Cristina Luis Madrid
Reda Slafti (video)
Madrid
Updated Saturday, January 27, 2024-21:29
IDOLS All interviews from the Idols series
Interview The unstoppable rise of Nicki Nicole: "For me there is no longer this constant criticism of women"
Alba Farelo dreamed of being a music superstar and continues to take steps to achieve it. The Catalan, known to everyone as
Bad Gyal
, wanted to be a Rihanna-style diva. She covered it in Catalan in 2016 with her first single,
Pai
, which she recorded and uploaded in rudimentary form to YouTube. Almost a decade later and after releasing several EPs and mixtapes, she publishes
La Joia
, her debut album. An album faithful to her essence where she combines festive rhythms such as dancehall and reggaeton with lyrics that talk about going out, drinking, smoking and having a good time.
With collaborations from the likes of Myke Towers, Anitta and Ñengo Flow, the work reaffirms her as one of the Spanish artists with the most international projection. In addition, she begins a tour of Spain that she will complete with stops in Mexico, Colombia or the United States.
To know more
Idols.
Morad: "People must be given the right to change and mature"
Editor: CRISTINA LUIS
Editorial: VIDEO: REDA SLAFTI
Morad: "People must be given the right to change and mature"
Idols.
Bb Trickz: "I'm more complicated than the King Emeritus"
Editor: CRISTINA LUIS
Editorial: VIDEO: REDA SLAFTI | CARLOS ONETTI
Editorial: PHOTOGRAPHS: JOSÉ AYMÁ
Bb Trickz: "I'm more complicated than the King Emeritus"
La Joia
is officially your debut album. For you, what was important to demonstrate with this work? More than demonstrating, it has been the opportunity to reach another level in terms of the composition of the songs and to develop my musical and visual skills. It feels like a continuation of my career. A slightly higher stage and in which I reaffirm myself in what I do. You've been working on it for two years, has it been difficult to get it off the ground? The main producer left the project. Yes, it has been hard. In the end I ended up acting as executive producer of the album. But I love it. I have been bossy since I was born and I will always be willing to assume whatever role is necessary for it to move forward. Furthermore, SHB, Merca Bae, Fakeguido, the producers I always work with in Barcelona, have helped me a lot. It is very gratifying to see the result now. Has it been difficult for you to assume that figure as a woman in the industry? Have you ever felt like you were not taken seriously? No, not at all. I feel that they take me very seriously and that I have a lot of respect. When I am in the studio composing I have always felt admiration from the people I work with. I ask you because it is not always understood that a woman who appears sexy can also be hard-working and serious in what she does. Total. But I love being pretty. Obviously I'm not just a pretty face, I'm so much more. The two things can coexist and I think they are two concepts that go together very well. What is more powerful than a woman who does what she wants and who at the same time decides to be sexy? It's true that people sometimes think they're not compatible, but for me it's the perfect balance. Every woman is free to decide how to show herself and this is my choice.
How do you experience your international projection? I feel super satisfied. I feel that incredible opportunities are coming my way, that I am growing, that I travel, that I am heard in more and more countries and that there are more and more fans far from here. It's like a dream and I'm very grateful for it, but at the same time I'm prepared to continue growing. Interest grows and with it the impact, both good and bad. I always say that this career is cyclical. When you grow up you encounter things that you already experienced at the beginning of your career. I'm used to there being new people who meet me and don't accept certain things or think that what I do is strange or wrong. Then over time some end up liking it and others don't. It's part of the process. When you announced the
sold out
of your first date on WiZink you did it with a message that said "I don't talk much, I execute" and an emoticon telling you to shut up. Was I going for something or someone? No, but in the end I'm a little cool and I always feel like I'm surrounded by controversies and people's opinions. They tell me that I don't deserve the position I'm in or that I'm a worthless artist. Well look: I fill up Wizink that fast. Anyone who doesn't like it will realize that I'm doing very well. People talk about whether artists with autotune or who move their asses are not artists. Well ok, I'm not. But I'm going for the second WiZink. Why do you think autotune or moving your ass bothers you? I don't know. It bothers as much as it likes, so I don't have an explanation. Have you considered changing at some point to avoid those sticks? Not at all. I have never considered stopping being me. I am not a product. I am not an artist who can transform into something else and adapt. I do what I want. I evolve and change, but everything comes from me. That reminds me of the song with Nicki Nicole where you sing 'Bad Gyal there is only one' There is only one Bad Gyal. I would be hypocritical if I told you that I don't consider myself original. Yes I consider it. I believe that I am original and that I am unique.
In 2016, you published your first song on YouTube in a rudimentary way. Back then there weren't that many young artists releasing songs. Do you feel that you have been growing at the same time as the urban genre in Spain? It is true that I was one of the first, although it is something organic that had to happen because it was also happening on a global level. It is normal that artists came out here and a scene developed. Even so, I feel that of those of us who started there are few who have continued to maintain themselves. It is true that your career has gone little by little but without pause. Yes, sometimes you would like things to happen sooner but you have to appreciate that I have always been growing and that is super positive. I am very demanding and I try to force myself to enjoy it more. But I'm not very focused on what others are doing. That pressure comes more from myself, from observing myself and seeing the things I want to improve. Urban is
mainstream
. Your music is already being listened to by people you may have never imagined. I love that. The goal is to reach as many people as possible and for someone who doesn't understand it to like it just the same. It amazes me that a Cayetana listens to my music; In fact, they love it when I meet them. It is a pride. I feel like I'm transcending everything. Do you make music with the aim of transcending? Are you looking to mark an era? What's up? When I'm in the studio I empty myself. I never have anything prepared and I flow with what the track makes me feel. I'm not going with any intention. I have to ask you how you experienced the dance-not-dance controversy with Rauw Alejandro. For people it was a controversy, but I feel that he was in a
mood
[state] on the stage and me on another. Simply. The next day there was another show and we were celebrating. He and I are friends. I love it. He is super good people and he has always treated me super well. And so does his team. But, poor thing, they have him super beaten and are on top of any move he makes. I already knew what was going to happen if I stuck my ass to that person, that's why I avoided it. But he is already there. It wasn't anything personal. He knows it and I know it. If you stick your ass there is controversy and, if you don't stick it, too. Always. That's why you have to be calm and not pay so much importance to what people perceive. In the end they perceive what they feel, it is not something that comes from you. They love to make a mess of everything. What did you think when you heard the song generated by Artificial Intelligence in which you sing with Bad Bunny? Did you like it? I loved it. Yes Yes. I think it's a cool topic. But did you know that it had been created by an AI? No. It came out on Tik Tok, he had just released an album and I, being naive, believed that Bad Bunny had named me in a song. Poor dear. He clearly spoke out against it. What do you think about the entry of AI into music? I think it needs to be regulated and that it could be a composition tool to present ideas to artists. But I feel that if you are going to use the voice and identity of an artist they will have something to say. A month ago, in an interview in Puerto Rico, you commented that you had stopped smoking joints and that you are becoming healthier. Do you think that changing your life can lead to a change in your song lyrics? I feel like I had a moment where I got like that and obviously I've gained a lot from having a healthier lifestyle. But I'm balancing it. When I've been behaving well for a long time, I go and behave badly. Today is Thursday, right? Well, tomorrow I have to behave badly. I am crazy by nature. That's never going to go away. Healthy, but not that healthy. I am healthy. Let's see, I actually smoke almost a pack a day. These are things I'm not proud of and I'd like to work on them. But I'm young, I love partying and I want to enjoy my life. I succeed. I deserve to enjoy it and let my hair down. If you knew my mother you would understand me. Sometimes she ends up going out with us to party and I think: I know where being so crazy comes from.
To know more
Music.
Why are there no more right-wing musicians?
Editor: CRISTINA LUIS Madrid
Editorial: ILLUSTRATIONS: EVA CERDÁ SANCHO
Why are there no more right-wing musicians?
Music.
Reactors: setting trends, raising blisters and making money
Editor: CRISTINA LUIS Madrid
Editorial: ILLUSTRATIONS: LUCÍA MARTÍN
Reactors: setting trends, raising blisters and making money
In your beginnings you said that your parents did not support your career, now? Yes. They support me a lot since they saw that I was focused on my project and took it seriously. I understand that they wanted me to have a career. But hey, I have one. She is not a university student, but she is also very good. I suppose they will also see external recognition. Total. And they congratulate me and feel proud. Yes, in the end my parents are much more cunning than me. Explain yourself. Yes, really. My father is from the La Guineueta neighborhood and my mother is from the Raval. They both understand much more than it seemed. I understand how I am thanks to also understanding where they come from and what they are like. They are very good parents. I understand that the album just came out, but where is your career going? What's next? I have very clear where I want to shoot and what sound I want to make. But I'm not going to say it. I keep it for myself.