Buika

Born in Palma de Mallorca in 1972 to parents from Equatorial Guinea, Buika — full name Concha Buika — has forged an unusual path between Spain, Africa and the Latin world. After beginnings in Mallorca’s club scene singing soul, rhythm and blues and electronic music, her voice gradually turned toward a repertoire blending copla, flamenco, bolero, jazz and Afro-Caribbean influences. Based in Madrid, Buika recorded a first duo album, «Mestizuo», with Jacob Sureda in 2000, then a self-titled record in 2005, before defining her sound with «Mi niña Lola» (2006) and «Niña de fuego» (2008), albums that reveal a taste for pared-down orchestrations, flamenco guitar and intimate songwriting. Her collaboration with Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés on «El último trago» (2009) further introduced Buika to international jazz stages. She followed with «La noche más larga» (2013) and «Vivir sin miedo» (2015), records where Spanish coexists with English and where slow ballads, Latin rhythms and more soulful moods intersect. A fixture at many jazz and world music festivals and occasionally involved in film and collaborative projects, Buika continues a vocal practice focused on improvisation, the blending of languages and a direct, unvarnished interpretation of songs.