In this week's Tastermakers slot, Mixmag and Crack writer Leah Connolly recommends Spanish artist Rosalia...
From the Catalan coast to the worldwide stage, Rosalía has captivated everyone from the crowds of Sonar, to Pitchfork. So how exactly did a Flamenco-influenced, millennial take on the ancient genre end up ruling the summer? I first fell in love with Rosalía when I heard the striking De Plata, taken from her 2017 debut LP Los Ángeles. Granted, I was slightly later than, say, those that were lucky enough to be captivated by her 2017 Primavera Sound appearance, but I felt compelled to seek out everything I could get my hands on.
De Plata leads with Spanish guitars and dramatic push-and-pull intensity, as Rosalía snarls with articulate passion. Then, there’s the fact that her visuals are so beautifully eye-catching: you can’t help but be transfixed by her beauty and vision. Everything is beamed through a rose-tinted lens that marries traditionalism – crucifixes pepper her videos – with contemporary styles. The viscous electronics of Malamente are punctuated with handclaps, conjuring futuristic hip-hop as Rosalía and her girl crew move in time wearing tracksuits and coloured faux furs. But perhaps my ultimate favourite is the alluring yet brutalist R&B of Pienso En Tu Mira. I’m excited to hear what Rosalía will do next, and so should you be. New album El Mal Querer is coming soon…
