EL MAL QUERER

EL MAL QUERER is Rosalía's second studio album, released in 2018, and serves as a pivotal work in her career, establishing her as a global phenomenon. Conceived as her baccalaureate project at the Catalonia College of Music, the album is a highly experimental and conceptual piece, narrating the story of a toxic relationship inspired by the anonymous 13th-century Occitan novel, 'Flamenca.' Rosalía co-produced the album with El Guincho, largely recording it in his Barcelona apartment with minimal equipment, a testament to her vision and dedication, even going into debt to fund it. Sonically, the album is a bold fusion of flamenco pop, experimental pop, and Latin R&B, blending traditional flamenco vocalizations and instrumentation with contemporary urban sounds like trap and reggaeton. Rosalía's extraordinary vocal agility, ranging from powerful belting to intricate layering, is central to its character. The production is characterized by its experimental nature, digital clarity, and often sparse yet impactful arrangements. Critically, EL MAL QUERER was met with universal acclaim, earning an 89 on Metacritic. Publications like The Guardian lauded it as the 'calling card of a unique new talent,' praising Rosalía's 'head-turning freshness.' Pitchfork ranked it among the best albums of 2018, highlighting its seamless combination of traditional and modern styles and Rosalía's 'commanding presence.' While celebrated for its innovation, the album also sparked debate regarding cultural appropriation due to Rosalía's use of gitano symbology, given her Catalan background. Despite this, its distinctiveness lies in its ambitious narrative structure, its groundbreaking genre fusion, and Rosalía's undeniable vocal artistry, marking it as a significant cultural and musical statement.