María José Llergo 2024 US Tour in San Francisco

Spanish flamenco singer María José Lllergo presents her latest album, “Ultrabelleza,” which combines traditional flamenco with modern electronic elements.

María José Llergo, a Spanish singer and songwriter from Córdoba, Spain, is known for her soulful performances inspired by traditional Andalucian singers like Camarón de la Isla. Camarón de la Isla is a major influence on her. The legendary singer worked with musicians like Paco de Lucia, who modernized flamenco in the late seventies by incorporating drums, electric guitars, and even a sitar into the genre. “What we call tradition now, was a revolution in its own time”, Llergo said.

On her critically acclaimed debut album Sanación from 2020, she expands the sonic palette with electronics and modern vocal productions. A similar musical dialogue is at play: “When I use electronics in my music, it is because I live in the present moment, I have access to synthesizers and different instruments that I admire. These sounds are also part of my life,” she said.

Llergo studied flamenco at Catalonia School of Music, where she had the same mentor as Rosalia, José Miguel “Chiqui” Vizcaya. She experimented with salsa, gospel and jazz. After completing her studies, she signed with Sony Music Spain. She has compared flamenco to the blues, and contends that there is more truth to be found about the history of Spain in this music than in most history books. She brings her ancestors into the music, and her songs have obvious influences from Romani culture and history. She sings about the injustices committed towards her people —discrimination, exploitation, expulsion and machismo. Her songwriting, she says, helps her work through trauma and pain.

Her latest album, Ultrabelleza, released in October 2023, celebrates diversity and individuality as a tribute to freedom. Ultrabelleza received significant acclaim, scoring 7.9 on Pitchfork. It was ranked 34th in Rolling Stone’s “Best Spanish Albums of 2023” list and acknowledged as one of the top albums of the year by NPR.

Llergo honors a genre of music that is more sincere about Spain’s history than most textbooks.

—Rolling Stone