Rosalía’s latest album boldly brings romanticism back to life

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Rosalía, the popular Spanish singer, released her new album, Lux, on November 7th. As with much of her work, the album has sparked some debate, with discussions ranging from its religious imagery to accusations of cultural appropriation.

Most people consider it a true masterpiece, and I wholeheartedly agree. I definitely cried—twice, actually—the first time I heard Lux.

I was so relieved to hear the artist herself say there wasn’t any AI used in making her new album! She actually said it was a “deeply human” project in an interview with France Inter, and honestly, that’s amazing to hear when so much music these days feels like it’s just been churned out by algorithms.

How good is Rosalía’s latest album, ‘Lux’?

Algorithms have clearly revolutionized music marketing, and it shows in who gets nominated for awards. Many of this year’s Grammy nominees for Best New Artist gained popularity through TikTok trends or have built a strong, and sometimes controversial, social media following alongside their music.

I really think this album could earn her another Grammy next year, probably in the pop category. It’s difficult to say what’s more striking about Lux – its powerful sound or its strong political message.

This album brilliantly blends different styles. It combines electronic and traditional instruments, feels both cutting-edge and classic, and skillfully mixes various sounds, languages, and approaches. The artist takes the best elements from each influence, creating a cohesive and intentional sound.

This is the result of an artist being given complete creative freedom and a record label trusting their vision without interference.

I totally get why Sony has so much faith in Rosalía! Her last two albums, Motomami and El Mal Querer, were huge hits and really showed off how unique and creative she is. It’s clear they know she’s got a brilliant artistic vision.

Everything about how the story unfolds in Lux feels intentional and carefully planned. Combining real and electronic instruments enhances the strengths of each.

“Reliquia” really showcases this well—it’s also my personal favorite track! It features sustained synth notes combined with unusual, rapidly-played virtual strings in a way that wouldn’t be possible using real instruments.

This digital sound doesn’t try to imitate real instruments—it embraces its electronic nature, and the result is fantastic.

Traditional instruments get their own spotlight, particularly before the chorus, which makes the sound of electronic instruments in the chorus feel much more powerful. Rosalía is a master of using these kinds of contrasts to create impact.

She’s skilled at using contrasts, which is clear in how each song and the album itself are organized into different sections.

Rosalía is a musician who recognizes the power of silence in her work, treating it like any other instrument. Each of her songs feels like a complete emotional experience, and the album as a whole takes you on a wide range of feelings.

She confidently mixes various recording methods on this album, blurring the lines between different music genres. Producers will tell you that recording classical, electronic, and pop music all require very different approaches and skills.

Pop music often uses heavy compression, which makes everything sound very consistent and ensures all instruments are equally prominent.

Electronic music often pushes boundaries and uses automated effects—like the subtle left-to-right sound movement in “Porcelana” around the two-minute point, which is best heard with headphones.

Unlike many modern genres, classical music typically involves all musicians recording together in the same space. This creates a unique sound because the acoustics of the recording venue – how sound echoes and bounces around – become a key part of the music. Skilled microphone placement is crucial to capture this natural, spatial sound.

Think about how challenging it is to put all these different methods together and still create a smooth, unified sound.

She also thanks the talented team who helped create the music, including Noah Goldstein, Dylan Wiggins, Caroline Shaw, Jake Miller, Elliott Kozel, and the renowned Pharrell Williams. El Guincho, who previously worked with her on the 2019 hit “Con Altura” featuring J Balvin, was also involved.

Rosalía also pushes the boundaries of each instrument’s usual role within a song.

Okay, so in the track “Divinize,” the way they used pizzicato – that’s when string instruments are plucked instead of bowed – and this sound similar to an oud, an Egyptian instrument, is really cool. It creates this almost drum-like effect, like the strings are the percussion section. It’s a neat touch that really stands out to me as a gamer!

And her voice! This woman can truly sing. It’s not just beautiful, it’s captivating and almost magical – like something from a myth. Her singing is incredibly emotional; it feels like she’s pouring her heart out, and it really affects you.

She’s consistently showcased an incredible vocal range in her past work, and it still impresses me every time. She effortlessly moves between her lower and higher registers, making it sound completely natural.

Rosalía’s background in flamenco is clear – she formally studied music, and her acclaimed first album, El Mal Querer, actually started as her university thesis project.

Her songs often reflect her flamenco roots, especially tracks like “Mundo Nuevo” and “De Madrugá.” This is particularly clear in “La Rumba del Perdón,” which includes a performance by the celebrated flamenco singer Estrella Morente – a true icon in the genre.

I recently read a fascinating interview with Rosalía in the New York Times, promoting her album Lux. What stood out to me most was her discussion about whether or not her music fits into the ‘pop’ genre.

“There has to exist another way of making pop. Björk proved it. Kate Bush proved it. I need to think that what I’m doing is pop, ’cause otherwise I don’t think I’m succeeding.”

This album is bold and ambitious, overflowing with emotion and detail. It feels like a return to classic, expressive art – something Chopin and Monet would appreciate. And it’s undeniably human; as Rosalía says, artificial intelligence couldn’t create something like this.

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2025-11-13 14:01