Rosalía’s New Album ‘Lux’ Draws Inspiration From Female Saints, Rejects Celebrity Gossip
Catalan musician Rosalía has released her fourth album, “Lux,” a monumental 18-track work inspired by the lives of female saints and a deliberate departure from pop music’s focus on celebrity culture, according to a recent interview.
The 33-year-old artist explained she is “tiring of seeing people referencing celebrities, and celebrities referencing other celebrities,” and instead finds herself “much more excited about saints.” “Lux” features lyrics in 13 languages, incorporates two choirs, a poem read by Patti Smith, and collaborations with Björk and the London Symphony Orchestra. Her new single, “Berghain,” draws from the 12th-century German abbess Hildegard of Bingen, whom Rosalía noted is “cited like Madonna these days by experimental female musicians.” The album also references figures like Vimala, a Buddhist poet and former prostitute who became a saint, and Santa Olga de Kyiv, a 10th-century assassin who was later canonized.
Rosalía’s artistic process involved extensive research and a deep dive into theology and philosophy, areas she says she would have pursued academically if not for her music career—her 2018 breakout album, El Mal Querer, was actually her flamenco degree thesis. She estimates producing 97% of “Lux” alone in Los Angeles, describing the process as “the most demanding album I’ve ever tried to do.” The album’s exploration of spirituality and female empowerment arrives as Rosalía continues to navigate public scrutiny regarding cultural appropriation, a topic that has followed her throughout her career, including earlier work like her album Motomami.
Rosalía emphasized the importance of empathy and understanding in a divided world, stating, “It’s the love for the other that allows me to do an album like this.” She also shared her nightly prayer ritual and her belief in the power of collective worship, drawing on childhood memories of attending church with her grandmother. Columbia Records has indicated that a full promotional tour supporting “Lux” will be announced in the coming weeks.
