rosalia
Rosalía (Rosalía Vila Tobella, born September 25, 1992, in Barcelona, Spain) is the Spanish artist who redefined flamenco for the global pop era. Her album Motomami (2022) cemented her as one of the most innovative voices in Latin pop and world pop. In 2025 she released Lux, her fourth studio album and most ambitious to date: 15 tracks exploring feminism and spirituality through a blend of flamenco, electronics, bachata, and dembow. Here's how she got there, her five best singles, her impact on the internationalization of flamenco, and why every album pushes the boundaries of pop.
From Barcelona to the world: the story of Rosalía
Rosalía Vila Tobella grew up in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, a working-class town outside Barcelona. Her father is a retired industrial engineer and her mother works in administration; she fell in love with flamenco listening to her grandmother, who took her to flamenco peñas (clubs) as a child. At 15 she began studying flamenco singing at the Escuela Superior de Música de Cataluña, and at 17 she released her first EP, Al Sol (2017), a deeply rooted flamenco production with contemporary arrangements.
The global breakthrough came with El Mal Querer (2018), her second album — a concept record built around the 13th-century Occitan novel Flamenca. Produced with El Guincho (Borja Fernández), the album mixed flamenco with electronics, reggaetón, and R&B. The single "Malamente" became a Gen Z anthem and won the Latin Grammy for Song of the Year in 2019.
Rosalía isn't just a singer: she's a theorist of popular music. Her work reimagines traditional Spanish music with global pop codes, keeping artistic rigor while negotiating with the mainstream. Her visual aesthetic (references to Holy Week, Almodóvar's cinema, Spanish kitsch) has made her a reference point in fashion and contemporary art.
The 5 best Rosalía singles
1. "Despechá" (2022) — the summer anthem
"Despechá" was the Rosalía track that broke the English-speaking market. Released as a standalone single ahead of Motomami, it passed 800 million streams on Spotify and was the most-streamed Spanish-language song of summer 2022. The production, driven by a distorted electric guitar, captures female heartbreak with an energy that connects with the bolero flamenco tradition without losing the global pop context.
2. "Bizcochito" (2022) — erotic minimalism
"Bizcochito" is, per Pitchfork, one of the best songs of the decade. The minimalist production (just voice, subtle percussion, and deep synths) creates a hypnotic space for a lyric that plays with sensuality and food as metaphors. At under two minutes, it shows Rosalía's ability to say a lot in very little time.
3. "DESPECHÁ" (with Cardi B, 2024) — the rap crossover
Cardi B's remix of "Despechá" pushed the song into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The collab shows Rosalía's ability to cross over into U.S. rap without losing her flamenco identity. Cardi B raps in Spanish with a Cartagenero accent that surprises English-speaking and Latin American fans alike.
4. "A Palé" (2025) — the bachata of the future
"A Palé" is, by Rosalía's own account, her most personal song to date. Produced with Marco Masís (Tainy), the track mixes Dominican bachata with experimental electronics and a chorus that captures heartbreak with the melancholy of a bolero. The lyrics, about a recent breakup, were written in a single night and capture the confessional style that runs through Lux.
5. "La Fama" (with The Weeknd, 2022) — the 21st-century bolero
"La Fama" is the collaboration with The Weeknd that best shows Rosalía's range. The song is a modern bolero about the toxicity of fame, with a flamenco guitar arrangement that breaks with The Weeknd's typical R&B production. It was nominated for the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2023.
Rosalía by the numbers (June 2026)
- 4 studio albums: Los Ángeles (2017), El Mal Querer (2018), Motomami (2022), Lux (2025)
- 2 Latin Grammys for Album of the Year (El Mal Querer 2019, Motomami 2023)
- 2 English-language Grammys for Best Latin Pop Album (El Mal Querer 2020, Motomami 2023)
- 50+ million monthly Spotify listeners (the #1 Spanish artist on the platform)
- 3 additional Latin Grammys
Rosalía's impact on flamenco and pop
Rosalía is the most important flamenco artist since Paco de Lucía. Her work, however, is controversial within the traditional flamenco world: purists accuse her of "distorting" the genre, while her defenders see her as the person who renewed an art form that risked becoming pure folklore. The truth sits in the middle: Rosalía isn't a traditional flamenco artist (she doesn't sing seguiriyas or accompany herself with a toque guitar), but her work draws from flamenco deeply and constantly.
Her impact goes beyond flamenco. Motomami (2022) is one of the most influential albums of the decade: it redefined how Latin pop dialogues with R&B, dembow, and electronic music. Artists like the Argentine Nicki Nicole, Mexico's Bellakath, and Colombia's Elsa y Elmar cite Rosalía as a direct influence. For Spanish-language music, Rosalía is proof that the wall between Spain and Latin America no longer exists.
What's next for Rosalía in 2026
In May 2026, Rosalía released "Motomami Reloaded" (an extended version of her 2022 album with new remixes) and announced a stadium tour of Europe and Latin America in 2026–2027. The tour, which hits 30 cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Bogotá, São Paulo, and Miami, will be the most ambitious of her career. Fans are speculating it may include new material from a forthcoming album, though Rosalía hasn't confirmed a date.
Frequently asked questions about Rosalía
What is Rosalía's real name?
Her real name is Rosalía Vila Tobella, born September 25, 1992, in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Barcelona, Spain. "Rosalía" is her first stage name; Vila Tobella is her second surname.
How many Grammys has Rosalía won?
As of 2026, Rosalía has won 4 Grammys: 2 Latin Grammys for Album of the Year (El Mal Querer 2019, Motomami 2023) and 2 English-language Grammys for Best Latin Pop Album. She's the Spanish artist with the most Grammys in history.
What is Rosalía's best song?
"Bizcochito" (2022) is widely considered her best song by music critics. The minimalist production and the sensual but abstract lyric make it a unique piece in recent Latin pop. Close behind: "Despechá" and "La Fama" (with The Weeknd).
Does Rosalía sing flamenco?
Rosalía is a student of flamenco and her vocal technique draws from cante jondo, but her production fuses flamenco with electronics, reggaetón, R&B, and bachata. She isn't a traditional flamenco artist; she's a theorist of the genre who reimagines it.
Are Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro still together?
Rosalía and Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro confirmed their relationship in 2021. The pair got engaged in 2023, though the wedding was postponed in 2024. They're considered the most important couple in Latin pop and have collaborated on tracks like "BESO" and others.
What is Rosalía's net worth?
According to Forbes, Rosalía's estimated net worth as of 2026 is about $60 million, from music royalties, international tours, fashion contracts with Dior and Louis Vuitton, and her perfume line. She's the highest-paid Spanish artist and one of the top 10 highest-earning women in global music.