Every month WHAT A TUNE picks the best new music to listen to from around the world. This month we’re in Spain for some flamenco and Catalonian tropical pop. (See the bottom of the page for the full playlist.)
Nya de la Rubia ft. Barroso – Fuego
First to Seville, where actress turned singer Nya de la Rubia brings us Flamenco guitar and quivering vocals, crossed with an urban beat that drops in and out. Ultimately, it’s the variety and genre-fluidity that keeps this song interesting. Reggaeton singer Barroso contributes an only semi-convincing chorus, but the song keeps pushing forward and there’s an abrupt mood shift to a trap-style dark bass in the bridge when Nya switches to rap.
Samuraï – Tirando Balas
Now to Madrid, the energetic and angsty Tirando Balas (Shooting Bullets) is about falling out of love. It’s got all the makings of a well-crafted indie pop song with a snappy bass and poignant lyrics paired with foot-tapping melody.
IZARO – Oso Blanco
The latest single from IZARO’s album Limones en Invierno is about the unfulfilled hopes and aspirations of 2020. It has an open and dreamy pop sound and the lyrics are tinged with nostalgia “La vida es un maravilloso y espléndido recuerdo del pasado” (trans. “Life is a wonderful and splendid memory of the past”).
Suu, Carlos Sadness – Barcelona Tropical
Picture the scene, the sun sits low in the sky and you’re relaxing in a bar holding a cool alcoholic beverage. Life is good. This is the audio equivalent. Sung in Catalan, Barcelona Tropical has a warm summery feel, it’s mellow and laid-back with a pulsing bass and light guitar reminiscent of Lost Frequencies.
Álvaro Soler – Si Te Vas
The second single from the Spanish-German singer’s upcoming album Magia is slightly more low-key than previous releases such as the summer anthems Sofia and La Cintura but it still keeps his signature style of Latin beats and folk-pop guitar in this song about insecurity in a relationship.
