From Songs to Breakbeats: A Guide to Electronic Flamenco in Spain

Per

Maeve de Bordons Alvarez

· May 21, 2024

At its core, flamenco explores what it means to be human by dealing with death, love, pain, joy and heartbreak. It is the music of resistance that crossed borders and spanned centuries. Tea cante jondo, one of the most recognizable types of flamenco, translates to “deep song” in Andalusian Spanish, and focuses on dramatic and tragic melodic expression. Flamenco is characterized by a combination of different elements: songs (vocal songs), palm trees (flamenco hand clapping), compass (to win)fall (styles), with guitar and dance. Verses in songs they are often borrowed from poets and other lyricists; the reuse and adoption of pre-existing material is central to the way flamenco is created, reflecting the importance of storytelling and community, interweaving art and life.

According to many historians, flamenco first appeared in the 18th century. But its roots go back much further. Its primary link is with the Romani people of Andalusia, Spain, who migrated from northern India between the 9th and 14th centuries. Because of Andalusia’s diverse cultural history, flamenco music carries distinct North African and Middle Eastern influences, from the instruments and melodies to the connection to dance and community. Cult figures such as Paco de Lucía, Carmen Linares, Estrella Morente, Camarón de La Isla and countless others brought Andalusian flamenco to the world stage in the mid to late 20th century, and its legacy continues to this day.

In fact, over the last few years, flamenco has experienced a renaissance, mixing with current popular styles. It’s not the first time: 20 years ago, music experienced a renaissance. “At that time (equally) young people consumed flamenco and traditional popular music and breakbeats,” recalls the Seville DJ and producer DALILA. “Right now, we’re not just seeing a resurgence of this scene from the ’90s and ’00s – it’s also coinciding with a time of local vindication, a celebration autochthonousmaking the convergence of these two genres inevitable.”

While flamenco purists have criticized modern approaches to the genre, the very nature of flamenco has always been revolutionary, with artists incorporating new stories, perspectives and instruments into their practice. Just like in electronic music, flamenco evolved as new technology and ways of making music became more accessible to producers.

DALILA points out that the most popular fall in flamenco they have the same tempo as breakbeat because of their rhythmic structures, a match made in heaven that other musicians have been playing with for years. The following list contains just a few of the many major artists and labels that champion and embrace the traditional sounds of flamenco, bringing it back and reworking it into the first various electronic genres like breakbeat, jungle, techno, ambient and more.

Andreh y Manuela
La Verdá en la Tierra

Hailing from Seville, Spain, Andrea Satalusía and Manuel Chaparro create music that draws on flamenco, spoken word, dreamy electronica, and rhythms from the Middle East and beyond. Idea for La Verdá en La Tierra created during the pandemic, while both were at home reading books and researching Andalusian poetry. “This album is global,” says Satalusía. “It doesn’t just include local folklore, but integrates sounds from around the world, be they religious, pagan or sacred.” Although Hafsa Al-Rakuniyya, an Andalusian medieval poet from the 12th century, most specifically inspired the album, it also includes stories by other Andalusian poets such as Al-Mutamid, Ben Saha or Itimad Rumaikiya. Although these poets lived in different centuries, they were all persecuted for their words, resulting in either exile or crucifixion. Andreh y Manuela includes sounds and stories from around the world that go beyond the original lyrics.

Tu Puerta (Paca y Manuela)
“Digital Diogen (Marronero Edit)”

Founded by Guacha Sabel from Uruguay and Dj Hidrataccioni from Mexico, RAWA is a label and party based in Seville that presents the music of Latin American and Andalusian producers and DJs. This flamenco breakbeat track by Digital Diogenes, who is signed to Seville label Industrias94 and is a big supporter of electronic music and culture in Seville, comes from the label First a compilation and samples of the iconic song from the 1970s “You Puerta” by music duo Paca y Manuel from Jérez, Spain. “The defense of ‘musical purity’ is something that happens in all musical genres, but there will always be artists who push the boundaries, turning it into something new,” say RAWA, responding as a collective. “We think that this particular environment in which RAWA takes place encourages fusion and experimentation with new sounds.”

Ria Ekin
“Una Vez soñé”

Ria Ekin’s path as a producer and DJ has been one of constant evolution. This song, taken from New Bulerija The EP samples Fondo Flamenca’s “Mi Estrella Blanca,” and its rhythms are reminiscent of the Chicago footwork of people like DJ Rashad. It’s no surprise; the song was released on Iberian Juke, a record label founded in 2015 by the power duo BSN Posse and dedicated to promoting footwork and juke with a Spanish twist.

BSN owns
“Camino Mu Long“

BSN posse is the brainchild of producers Broken Lip and Stay Puft, and was born in 2011 in Málaga, Spain. Their music includes breakbeats, jungle, future garage and dubstep. “Un Camino Mu Largo” (which means a very long way), is a perfect example of how they skillfully blend genres, combining elements of footwork with nostalgic flamenco vocals.

FLAMINGO
Flamenco theory

FLAMANTE is Derek Van Den Bulcke, an experimental producer from Granada, Spain. Described by Bulcke as a “research and audiovisual production project”, FLAMANTE integrates flamenco, experimental music, dance and contemporary art into its hyperactive songs. in 2023 Flamenco theorywhose title is inspired by Ben Frost’s title machine theory, serves as an exercise in experimenting with free songs (free songs), selection fall who use vocals without a fixed rhythmic structure, and add noise, bleep, ambient and acid techno sounds.

DALILA feat. TontimerWeber
“Cieguita“

DALILA hails from the city of Pilas in Spain, and has attracted attention with her skill at combining traditional sounds with faster rave songs. “Cieguita” is dreamily nostalgic, with polyrhythmic breaks and longing vocals. Dalila explains that she experienced a moment of doubt about using her vocals while creating the song. Álvaro aka TontimerWeber, who produced the song, encouraged her, and the result is a beautiful collaboration. Dalila then decided to let go EPIC with four remixes of the track on the Noise Pollution label, enlisting four of her friends—Broken Lip, Robzzz, Ria Ekin, and GAZZI—to reimagine it.

El Nitro, Natural Language, Chico Blanco
“Canelita (Mi Canastera)” Mareo Edit

MAREO are a netlabel and party from Granada, led by Chico Blanco and 8kitoo who have been making waves in the Spanish rave scene focusing on acid house, hard groove, Miami bass, and more – found a significant break with the monotony of the mainstream techno scene elsewhere parties. This song is a re-edit of Canelitina’s “We Canastera” producers El Nitro, Natural Language and Chico Blanco, who bring breakbeats to the legendary flamenco song. MAREO are one of the party collectives helping to shift the spotlight to the south of Spain, and recently hosted a Boiler Room takeover in their hometown.

Califato ¾
Puerta de la Canna

To talk about merging flamenco with electronic music is to talk about the Caliphate ¾. Their compositions include elements of the Andalusian musical tradition with modern genres such as rock, electronica and punk. (The group describes their musical style as “futuristic folklore”.) Their album Puerta de la canna is a great entry point into their discography — a blend of old and new, unequivocally present without losing sight of their roots.

Gardener
Nube black

Gardener—the solo project of Califat’s Manuel Chaparro ¾—is a simple mix of bass, cante jondo, breakbeats and even baile funk, making this EP real from start to finish. A pioneer of the Seville rave and club scene, Chaparro’s influence and musical innovation paved the way for many other producers and artists on the scene.

Los Lagrima
Mojaitas book I

Based in Barcelona, ​​Los Lágrima is the work of producers Digital Diógenes (Industrias94 and Breaking Bass) and Brandrum (Fuerça Elêttrónica Andaluça), who jump headfirst into every project. The duo met in Barcelona and realized that they had a common affinity for tasting the classics rumba with jungle and breakbeats, all seamlessly combined on Mojaitas book I.

Javier Segura
“Malaguenas 2”

He recently appeared on a compilation LA OLA INTERIOR Spanish ambience and acid exotica 1983-1990. on Swiss label Bongo Joe, iconic Canarian producer Javier Segura’s “Malagueñas 2” remains as relevant as it was when it first appeared 30 years ago. HAVE malagueña is a type of flamenco song that originates from Málaga, and usually consists of one vocalist and a string instrument. The Canary Islands have their own opinion on that s Malagueña Canaria, which is somewhat sweeter and softer. Javier Segura’s enchanting ambience slows down the central elements of malagueña and adds a mystical touch to a song that is timeless and full of hope.