Pepe Motos is known as a driving force behind the use of the cajón within the flamenco awakening in Catalonia initiated by Mayte Martín. He was born in Madrid in 1970, but moved to Barcelona at the age of eight, and his training was largely forged in Flamenco Tablaos (1985–1991).
His father is José Motos, a guitarist and first cousin of Rafael Farina, and his mother is Mila de Vargas, a dancer who won the National Dance Award at the Córdoba Flamenco Festival.
He has worked and collaborated as a percussionist for Mayte Martín, Raimundo Amador, Miguel Poveda, Antonio Canales, Sara Baras, Belén Maya, Eva Yerbabuena, Diego el Cigala, Diego Carrasco, La Susi, and José Soto Sorderita, among many others.
In 1991 he was hired by Mayte Martín, and it was alongside her that he built his musical and artistic career. Their professional relationship lasted until 1999.
In 1999 he was hired by Sara Baras as a percussionist and composer for several of her works, a collaboration that lasted until 2006, when he moved to Madrid. During this period, the singer-songwriter also worked on various projects outside the world of flamenco with artists such as Paquito de Rivera, Celia Cruz, Chavela Vargas, and Ainhoa Arteta, among others.
In 2007 he returned to Barcelona and focused on his career as a singer-songwriter, releasing two albums: Así lo siento yo and Kodigo Flamenco, the latter featuring collaborations with Diego Carrasco and Mayte Martín. He also worked under theater director Lluís Pascual as composer, percussionist, and cantaor in El Caballero de Olmedo, a production he toured with for two years.
Today, Pepe Motos performs concerts with his band, produces work for other artists, and teaches flamenco.
