#315 of 500
· Rolling Stone“El Mal Querer by Rosalía (2018) sits at #315 and earns every bit of it. Past 300, every pick is an argument worth having. The original pressing is built for vinyl playback — the kind of album that sounds better on wax.”
Rosalía Vila Tobella is a Spanish singer and songwriter born in 1992 who has become one of the most innovative contemporary artists in flamenco and urban music. She initially studied flamenco formally at a prestigious Barcelona conservatory before releasing her debut album 'Création' in 2013, which showcased her classical flamenco training. Her breakthrough came with the 2017 album 'El Mal Querer,' a critically acclaimed fusion of traditional flamenco with reggaeton, trap, and contemporary production that achieved both critical and commercial success. She has since released 'Motomami' (2022) and achieved global recognition through collaborations and solo work, establishing herself as a bridge between traditional Spanish musical heritage and modern urban aesthetics.
Style
Rosalía blends flamenco tradition with contemporary urban genres including reggaeton, trap, and electronic production, creating a distinctive sound characterized by rhythmic complexity, vocal expressiveness, and modern production techniques. Her work is known for layered instrumentation, innovative use of spatial effects, and genre-defying arrangements.
Significance
Rosalía represents a contemporary shift in how traditional music interfaces with global pop culture, making her releases significant to collectors interested in modern genre-fusion and non-English language music. Her albums showcase high-quality production and artistic ambition relevant to collectors seeking current artists pushing musical boundaries.
El Mal Querer (The Bad Love) is Rosalía's second studio album, released in November 2018, marking a dramatic artistic evolution from her flamenco-rooted debut. Recorded primarily in Barcelona with producer El Guincho (Pablo Díaz-Reixa) and collaborators including Frank Dukes and Zach Nahme, the album blends flamenco tradition with contemporary trap, reggaeton, and electronic production. Rosalía conceived the project as a visual and sonic narrative exploring toxic love and emotional manipulation, inspired by the 15th-century Valencian novel Jaume Roig's "Spill." The album features intricate vocal layering, innovative production choices, and a cohesive artistic vision that showcases her technical prowess as both a singer and interpreter of contemporary Latin music. Guest appearances include J Balvin and Bad Bunny on standout tracks.
Historical Context
Released during the global explosion of Latin trap and reggaeton, El Mal Querer arrived at a pivotal moment for Spanish-language music's mainstream acceptance. The album's commercial success and critical acclaim—earning Grammy nominations and streaming billions of plays—helped establish Rosalía as one of the most innovative artists of the late 2010s. It resonated within the broader context of flamenco modernization and the rise of Spanish artists on the international stage. The album's music videos, directed by Arca and others, became cultural moments themselves, emphasizing Rosalía's multimedia approach to artistry during the visual album era championed by artists like Beyoncé.
Pressing Notes
El Mal Querer received limited vinyl release through Columbia Records. The standard black vinyl pressing is relatively scarce compared to CD and digital availability. Collectors should note that early pressings from 2018-2019 are more valuable than later reissues. Some European editions feature different artwork or gatefold designs. The album's commercial focus was primarily on streaming and digital platforms, meaning vinyl quantities were modest. Original pressings in good condition command premium prices on the secondary market. Verify pressing plant details and matrix numbers when collecting, as reissues may vary in sound quality and packaging.
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