Rosalía: Lux
I’m going off-piste a little with this blog post, but I felt inspired so you will have to indulge me.
Rosalía: Lux
What an amazing phenomenon, and it is extraordinary to witness the meteoric rise of both the artist and this particular album. It was in November that I saw an Instagram post that first mentioned Rosalía and her new album, Lux. I gave it a listen while I was busy doing something, and this is not an album for background listening, and I kept dipping in and out and not quite getting to grips with it.
Today, having a morning during which I could get back to listening to some music, I played Lux again and it is a fabulous album, mainly because it has so many elements that I love in music - full orchestral score, flamenco influences, amazing vocals, a choir, originality in buckets and so much more. It is a full-on demonstration of what can be achieved when you are brave and willing to challenge the norms and it is such a dramatic and fascinating break from the constraints of so much of today’s contemporary music. I have realised, recently, that music can drive me absolutely insane when you hear the same old tracks time and time again on the radio, and I flit relentlessly between Heart FM (as the BBC seems intent on banning anyone from outside the UK from tuning in to their mainstream stations) and Classic FM (bubble-gum classics on a loop, punctuated by puerile advertisements).
For over 6 years, I produced and presented my own Classical music radio programme, and it was one of the loves of my life, being able to play all the music that I adore. Of late, I have found it difficult finding my musical home again. While working, as Spotify will testify, I have been listening to a lot of Max Richter simply because his music provides a divine respite when I need a little tranquillity. Plus, some of his compositions feature the voice of Grace Davidson whose sublime soprano voice is enough to calm the most frazzled of nerves.
I get frustrated when I can’t find music to suit my mood, but Rosalía has reignited that passion once again, which is exciting. Reignited to such an extent that we are determined to get tickets to see her live in concert next year, and (digressing slightly) Andrew has also just booked us tickets to see Moby as part of the Icónica fest in Sevilla in the summer. We saw Kylie here last year and, although I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a die-hard Kylie fan, it was AMAZING. The atmosphere in the Plaza de España on a hot summer’s night, listening to live music is difficult to match. Of course, I am equally happy listening to Polyphony singing Handel’s Messiah in St John’s Smith Square!
Back to this morning, though, listening to Rosalía and reading hundreds of reviews about this phenomenal album, reminded me that I have fallen for a number of Spanish contemporary artists whose music I have been quite happy listening to on a loop until Andrew feels compelled to go and lock himself in the studio, far away from me!
One summer, we were in one of a our favourite places on the Cabo de Gata, in Almeria, sitting in a restaurant right on the beach, looking at the menu when this track came through the restaurant’s speakers. I felt compelled to ask the waitress what it was:
Mediterránio, José María Llergo
Serendipity then played a part, as I found the track on Spotify and was notified that María José Llergo had an up-coming concert in Granada, so I immediately booked tickets. The gig, in the open air theatre in the Alhambra, was fabulously magical. Listening to Rosalía, I have been reminded how similar in style and voice both Rosalía and María José are, the latter perhaps lacking the full weight of the London Symphony Orchestra and the support of artists such as Björk! If Rosalía’s success focuses attention on other contemporary Spanish artists, then the world will be significantly enriched.
Listen to Ultrabelleza and let us know what you think.
Some years ago, Andrew and I went to see a performance in the Aliatar venue in Granada put on by a number of Flamenco schools from the area. Our friend and flamenco teacher, Natalie, put on a segment with her class at the time, and I remember the music that accompanied the dance, and it was fabulous.
Tú Que Vienes a Rondarme, Maria Arnal, Marcel Bagés
The album from which this track came became a great favourite that I listen to often throughout the long hot summers here in Spain:
It is amazing how music can evoke such incredible memories, and going back some years to one of our first Cultural and Creative courses, we were joined on a Botanical Painting course by two wonderful artists: Jelena, who is now one of our close friends, and one of her students, Anastasia.
As well as being a talented artists, Anastasia had an incredible voice.
At the end of the week-long painting course, we held an exhibition in the local bar, with the paintings by the students displayed in the upstairs room and guests enjoying drinks in the bar downstairs. I remember that as being such a wonderful, euphoric evening, surrounded by friends and neighbours from the village.
Music plays such an integral part in life here in Spain, and as that particular evening wore on, there was a lot of music and dancing, and Anastasia took the microphone at one stage and sang a peerless a capella version of this song, which to this day brings a tear to my eye:
Hijo de la Luna, Mecano
This morning, inspired by Rosalía, I have loved going back through some of the albums that mark the passing of our years here in Spain; tracks that evoke, for us, extraordinary memories that underline everything that we love about our lives here.
The above list represents a fraction of the contemporary Spanish music that has moved me, inspired me, thrilled me and stayed with me and that deserves to be as potentially eternal as Rosalía’s Lux.
