Las Migas is a Spanish popular music quartet created by four young women in 2004 in Barcelona. Since then, new members have replaced former ones, adding new musical genres to their usual New flamenco repertoire. In November 2022, their fifth album Libres was distinguished as "Best Flamenco Music Album" at the 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards gala in Las Vegas.

Las Migas
Las Migas in concert, 2019
Las Migas in concert, 2019
Background information
OriginBarcelona, Spain
GenresNew flamenco, Fusion, Rumba
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitars, violin
Years active2004-present
LabelsConcert Music Entertainment, Nuevos Medios, Chesapik
Websitehttp://www.lasmigas.com

History and career

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The name of the band, Las Migas translates as "The Bread Crumbs" and refers to migas, a popular dish. They four musicians started their career in 2004 in Barcelona, when Marta Robles (guitar), Sílvia Pérez Cruz (vocals) Isabelle Laudenbach (guitar) and violinist Lisa Bause founded the group. The first three of them had been students at the Escuela Superior de Música de Cataluña.[1]

In 2010, they released their first album titled Reinas del matute with lyrics by Spanish poets Federico García Lorca and Rafael Alberti and produced by Raül Refree.[2] At the end of July 2011, Sílvia Pérez Cruz left the group to focus on her own projects.[3]

Subsequently, Las Migas presented their new lead singer Alba Carmona, who had l worked as a backing vocalist on the album Reinas del matute and who added a more traditional Flamenco style to their repertoire. At the beginning of 2012, the group's second album Nosotras somos was released and presented live on a tour in Catalonia, southern Spain and Madrid.

In January 2013, Lisa Bause, who had played with the group since their beginnings in 2004, was replaced by Roser Loscos on violin. In December of the same year, Isabelle Laudenbach left and was substituted by the guitarist Alicia Grillo from Córdoba. In November 2016, they released Vente conmigo, the first work by the new line-up including Marta Robles, Alicia Grillo, Roser Loscos and Alba Carmona. Most of the songs were their own compositions, with Spanish singer Miguel Poveda making a guest appearance on one of the songs.[4]

In February 2018, Alba Carmona embarked on her solo career and was replaced as vocalist by Begoña Salazar, with whom they released the album Cuatro in 2019. Since May 2019, the lead singer has been Carolina Fernández, nicknamed "La Chispa" (The Spark). In 2022, they released their album Libres with the collaboration of Spanish singers Estrella Morente, María Peláe and Flamenco guitarist Tomatito. In November 2022, this album was distinguished as "Best Flamenco music album" at the 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards gala in Las Vegas.[5]

In August 2022 Roser Loscos left the band and was replaced by Laura Pacios on violin and backing vocals. In 2024, they produced their new album called Rumberas, presenting different styles of the Rumba genre and paying tribute to iconic musical artists such as Rosario, Lola Flores or Celia Cruz. In February 2024, the BBC World Service radio show "The Arts Hour on Tour" presented Las Migas live from Madrid.[6]

Discography

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Albums

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  • Reinas del matute (2010), with Silvia Pérez Cruz on vocals.
  • Nosotras somos (2012), with Alba Carmona on vocals.
  • Vente conmigo (2016), with Alba Carmona on vocals.
  • Cuatro (2019), with Begoña Salazar on vocals.
  • Libres (2022), with Carolina Fernández La Chispa on vocals.
  • Rumberas (2024), with Carolina Fernández La Chispa on vocals.

Video clips

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  • Perdóname Luna, from the album Reinas del matute (2010)
  • La Guitarrina, from the album Nosotras somos (2012)
  • Gitana Hechicera (2014)
  • Calma, from the album "Vente conmigo" (2016)

Awards and recognition

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  • 2020 - Independent Music Award (MIN) for Best Flamenco Album[7]
  • 2022 - "Best Flamenco music album" at the 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards[8]

References

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  1. ^ Romero, Angel (2023-05-20). "Las Migas: An All-Female Flamenco Crossover Quartet of Diverse Origins | World Music Central". Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  2. ^ "Las Migas Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  3. ^ January 22; Comments, 2018 | Mariángel Villalobos |. "Barcelona's New Arrivals: The Itinerant Music of Catalonia". Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Retrieved 2024-08-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Las Migas: "Esperem que Miguel Poveda ens acompanyi a la presentació del disc a Barcelona"". www.ccma.cat (in Catalan). 2016-11-17. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  5. ^ "Todos los ganadores de los Grammy Latinos 2022". El Pais (in Spanish). El País. 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  6. ^ "BBC World Service in Madrid to record The Arts Hour On Tour". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  7. ^ "Las Migas". LPR. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  8. ^ "Grammy Latinos 2022: Todos los ganadores". Rolling Stone en Español (in Spanish). 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
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