From a small town in Spain to sold-out global arenas, Spanish singer Rosalía has built her career with precision rather than luck. To many, the 33-year-old artist might seem like an overnight success, but her rise reflects a careful, sustained progression of a young woman determined to make it big.
Rosalía Vila Tobella grew up in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, about 40 minutes from Barcelona. Music was part of her life from early on: she learned to dance at local venues, sang and played guitar as a young girl. One former teacher remembered her as confident and determined, insisting even as a teenager that she was destined to be a pop star.
Her formal training centered on flamenco, which formed the backbone of her music. Inspired by groundbreaking flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla, she started her flamenco education at the Taller de Musics school in Barcelona. The school's founder, Lluis Cabrera, described her as "a cut above the other students," pointing to her "insatiable appetite for learning and constant curiosity."
Rosalía didn't stop at tradition. She used her flamenco training to steer the genre in a more contemporary direction in her first two albums, then blended those influences with pop, electronic and reggaeton, opening her music to a broader audience. Collaborations with J Balvin and Bad Bunny helped her connect with listeners across Latin America and the US.
Music journalist Yeray S. Iborra noted that these collaborations were carefully calculated: "It's essential to collaborate with people from other continents, and it's just as essential to know when to stop. Rosalía has done collaborations, but they've been very selective and limited to projects that made sense."
Visual identity has always been a big part of her package. Fashion journalist Maria Almenar points out that her aesthetic evolves with each album. On "Motomami," she plays with red looks, gasoline, motorcycles, leather, and sexuality.
Her unpredictability and willingness to change with the times have pushed her to the forefront of stardom. Iborra says: "The moment you play her music, even if it's just for 10 seconds, even if it makes you uncomfortable, it's a blessing for culture."
Earlier this year, Rosalía received the BRIT Award for International Artist of the Year and was named Woman of the Year at the Billboard Latin Women in Music gala. She is currently on a major world tour for her album "LUX," performing at mostly sold-out arenas.
Source: www.dw.com