The Spanish star Rosalía looks forward rather than back, delivering an album that is thrilling, baffling, and splendidly spooky.
If 2025 will be remembered for anything, it will be as the year music regressed. Oasis sold nostalgia at inflated prices. Radiohead returned, disappointingly resembling just another band revisiting old hits. November brought yet another Beatles documentary and tie-in album. The influence of classic rock has become a heavy, negative force, dragging listeners into a black hole of boomer and Gen X sentimentality.
In the midst of this regression, Rosalía’s Lux stands out as fearless, confrontational, and confidently unconventional. The album cover itself signals a new path — Rosalía appears dressed as a nun, symbolizing a firm commitment to transformation.
With three previous albums exploring flamenco, electronica, and reggaeton, Rosalía became a major star, especially in the Spanish-speaking world. Yet with Lux, she shatters every expectation, embarking on a breathtaking journey into experimental music’s outer limits.
"Rosalía’s Lux marks her as an heir to Björk, who passes the baton during the rambunctiously odd single 'Berghain.'
This album showcases Rosalía’s refusal to retreat into safe or familiar territory, asserting her place as a bold innovator.
Author’s summary: Rosalía’s Lux breaks free from nostalgia and genre constraints, boldly exploring experimental sounds and marking a powerful artistic evolution.