Spanish Pop Artist Rosalía Breaks Norms with ‘Lux’

At New York’s Metropolitan Opera House, Spanish pop artist Rosalía shared insights about her intriguing global tour for her latest album, ‘Lux’ – Latin for light. Her vibrant discussion in such an iconic venue resonated with her passion and innovative spirit. ‘I like the concentrated energy in spaces like this,’ she remarked, underscoring her deep connection with performance energy.

Rosalía’s track ‘Berghain,’ inspired by 12th-century mystic Hildegard of Bingen, is not your typical pop song. Featuring orchestral and choir elements, and sung in both Spanish and German, the piece also includes an appearance by Björk. This combination reflects the 34-year-old’s reverence for classical influences while defying conventional pop norms. Opera has been a significant inspiration for her work.

During the challenging tour for ‘Lux,’ Rosalía performed en pointe and sang in multiple languages including Japanese, Ukrainian, Catalan, and Arabic. She revealed that the album contains lyrics in 14 languages, born from a desire for ‘communion’ rather than ‘exhibition.’

If you find 14 languages in this album, it’s not from a place of exhibition, but a search for communion.

The anticipation for ‘Lux’ was palpable, even causing traffic disruptions in Madrid during its announcement countdown. The album delves into the lives of historical female saints and mystics like Olga of Kyiv. ‘I didn’t know about her,’ Rosalía confessed, pointing out the striking mix of saintly qualities with those of assassins, poets, and individuals with troubled pasts.

Though aware of commercial pressures, Rosalía prioritizes authenticity. ‘I can only do what’s honest for me,’ she stated, admitting she spent two years perfecting the album. Her perfectionism led to last-minute tweaks that resulted in slight differences between digital and vinyl versions. ‘I could be forever doing it,’ she laughed, indicating her meticulous attention to detail.

Curiously, Rosalía doesn’t listen to her own albums. ‘I create to share it, to let it go,’ she explained, viewing personal playback as pointless. Her fans would disagree, as her discography showcases a vast range of styles, from her flamenco-inspired debut to the genre-blending ‘Motomami,’ and now ‘Lux,’ which reached #4 on the Billboard 200 chart. Rosalía embraces challenge and complexity, using symphonic structures and collaborating with the London Symphony Orchestra.

I love making music, so I devoted my life to that.

Rosalía’s creativity stems from childhood curiosity. Growing up near Barcelona, her fearless spirit left a lasting physical mark after an adventurous tumble. This tenacity, paired with a relentless work ethic, propelled her forward after early setbacks, such as being dropped from the Spanish talent show ‘Tú Sí Que Vales’ at age 15. ‘That experience taught me that I had to prepare a lot,’ she reflected.

Rosalía’s unique sound and style push mainstream pop’s boundaries towards the avant-garde. Her influence extends into fashion, as seen in her presence at the Met Gala, serving as a muse for designers. Recently, she ventured into acting with HBO’s ‘Euphoria.’ Embracing her adventurous nature, she strives to remain playful and fearless while exploring new creative avenues. Her commitment to music is almost spiritual, viewing her work as a noble pursuit akin to crafting bread or shoes.