Rosalía: Flamenco-Trap Fusion Star Rises in Spain

Rosalía Vila, a 25-year-old Catalan singer, has become a global phenomenon by blending flamenco with trap, rap, and electronic music. Her album "El Mal Querer," released on November 2, 2018, via Sony Music España, is a concept album inspired by the 14th-century anonymous novel "Flamenca," telling a story of female imprisonment by a jealous husband. The album features collaborations with composer Joan Albert Amargós, harpist Laura Bacchetti, the Coro Orfeo Català, and actress Rossy de Palma. For its launch on October 31, 2018, Rosalía drew over 10,000 fans to a free show in Madrid's Plaza Colón. Her single "Malamente" has over 35 million streams on Spotify and earned five Latin Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Rosalía's music, produced with Pablo Díaz-Reixa (El Guincho), incorporates flamenco, urban sounds, and social commentary against gender violence. Her choreography is by Charm La Dona, Rihanna's choreographer. She has performed across the US and UK, and Pedro Almodóvar cast her in his film "Dolor y Gloria" alongside Penélope Cruz. Rosalía's debut album "Los Angeles" (2017) focused on death, a traditional flamenco theme, but "El Mal Querer" marks a stylistic shift toward fusion and experimentation.