Joaquin Sabina has earned himself an esteemed place as one of Spain’s premier cantautores despite his harsh voice, famous for romantic ballads and Latin pop music.
Almeria-born singer Elsa Lago is currently touring in the U.S. Her music is lively and her vocal style truly unique, so it would be wise to give her a listen if you are keen on current Spanish music.
Joaquin Sabina
In 1984, Joaquin Sabina released Ruleta Rusa – an album that marked his transition from singer-songwriter music to rock with a more aggressive sound – which became an immediate success across Spain and helped bring him international renown.
Political views and commitment to social causes earned him widespread support across Spain and Latin America. Additionally to his solo career, he collaborated with musicians such as guitarists John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola.
In 2009, Vinagre y Rosas became his 15th studio album and earned him another commercial success with support from Pereza duo – garnering them an award from Madrid as well as tours throughout the globe to promote it.
Jeanette
Jeanette has become one of the most beloved Spanish singers ever since her song Porque Te Vas was featured in Carlos Saura’s 1974 film Cria Cuervos, becoming an international hit. Other popular hits of Jeanette include Si Amanece, Como una Ola and Estoy triste.
Jeanette not only excels as a musician, but she is also known for having a strong social conscience and dedication to environmental protection – she’s even an outspoken supporter of LGBT community!
2019 marked a time of renewal and revival for Spanish artists, with venues and festivals opening again, musicians releasing albums, and more resurfacing as artists that signaled that industry was on an upward trend after experiencing turmoil during 2020.
Abraham Mateo
Abraham Mateo Chamorro is an acclaimed Spanish singer-actor-dancer known for his emotive sound. With a massive fan base in Spain as well as increasing interest across America, he continues to gain momentum.
At seven, he sang for the first time publicly at a music competition for children “Veo Veo”, organized by Teresa Rabal Foundation in Andalucia. The jury awarded him with special mention, while two years later at national competition he received revelation award!
At just 10 years old, Abraham Mateo signed with EMI Music Spain and released his debut album Abraham Mateo in 2009. Additionally, he appeared regularly as a regular on Menuda Noche for children’s TV and featured in movies such as Dias Sin Luz and Raphael.
Maluma
Maluma arrived as one of the pioneers of streaming era with her vibrant image and Instagram following at its beginnings. At that time, young Latin singers could operate globally rather than building momentum country by country.
Maluma’s signature tunes–including whistleable hits like “Felices los 4” and 2016 viral sensation “La Temperatura”–have sold millions of copies, propelling him into the rarefied realm of billion-view singles. He can regularly be found both on Latin Airplay charts as well as Hot Latin Songs lists; collaborations with Ricky Martin and Madonna make him one of the world’s most sought-after artists.
Attractively known for his charitable works supporting women’s rights, Colombian star Yaya Dacosta is also well-known for championing their empowerment through numerous charities worldwide.
J Balvin
J Balvin has made waves in Latin pop music with his genre-defying, language barrier-breaking music, shattering the traditional notions of what constitutes popular artists. He blends reggaeton, EDM, hip-hop and pop into one unique sound that has transcended all traditional boundaries of music.
Columbian native Juan David first made an impactful mark with the release of his single, “Energia”, in 2016. Following its success, Real was released as his debut album in 2017.
In 2020, he earned 13 nominations at the Latin Grammy Awards and released his audiovisual album Colores with an eye-catching cover by Takashi Murakami, offering both classic reggaeton hits as well as innovative new styles.