Rauw Alejandro, Rosalia on engagement, ‘RR’ EP, Coachella, sexuality

LOS ANGELES — As I stroll into Milk Studios, Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro are sitting at a desk crouched collectively. They’re whispering, misplaced in their very own world, as groups of make-up artists, photographers, and publicists make their method out to hitch. In unison, the 2 migrate to the sofa, plop subsequent to one another, and are nonetheless laser-focused on each other.

The Spanish singer-songwriter, born Rosalía Vila Tobella, and Puerto Rican reggaetonero, born Raúl Alejandro Ocasio Ruiz, are nonetheless reeling from the March launch of their first joint studio effort, “RR.”

The three-song EP served as a public declaration of their love and engagement celebration. They adopted the discharge with one other first, performing “RR” in Puerto Rico collectively throughout Alejandro’s historic three-hour live performance at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, a part of his not too long ago launched Saturno World Tour produced by Duars Reside. The PDA-filled efficiency additional proved why they’re Latin music’s energy couple of the second.

“I used to be tremendous nervous, tremendous completely happy,” Alejandro says. “I fulfilled a dream and a purpose with Rosi by my facet, probably the most particular particular person to me.”

The 2, each 30 years previous, are on the prime of their sport. Rosalía’s Motomami World Tour for her Grammy-winning third studio album wrapped in December. She’s at present on a 20-date pageant tour together with outstanding headlining slots at Coachella and Primavera Sound. Later this month, she’ll return to Mexico for a free live performance on the capital’s Zócalo, one of many largest public plazas on the planet. Following the November launch of Alejandro’s third studio album, “Saturno,” a brand new wave and experimental reggaeton LP infused with ’90s home music, Alejandro is at present on a 70-date world area tour.

“We’re each workaholics,” Alejandro says, with Rosalía laughing in settlement. “And once we got here collectively within the studio, it was fuego.”

The couple ‘waited for the proper second’ to launch music collectively

“RR” marked Rosalía and Alejandro’s first collaboration since changing into an merchandise practically 4 years in the past. “We waited so that you can get to know me higher, and for me to know you higher,” says Rosalía, taking a look at him. “After which we felt like, ‘OK, we now have one thing to share, let’s share it.’ ”

Within the music video for “Beso,” the EP’s opening observe which particulars their craving once they’re away from one another, the 2 revealed they will be headed down the aisle. The ultimate scene of the video reveals a teary-eyed Rosalía sporting a glowing ring on her finger and holding a crimson ring field in her hand. (Followers had since speculated an engagement, although, because the Spanish singer seemingly debuted her ring in Instagram posts from summer time 2022.)

“We opened slightly window the place followers, in the event that they get shut, can look by and see who we’re,” the two-time Grammy winner says, cupping her palms right into a circle. “It is … ” Alejandro finishes her thought: “Somewhat piece of us each.”

As a lot of a public proclamation of their love as “RR” was, the 2 are nonetheless tight lipped about wedding ceremony particulars.

However as with the timing of their first musical venture, the whole lot else that follows can be on their very own phrases. “We do not fear an excessive amount of about public notion, and others which will fear extra about notion would have made a collaboration like this a lot earlier,” the “Bizcochito” singer says. “But it surely took us three years to arrange this as a result of we weren’t rushed, we waited to seek out the proper second.”

The 2 are grateful for a way followers have embraced the brand new music. “They’ve obtained it with a number of love and happiness,.”

From ‘RR’ collab to engagement: Revisit Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro’s relationship timeline

Chemistry and romantic partnership apart, the mutual respect and admiration Rosalía and Alejandro have is palpable. “We’re totally different artists … you could have your method, I’ve my method however once we’re within the studio – we attempt to put what we now have in frequent on the desk,” Rosalía says. “We simply discovered a steadiness,” Alejandro provides.

Identified for her fashionable interpretations of flamenco music and her experimental and different reggaeton file “Motomami,” Rosalía’s musical type seamlessly blends with Alejandro’s lure, reggaeton and R&B essence, on “RR.”

“We respect one another’s particular person careers, we do not restrict one another,” Alejandro says proudly. “When she’s doing her work, that is her precedence so I do not get entangled or say, ‘Do not do that.’ We’re free in what we do.”

Rosalía teases a Rauw Alejandro cameo at Coachella

After hitting the Coachella stage for the primary time in 2019, performing songs off her albums “Los Ángeles” and “El Mal Querer,” Rosalía is again and able to tackle the problem of headlining the most effective recognized music festivals on the planet.

She will not give a lot away on what followers can anticipate from her Day 2 set at Coachella on April 15 and 22, however Rosalía – donning a mesh pink lengthy sleeve, layered underneath a corset, paired with outsized black ski pants and house buns in her hair – provides Alejandro a glance.

“Is Rauw going to make an look?” I ask. “We’ll see, we’ll see,” she says earlier than altering the topic.

“It feels thrilling, now it has been 4 years since I’ve carried out there. I do not wish to anticipate something, I simply wish to go on the market and have enjoyable,” she says.

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Rauw Alejandro says ‘Rosi’ makes him ‘a greater man’

The “Punto 40” reggaeton star, channeling his interior Motopapi in a distressed chenille sweater paired with leather-based military inexperienced cargo pants and a Gucci belt, says he is “realized rather a lot from Rosi.”

The connection has taught him “the best way to be a greater man, the best way to be a greater companion,” Alejandro says. “She’s taught me to see issues from a unique perspective and I have been rising up as a person along with her.”

“You are a really instinctive and beneficiant particular person,” Rosalía tells Alejandro. “You are a really concerned particular person, and I study a lot from the way you navigate the world, how you reside, and the way you deal with folks. It is probably the most stunning issues about you and it’s totally inspiring, and what else can I say? There are such a lot of issues. You’ve got a lot love to offer to the world.”

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Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro on expressing their sexuality by music

Of their music, lyrics, visuals and onstage presence, each artists discover themes of sexuality unapologetically.

In Rosalía’s sex-positive piano ballad “Hentai,” co-written along with her sister Pilar Vila and Pharrell Williams, she sings of her sexual needs over dreamy digital beats: “I wanna trip you want I trip my bike/Make me a tape Spike.”

Alejandro can be recognized for his sensual dance strikes, particularly for thrusting his pelvis onstage when performing songs like “2/Catorce.” And you will normally see a bra or panty thrown at him throughout his reveals.

Freely expressing their sexuality is not about promoting a picture however merely normalizing it. “Sexuality is part of our nature and likewise love, too,” Alejandro says. “My music connects with folks due to that.”

For Rosalía, it has been “ladies which have expressed their sexuality overtly up to now which have made me really feel freer. That is my final purpose to be at liberty as potential.” But she’s additionally conscious of the patriarchal society we dwell in, and the double requirements ladies face.

“Society is commonly harsh when a lady is adamant in expressing their want however society will rejoice when a person expresses his sexuality,” she says. “When it is a lady – it is questioned and challenged, or folks really feel uncomfortable.

“A person is not held in the identical regard, a person will be no matter he must be,” Rosalía says. “Sexuality is part of life. Why not make music about that?”

As an artist, Rosalía is conscious of her and her music’s position as a mirror. “Individuals are going to see what they should see or discover what they should discover in your initiatives. They will hear what they should hear, and with ‘Motomami,’ it has been a blessing they related.”

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Contributing: Edward Segarra