Just four years ago, the artist known as Judeline (née Lara Fernández) moved to Madrid from her small town in Southern Spain determined to try her luck at jam sessions, knocking on studio doors and releasing songs online. Now, the 21-year-old is a rising star in global pop with her unique tradition-meets-innovation style that is captured in her haunting debut album, Bodhiria, a fantastical tour de force.

Hailing from the tiny seaside village of Caños de Meca – a hippie haven in the 70s – in the Cadiz province, Judeline’s electronic, beat-driven music is profoundly influenced by her Andalusian culture. The rhythmic echoes of flamenco singing, the haunting beauty of Spanish and Arab folk melodies, and the spiritual undertones of Andalusian traditions such as Semana Santa all find their way into her work, creating a sound that is both timeless and contemporary. 

The artistic name Judeline comes from her father’s love for the Beatles and her yearning growing up of becoming a top-of-the-line artist. Such steadfast manifestation is captured in Bodhiria, – an imaginary word that comes from the Buddhist term bodhi, or enlightenment, and that she refers to as a dreamy state of limbo. Judeline has created an oneiric, conceptual album that draws from religion, death, toxic love and the liminal spaces in between. “It’s about longing, being very ambitious and wanting to be somewhere else,” she says. “It’s a metaphor for the moment I’m going through, everything is blowing up fast and I’m detaching myself a bit from reality”.

The mysterious storytelling of Bodhiria is embodied by the character of Ángela – also the name of one of the tracks- who sings to her former lover from that liminal state, which could be the afterlife, but open to listeners’ interpretations. “I dream a lot and my dreams are very visual…I like telling my friends about my dreams, I remember them vividly,” she says.

Judeline’s personal connection to themes of death in Bodhiria became even more poignant after the sudden loss of a close musician friend, whose recorded breaths are featured in the opening track, “Bodhitale”. This experience added emotional depth to the album, making it an intense and cathartic process for her and her producers Tuiste and Mayo, her loyal collaborators since she broke on the scene when she was 17 years old upon her arrival to Madrid. “For us it has a very strong emotional weight, like a different meaning, having him present in the album,” she says.

First singles “Mangata” and “INRI”, with music videos directed by Nono+Rodrigo draw on the rich visual elements of Catholic religion and Andalusian customs. “INRI” was partly shot at the Alcázar of Jerez, where Judeline’s maternal family comes from and where her grandfather and uncle are part of the Hermandad of El Prendimiento, which carry what is known as the Christ of the Gypsies during the Semana Santa processions. “It’s my culture. I’ve always felt a very strong connection when I would go inside churches or I would read stories,” she says of the ornate religious iconography so present in her work even though wasn’t raised practicing. “INRI” also incorporates Arabic lyrics and melodies, a cultural mix which was a normal part of Judeline’s upbringing: the car radio would pick up signals from the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar and on a clear day, you can see Morocco in the horizon.

In “Luna Roja.” Judeline imagines Ángela trying to communicate with her former lover through dreams or sleep paralysis. The narrative explores deep emotions of loss, anger, and sadness as Ángela realizes she’s being forgotten. Judeline’s mystical beliefs also permeate the album, adding layers of meaning to her work. “I consider myself very mystic, I’m sensitive to people and places’ energy”, she says, adding that she has explored Reiki practices.Her fascination with the concept of reincarnation all contribute to the album’s otherworldly atmosphere. This is particularly evident in songs like “Cuatro Esquinitas,” a lullaby-like piece that is both haunting and comforting, reflecting Judeline’s connection to the spiritual world.

The youngest of 5 children, Judelinewas a self-described loner as a kid and would watch artists like Katy Perry on TV and listen to Andalusian rapper Dellafuente. She always knew she wanted to be a performer and would create imaginary worlds in her bedroom. “I had a very lonely childhood, and was bored a lot of the time, which stimulated my creativity a lot,” says Judeline.

Judeline’s father, a musician who works in the hospitality industry, was raised in Venezuela as part of the mass migration of Spaniards to Latin America in the mid 20th century. From her dad she learned to play the Venezuelan cuatro and she was named after the Lara state of Venezuela. He plays the instrument and the bandola in the track “Joropo”, titled like the Venezuelan folk genre and a more intense, energetic song that pushes herself vocally, more powerfully than she typically does.

The creative process behind this album was a journey of self-discovery and artistic exploration for Judeline, recording in Madrid and Los Angeles. Bodhiria was produced by Judeline herself, Tuiste and Mayo, as well as executive producer Rob Bisel (SZA, Kendrick Lamar). Critically acclaimed artist producer Ralphie Choo contributed to several tracks, including “Heavenly” featuring fellow trailblazer Rusowsky on vocals. Judeline is part of the new, vibrant and eclectic Madrid music scene along with Choo and Rusowsky, and she found the collaboration stimulating and crucial for the development of her album. An up and coming crop of Spanish producers such as Drummie, Saint Lowe and Louis Amoeba also participated in Bodhiria.

Judeline’s debut EP ‘de la luz‘ (2022) was praised by Rosalía, Bad Bunny, she was part of Vevo’s DSCVR Artists To Watch program and the first Spanish artist to appear in the Spotify Singles series with her Shakira cover. She was chosen by J Balvin to open his 2024 European tour and was part of producer Tainy’s “Data” album with vocals on the track “si preguntan por mi”, making her Puerto Rico live performance debut at the famed Choliseo during Tainy’s concert in January 2024. Judeline is slated to perform at Pitchfork Festival in Paris in November 2024.