From Seoul's Bangtan Boys to the beloved internet troll-turned-viral sensation Lil Nas X, it's been a huge couple of years for new artists making waves in the mainstream. The past 12 months has given us a plethora of amazing new music from these talented musicians, and we're looking forward to seeing several of them, including Latin music star Rosalía, hopefully win big at the 2020 Grammys on January 26.
While you may or may not recognize Rosalía now, you will soon. With seven unique albums under her belt and numerous hits with Latin music heavyweights, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter won big at the Latin Grammys with Best Album Of The Year for her second studio album, "El Mal Querer." Before she hits the red carpet at the Grammys to honor her two nominations, here's everything you need to know about Rosalía.
She's nominated for two GRAMMYs this year.
As previously mentioned, Rosalía is up for two awards at this year's awards show. Along with the album"El Mal Querer" up for the award for Best Latin Album, the flamenco star has also been nominated in the category for Best New Artist. Her nomination in this category maker her the first-ever best new artist nominee recognized by the Recording Academy for music entirely recorded in Spanish.
She's got a bit of competition in the category though; the Best New Artist category includes the likes of Maggie Rogers, Billie Eilish, and Lizzo. However, Rosalía's music is burning up the charts, so she's got a real chance of walking away with the prize.
She was born and raised in Spain.
Rosalía hails from a small town called Sant Esteve Sesrovires in the beautiful city of Barcelona, which explains the pervasive presence of the flamenco sound in her music. Rosalía's love of flamenco first began when she was 13, and from then on, she channeled her energy into creating music in the genre. At age 16, she started studying under flamenco legend José Miguel “El Chiqui” Vizcaya, and she graduated years later from the Catalonia College of Music with a bachelor's degree in flamenco vocal performance.
“I’m always excited to share my passion about flamenco, so other people can discover this music—which is amazing—and discover the culture," the singer told EW. "I’m so proud, and that’s why I share it in this way, and that’s why I put so much heart in it.”
She got her start on a Spanish singing competition.
When Rosalía was 15 years old, she auditioned for the Spanish singing competition Tú sí que vales. Considering the fact that she's now a huge star, one might think that Rosalía's audition was a success, but it didn't go as well as she'd hoped. When it was her turn to sing, teen-Rosalía performed an acoustic flamenco song followed by a rendition of Alicia Keys' "No One," but the judges weren't moved. She didn't let it break her stride, though. "It doesn’t matter,” she can be heard saying after receiving the judges' harsh feedback. “I’ve come here to accept critiques and learn from professionals like you. I accept your opinion.” Talk about mental fortitude.
She's a huge deal overseas.
If you're not tuned in to Latin music, there's a fair chance that you haven't yet become acquainted with Rosalía's music, but the flamenco-fusion singer is totally killing it on an international level. Since starting her music career as a teenager Barcelona, Rosalía has been booked and busy, performing her original music around the world; she's performed in front of huge audiences in Singapore, Argentina, and Panama, and right now, the singer is taking her talents on the road in a European tour.
FYI, she's already worked with some of the biggest names in music—Pharell, Dua Lipa, Bille Ellish, and J Balvin are just a few of her past collaborators—and Rosalía's star is shining so brightly that she even landed the coveted July 2019 cover of Vogue Spain. Like I said...she's a big deal.
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORIES
-
Taylor Swift Sweetly Dishes on Travis Kelce With a Young Swiftie at Children's Hospital"I like Travis now," the fan shared.
-
I Found the Most Luxe Beauty Stocking Stuffers Your Friends Actually WantBeauty editor-tested and approved.
-
32 Great TV Shows That Capture What We Love About Our Closest FriendshipsWatch these with your bestie (or when you miss them).
-
ROSÉ Is Forging a New Path for K-Pop Idols Going SoloWith her debut album 'rosie,' the BLACKPINK artist has released the most vulnerable album from a K-pop star yet.
-
Women Make Up One-Third of the Best Director Nominees at the 2025 Golden GlobesCongratulations are in order for Coralie Fargeat and Payal Kapadia!
-
TWICE Shares What Music Shaped Them—And What's on Their Playlist NowWith their new mini-album 'STRATEGY' out, the K-pop girl group opens up about their musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
-
Meet Gracie Lawrence, Who Plays Kacey in ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’ Season 3The actress-slash-musician opens up about her new role in the Max comedy as the group's new suitemate.
-
The 27 Best Biopics About Musicians of All TimeWe're still stunned by these performances—many of which took home Oscars.
-
Tate McRae Shares What Music Shaped Her—And What's on Her Playlist NowWith her new album 'So Close to What' out soon, the pop star opens up about her musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
-
The Ascension of Sophie ThatcherWith ‘Heretic’ in theaters and her debut EP out now, the ‘Yellowjackets’ star is believing in herself and her art more than ever.
-
Beyoncé Receives Her First Grammy Nominations in the Country Categories for 'Cowboy Carter'—As She Should HaveQueen Bey is also the most-nominated of an artist this year.
