The Spanish star looks forward rather than back, delivering an album that is thrilling, perplexing, and hauntingly beautiful.
The year 2025 might be remembered for its backward-looking music trends. Bands like Oasis capitalized on nostalgia, while Radiohead’s recent return felt like a mere replay of familiar hits. November saw yet another Beatles documentary and associated album, reflecting a strong pull towards rock’n’roll’s past that entrenches us in boomer and Gen X sentimentality.
In contrast to this regression, Rosalía’s Lux stands out as a daring and unconventional work. The album cover, showing the Catalan artist dressed as a nun, hints at her commitment to a new and unyielding artistic path.
Over three previous albums, Rosalía explored flamenco, electronica, and reggaeton, gaining immense popularity in Spanish-speaking regions. However, Lux shatters all prior expectations. It is a breathtaking exploration of experimental music's outer limits, positioning Rosalía as a successor to Björk, who herself appears on the ambitious and eccentric single "Berghain."
"That this is something other than just another pop LP is signalled on the cover, where the Catalan artist is dressed as a nun, as if to announce that she has embarked on a new path and isn’t for turning."
"She rips up every preconception audiences will have had of her with this breathtaking odyssey into the further reaches of experimental music."
Rosalía’s Lux redefines her sound, boldly stepping beyond conventional genres to create a deeply unique and visionary album.
Author's summary: Rosalía’s Lux breaks free from nostalgia, forging a daring, experimental path that redefines her musical identity and pushes creative boundaries.