
Guitar, trombone, bass, bossa nova, jazz… a real musical chameleon!
His story is still being written, but Idris already has several tracks in the works and an album planned for after the summer.
In the meantime, he continues to experiment, record, and — above all — share his passion with others.
A free and passionate artist, Idris is a musician walking his own path.
And if you’re passing through Tarifa this summer, keep your eyes (and ears) open — El Guiri Andalu just might sweep you into his one-of-a-kind musical world. 🎶
Childhood musical influences?
Bruno Mars, Manu Chao, Cypress Hill, SFDK…
Artistic style?
Funk / Andalusian reggae
Current listening?
A lot of jazz, international rap, international reggae… but honestly, I listen to pretty much everything except classical music and metal/hard rock.
