Rosalía has never been one to follow the crowd, and now, she’s making that clear once again, making a sharp contrast between her artistic philosophy and global superstar Bad Bunny.
As anticipation builds for her new album 'LUX,' the Grammy-winning singer opened up on The New York Times’s Popcast about language, connection, and what it means to communicate with an audience.
© NBC“I think I’m the opposite of Benito. I think I care. I care so much that I’m definitely going to make the effort to sing in a language that’s not my language. It’s not my comfort zone,” Rosalía said.
The comment came in response to Bad Bunny’s recent statement that he doesn’t care whether listeners understand his Spanish lyrics, a stance that sparked debate in the U.S. ahead of his upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show.
© Christopher PolkHer recent comment has gone viral, as fans of the Puerto Rican singer are defending him and pointing out the political statement that he is making by singing in Spanish. Meanwhile, Rosalia is solely referring to language and communication.
Rosalía’s distinction from Bad Bunny isn’t a feud. While she speaks from a place of empathy and a desire for her music to transcend language and culture, fans online were quick to note that Bad Bunny himself once experimented beyond Spanish, notably on his song “Yonaguni,” where he sings in Japanese.
© Monica SchipperRosalia has spent the last two years crafting 'LUX,' an ambitious project sung in thirteen languages, including Spanish, Catalan, Arabic, Ukrainian, Latin, Sicilian, and German. It’s her most daring work yet, and she insists, entirely human.
“It’s all human, very much human,” Rosalía said, explaining that the album was made “entirely without the aid of artificial intelligence.” “It’s a lot of trying to understand how other languages work... Google Translate, and let’s see how this word is said. Okay, let me check with somebody who actually is a translator... Constant back and forth for entire years just dedicated to lyrics,” she recalled.
© Kevin Mazur“It’s because of the love and curiosity," she continued, explaining her desire to sing in multiple languages. Her new album draws from opera, classical composition, and experimental pop, featuring the London Symphony Orchestra with arrangements by Pulitzer Prize–winner Caroline Shaw, and production from Noah Goldstein (Yeezus) and Dylan Wiggins (SZA, Justin Bieber).
© Patricia J. GarcinuñoRosalía described each song as “a puzzle, like a labyrinth,” assembled through emotion and intuition. “A white canvas is like looking into an abyss,” she said. “But at the same time, there’s something that even makes me feel more uncomfortable, which would be to stay still.”
'LUX' arrives worldwide on November 7, following the haunting first single 'Berghain,' a darkly operatic piece already earning praise from Madonna and other music icons. Before the release, Rosalía will perform for a small group of fans at a free listening event in Barcelona on November 5, an intimate preview of what might be her most defining work yet, following listening parties in Mexico and New York City.
