In a striking turn, Bad Gyal closes a chapter that marked the early arc of his artistic journey. The path began in 2016, when he appeared as a raw talent with songs that sounded fresh and distant, such as Pai and Indapanden, and culminated with La joia, his debut album after a string of dance anthems, two pivotal mixtapes Slow wine mixtape (2016) and Worldwide angel (2018), and an EP Warm up (2021). The phase ends as early momentum gives way to new rhythms and a redefined artistic identity from Alba Farelo i Solé, a 26-year-old artist whose career now signals fresh directions.
The title of La joia is not accidental; it embodies the artist’s resolve and the talent he cultivated from the age of 19. In a conversation with this newspaper, he explains how the diamond metaphor resonated with his self-image as a songwriter and performer. La joia arrived on the scene on a Friday, marking the eighth year of his career, delayed by administrative steps, collaborations, and the ongoing pursuit of shine. He notes that he has mastered every detail, from song selection and featured collaborators to beat sound and sonic textures. He also confirms the resources he imagined obtaining when he signed with Universal years ago. Since those early steps, he asserts with confidence, he has elevated his project to a new level.
La joia reflects the Bad Gyal heard today: songs built for celebration, with clear, forceful lyrics. A majority of the tracks — thirteen songs plus an intro and a transitional piece — have already found life as singles. This wasn’t the case with the urban Latin direction that sat outside the most exclusive, all-encompassing genres, where he collaborated with Jamaican artist Tommy Lee Sparta and fused fetish rhythms with dancehall. The book that first joined him with Morad, another Catalan artist who enjoyed international fame, had not been released at the time.
“We’re quite different, and that’s part of the fun; working with other artists reveals how they approach their craft. He’s incredibly passionate”, Bad Gyal says about a collaboration that unfolds within a serene, global setting. The project is titled Here I am.
Referrer
La joia arrives as Bad Gyal experiences notable success. Spotify listeners approach fourteen million, and the artist fills Palau Sant Jordi again in a single year (February 9). Audiences respond to the connection he forges with listeners, a distinctive phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community that has rallied around his figure. His voice conveys power, destruction, and freedom through lyrics, while his openness about love and sexuality adds cultural, social, and political weight, even if he does not always perceive it that way. “It’s natural for me to be myself. I am not a product, and I feel free to express myself as I choose. Perhaps that’s the reason the bond formed, though it wasn’t intentional”, he says. Demographic data show a target audience that skews about 55% female and 40% male, with 78% aged 18 to 34.
These messages are woven into songs designed for dance floors and live performances, creating an ongoing party atmosphere. “When fans see how I express myself, dance freely, and dress as I please, it gives them confidence to own their choices as well”, he notes. He stresses that there is no aim to sway others’ beliefs; the goal is authentic expression.
He views his role as a reference point without feeling compelled to force a change in tone to attract a broader audience. Clear, direct lyrics are not seen as a barrier to widening his reach; in fact, the trajectory seems to be moving in that direction.
Bad Gyal emerged during the tumultuous birth of what came to be known as urban music, a period of resistance and scrutiny as a generation reshaped the mainstream and the music industry. “When numbers rise, young listeners mirror what they hear, and the wider world adapts. It isn’t something driven by mainstream media or older generations deciding to shift; this is what happened and what was meant to happen”, he argues. Regarding the social impact of his music, he notes that acceptance grew as success became visible. “If you see your son loving it, you stop judging who created the music.”
Bad Gyal speaks of quietly hoping for a calmer future, preferring to focus on composing rather than constant touring. Yet even as he contemplates this shift, admiration for his sister Mushkaa remains evident. He admires her clear ideas and top-tier artistry, grateful not only for the role she plays as his sibling but as a fully realized artist in her own right.