midi.is

Buika at the Reykjavík Arts Festival
June 3 in Eldborg

Buika is one of the most peculiar and original Spanish artists around. She is the daughter of political
refugees from the African nation of Equatorial Guinea and grew up in a gypsy neighborhood on the
Spanish island of Mallorca. The New York Times calls her unique blend of flamenco, jazz, soul and
blues, "luminous...magnificent...superb!" Her husky and layered voice has won her the title of
“Flamenco Queen” and her powerhouse performances have become a true revelation to those who
thought flamenco had little left to contribute to Spanish music, and to jazz.

She has received several awards and nominations and has collaborated with international artists
such as Nelly Furtado, Alejandro Sanz, Seal and Pedro Almodovar. Buika’s music is a gorgeous and
profoundly soulful blend of jazz, flamenco, blues and soul and in 2010 she won the Latin Grammy
Award for her album El Último Trago for Best Traditional Tropical Album. Buika sings two songs in the
new Pedro Almodovar film, “The Skin I Live In” (Por el amor de Amar and Se me hizo fácil), winner of
the 2011 BAFTA award for Best Foreign Film.

Buika’s fans include the iconic Mexican singer Chavela Vargas and Vargas has declared that in Buika
she had discovered “my black daughter” and “the most amazing and personal voice I have heard in
many years.” El Último Trago, is first and foremost a tribute to Chavela Vargas, released in October
2009 as the Mexican singer celebrated her 90th birthday. Supporting Buika on the CD is Cuban piano
star Chucho Valdés. Buikas latest CD, En mi piel, features greatest hits from Buika’s last four albums.

A singer like Buika comes only once in a generation. NEW YORK POST

A mesmerizing, cross-cultural stew featuring the wailing emotionality of cante and coplas …. with
undercurrents of Latin jazz and soul. WASHINGTON POST

Much like Chavela Vargas, Buika is able to make her audience feel completely exposed. Her songs
transport us to a place where we are left face to face with our own romantic history, one in which our failures stand out the most. Buika celebrates all the incarnations of passion, from the most glowing to the darkest. She does so in a thrilling and original way. PEDRO ALMODOVAR

The dynamic Spanish vocalist Buika has the timbre and style of a soul singer and the repertoire of a
pop flamenco star. NEW YORKER