A Transcendental Journey Through Rosalía’s New Album, LUX

Rosalía has long been creating new worlds with every album she releases. After a three-year wait, the pop star has finally dropped her fourth studio album, LUX. The release of the single “Berghain” on October 27th stunned the world with a truly unique sound, unlike anything currently found in pop music today. This immediately built great anticipation for the full album. When it was revealed that Rosalía would sing in 13 different languages, fans worldwide started preparing for something extraordinary.

This album can be seen as Rosalía’s most experimental and musically sophisticated project yet. With 15 tracks and a strikingly symbolic cover, she invites listeners to dive into a completely new universe. LUX is a transcendental journey that explores themes like emotional dependency and complicated relationships, all wrapped in an aesthetic of divinity.

From a musical perspective, the album is very well crafted, both lyrically and melodically. It opens with “Sexo, Violencia y Llantas,” which starts with an angelic piano melody, expressing the contradiction of living between two worlds:  earth and heaven, ideal and reality. This soon gives way to a beat combined with choir vocals, creating a stunning contrast. The song flows seamlessly into the second track, “Reliquia.”

“Reliquia” takes the listener on a journey through different cities. Rosalía sings about losing herself in many places, with a soft violin playing in the background, suggesting she has experienced all these places but remains a “relic.” We travel through Jerez, Rome, Barcelona, Paris, Los Angeles, Milan, the UK, Bangkok, Berlin, Buenos Aires, and more. The song ends with a beautiful beat that transitions into “Divinze,” where Rosalía sings in both Spanish and English.

Before “Berghain,” there is “Mio Cristo Piange Diamante,” sung in Italian and English, featuring an emotional melody with intense vocals.

“Berghain” stands out as a highlight of the album, featuring the London Symphony Orchestra. The song blends elements of classical music and opera, and includes three powerful vocal performances by Rosalía, Björk, and Yves Tumor. It completely breaks away from current commercial music trends and evokes a wide range of emotions. The track is a transcendental experience, accompanied by a visually stunning video with impeccable storytelling, including references to Disney and religious symbolism.

Following that is “La Perla,” a collaboration with Yahritza y Su Esencia that makes you feel like you’re dancing at a medieval castle ball. In the middle of the song, Rosalía delivers a spoken word section that adds a playful touch.

“Mundo Nuevo,” the eighth track, serves as an interlude, smoothly leading into “De Madruga.” For fans of Motomami and El Mal Querer, this song is perhaps the closest in sound, showcasing a flamenco-inspired style. Similarly, “La Rumba del Perdón” shares this flamenco, danceable energy.

In “En Memoria,” Rosalía takes a bold step by singing in Portuguese for the first time, alongside singer Carminho. The track is calm, deep, and emotional, with lyrics that reflect on human existence and memories. To close the album, “Magnolias” features a beautiful choir that transports the listener to another dimension, almost like an ascension. This track recalls Catholic church music, an aesthetic that appears throughout the album.

Overall, Rosalía delivers an innovative and captivating album. LUX is the kind of project that demands to be listened to from beginning to end without interruption. It feels like a cinematic experience with a carefully crafted aesthetic, proving Rosalía has entered a new creative era. Perhaps this album blends the grandeur and elegance of medieval castles, balls, ceremonies, and parades with the sensuality of modern times.

It’s definitely a new era for our Spanish pop star, and we can’t wait to see what the next chapters of the LUX era will bring.