2025 proved to be a breakout year for Spanish pop. Rosalía’s Lux topped end-of-year lists worldwide, while Madrid’s Rusowsky showed with the blockbuster Daisy that Spanish artists could go global without forcing an American accent. And further afield, Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny finally received long-overdue critical recognition for reggaetón with DtMF. “Something very special is happening right now,” says 23-year-old Andalusian singer Judeline. “I feel like the world is looking at Spain. Rosalía was the one who opened the door for all of us — the new generation.”

In many ways, Judeline is where Spanish music’s past meets its future. On her 2025 EP Verano Saudade (‘Summer Saudade’), for example, the artist’s lyrics are deeply indebted to the traditions of flamenco, but her influences are vast: spanning acid-laced Sega Bodega production and globetrotting features from Ghanaian-British rapper Pa Salieu and Brazilian funk star MC Morena. It’s a unique sonic intersection, simultaneously introducing Spain to the world and the world to Spain, but it’s also the kind of hybridisation that comes naturally to someone of Judeline’s generation.

“That’s just my life,” she explains. “I come from a very traditional little village called Caños de Meco in Andalusia and then I saw all these crazy things happening in the world on the internet. I discovered Travis Scott, Kodak Black, and a lot of artists that no one was talking about in my village through the internet.”

In fact, Judeline claims that the internet saved her life. “I was a bit of an otaku when I was a teenager, I liked anime, I liked punk rock and my hair was always different colours,” she says. “People in my town would look at me like I was the weird kid, so I spent every single day on the internet, searching for things and chatting to people. It was my way of socialising. It was only when I moved to Madrid at 17 that I felt like I could dress however and do whatever I wanted.” 

This rich inner world manifested in particular on Judeline’s 2024 Interscope-supported debut, Bodhiria, which, following a string of Latin music crossovers with Puerto Rican producer Tainy and Argentinian rapper Duki, first landed Judeline at the helm of Spain’s new generation. Its title was coined by Judeline to evoke a fantastical setting reflected in the project’s distinctly delicate soundscapes: reggaeton percussion, flamenco palmas (hand claps) and pinkwashed electronic synthesisers, all tied together by ethereal vocals from Judeline and her seraphic alter-ego, Angel-a. The project marked her first entry into the Spanish charts. 

But, more than anything, Judeline wants to represent Andalusia, the often-marginalised home of flamenco and Spain’s gitano (‘traveller’) communities. “Often, when people think they’re seeing Spanish culture, it’s actually Andalusian culture,” she explains, leaning slightly further into the clipped southern Spanish accent that she’s protected fiercely since moving to Madrid. “[People from other regions] take our culture but they don’t treat us well. We’re poor, we have no work and a lot of negative stereotypes.” These aren’t necessarily distinctions that people outside of Spain would be familiar with, but education about these issues is one of the many benefits associated with Spanish music’s entry onto the global stage over the past year.

Below, rising star Judeline breaks down the origin of her name, her favourite anime, and the meaning behind recent EP Verano Saudade. 

Where did you get your name from? 

Judeline: My dad really liked the Beatles. He was going to name me Jude if I were a boy. Still, I always loved that name. My dad’s also a musician. He makes beautiful music. He taught me how to play guitar and always made sure he was playing good music in the house.

Did you grow up listening to Spanish music? 

Judeline: Yes, I was always interested in Spanish lyrics. Singers like Silvio Rodríguez who play guitar and have deep lyrics. My dad loved the Beatles, but my mum loved flamenco. You know, flamenco lyrics are very deep and beautiful. Then, my brother listened to rap and dancehall, so I had this huge mix in my house.

You mentioned you were into anime. What series did you watch? 

Judeline: I saw Spirited Away when I was very little and loved it. The different way that [anime] tells stories, it was so special to me. They don’t really have bad characters, like the villains are inside of people. I became a little bit addicted. I saw Death Note, and then my favourites were Made in Abyss and Anohana. The end of Made in Abyss is a little bit fucked up, but the beginning is so, so beautiful.

I’m curious about the title of Verano Saudade. ‘Saudade’ is a Portuguese term loosely meaning ‘longing’, right?

Judeline: I’ve always felt a very strong connection with Brazilian music, and the Portuguese language is so beautiful and romantic to me; it’s a little bit similar to Spanish. I spent a little vacation in the summer in Brazil, and I had this very romantic trip, honestly. I felt very young, and the views in the summer were so beautiful. The whole concept of an endless summer came to my mind. Also, the sounds – I have some bossa nova and a collab with a Brazilian MC on there. 

I think my summers sounded like Verano Saudade

What was summer like for you growing up?

Judeline: My village was very touristy, so it was full in summer and empty in winter. Because of that, my parents would rent my house, and we would go to an even lonelier place in summer. We’d spend the summer in the mountains, and would also go to the beach a lot. I was literally so obsessed with the sea. My mom would have to come to the water to put some sunscreen on me, because I would not leave! Then, from 16 to 21, I spent the best summers of my life with friends, sleeping on the beach and swimming in the morning. 

My feelings of summer are very specific, because I really enjoyed it, but we also had to leave to go the mountain, and it was kind of lonely. I think my summers sounded like Verano Saudade. 

What’s next for Judeline? 

Judeline: I have my first arena tour in Spain. It’s a really important thing for me, so I’m preparing everything. It’s a rush, but I’m happy. I got a personal trainer for the first time in my life, and they’ve got me running through the hills and stuff! 

Check out the gallery above for a closer look at Judeline’s shoot.