José Julián Martín Estruch, born in Valencia in 1993, faced a painful turning point when he lost his father. Known on the stage and online as Jxta Martin, he stepped away from karaoke and picked up a guitar to reshape his musical path. He leans into a flamenco-infused pop voice that nods to flamenco legends while pushing beyond reggaeton’s boundaries. His debut track was a heartfelt tribute to his father, a gesture that opened the door to a broader artistic journey. Since then, he has released singles that have resonated with a growing audience, amassing more than 31,000 Instagram followers with many fans on TikTok and Twitter, and the numbers are still climbing.
At fourteen, his sister doubted his future in music. She urged him to quit, convinced he was on the wrong track. He remembers the moment clearly, even as time moved him forward. By eighteen, after his father’s death, he found himself unsure of his next steps. He spent time singing in karaoke bars and performing old songs in his spare moments. A cousin’s encouragement led him to craft a song in memory of his father, and the journey began. Songs like Lunares and Destino have become among his more recently released works, moving his sound forward with personal storytelling at the core.
“Don’t call me anymore”, a track that dropped this Tuesday, marks a second act to a heartbreak-themed release. The artist explains that the two songs were written during or after a breakup, with heartbreak serving as his strongest inspiration.
Jxta has outgrown the days when a casual listener might have dismissed him as a neighborhood kid with a guitar. Today he writes about his own experiences, the people around him, and the stories he overheard. His foundation remains flamenco, but his ambition pushes him toward new sounds. He grew up listening to his grandmother and an uncle who exposed him to flamenco early on, and that influence remains evident in his music. He notes that while his base is flamenco and pop, he is eager to explore and evolve, promising audiences fresh explorations in his upcoming singles.
Los Caños era y la influencia de C. Tangana
Early on, Jxta built his own path as an independent artist, drawing inspiration from C. Tangana and Alejandro Sanz without waiting for a major platform. He remains hungry for a wider stage and a longer career in music, mixing street-level grit with refined songwriting, all while maintaining a sense of luxury in his artistic presentation.
“C. Tangana has been a guiding influence because he demonstrates how to stay true to one’s voice while staying clever and relevant”, he explains. Alejandro Sanz also serves as a muse, a reminder of longevity and craft from someone who has graced stages and studios for decades.
Music for Jxta is a balance of Yin and Yang: two ends and a center. He loves the act of making music, but he also recognizes that the industry is larger than performances alone. There is a lot to learn beyond singing, from production choices to navigating the business side. With flamenco guitar in hand, he continues to tell stories that feel intimate yet universal. He has performed on mainstream stages such as La Voz and Top, and he has toured with Star’ and Antonio Orozco, whom he regards as incredibly supportive figures in his journey.
He sees himself as a work in progress, playful yet intense, carrying countless lyrics and melodies in his backpack. He envisions an EP and a full album in the near future, hoping to capitalize on the momentum created by his online presence while steadily releasing new music. Some observers speculate he could become a defining voice of a new generation, but he stays grounded: the music business is slow and costly, and luck plays a role just as much as talent.
What would his father think of his progress?
He would be very proud, he shares with a quiet smile.