Joan Viñals was born in Olot in 1976 and has lived in Barcelona since the 1990s. He has played guitar since he was 14 and studied at various different music schools. Those studies brought him into contact with styles such as Gypsy Jazz and led him to form part of the 5deswing quintet, inspired by the jazz of Django Reinhardt. However, his work with other instruments like the ukulele led him to create a more intimate, audacious project. As a result, Iluminata was conceived in the summer of 2010. From that point, Joan Viñals found the means for expressing himself in his own language. In Maarten Swaan, a Dutch musician living in Barcelona, he found a complement in both voice and guitar, and was able to build the intimate, personal space that is Iluminata.
In August 2012, Iluminata recorded its first record at the Dave Bianchi studios. “Obre” is made up of 8 songs performed by various musicians, including Xavi Molero (drums), Miguel Serna (bass and double bass), Amanda Jane (accordion), Oriol Vidal (violin), Sasha Agranov (cello) and Natsuco Sugao (flugelhorn). In “Obre”, Joan Viñals introduces us to Iluminata, notes that build a comforting, solid, unique world.

Joan Viñals va néixer a Olot l'any 1976 i viu a Barcelona des dels 90. Toca la guitarra des dels 14 anys i ha estudiat en diferents escoles de música. Aquests estudis l'han dut a conèixer estils com el Jazz manouche i a formar part del quintet 5deswing, que s'inspira en el jazz de Django Reinhardt. Tot i així, el treball amb altres instruments com l'ukelele l'han dut a crear un projecte més íntim i agosarat. D'aquesta manera, l'estiu del 2010 neix Iluminata. A partir d'aleshores, Joan Viñals troba la via per expressar-se en el seu propi llenguatge. Juntament amb Maarten Swaan, músic holandès afincat a Barcelona, ha trobat el complement tant en veu com en guitarra, i aconsegueixen crear l'espai íntim i proper que és Iluminata.
L'agost del 2012, Iluminata grava el seu primer disc als estudis de Dave Bianchi. “Obre” són 8 temes en què han participat diferents músics, entre ells: Xavi Molero (bateria), Miguel Serna (baix i contrabaix), Amanda Jane (acordeó), Oriol Vidal (violí), Sasha Agranov (cello) i Natsuco Sugao (fiscorn) . Amb “Obre” Joan Viñals ens convida a conèixer Iluminata, notes que construeixen un món reconfortant, sòlid i singular.