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- country:Spain
- style(s):Afro, Flamenco
- label:Casa Limon
- type:Solo
- gender:female
- instrumentation:vocal
- artist posted by:ARTos & Theama
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With origins from Guinea and Cuba, born in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Buika has been characterised as the "Flamenco Queen". Of "nuevo-flamenco", to be exact, since this is the term that can define the genre that this unique artist sings. She started out singing in clubs and Casinos of Mallorca and then moved to Madrid. She was discovered by Rachell Ferrell, a "diva" of the local jazz music scene, who proposed her to perform at the Blue Note club. Until then, she even did doing impersonations of Tina Turner and The Suprems in a Casino in Las Vegas.
Years passed since the time she did these impersonations and Maria de Concepcion Balboa Buika (as her full name is) evolved in a unique performer with exquisite vocal abilities and an undoubted element: her powerful presence on stage. A voice African, rhythmic, deep, hoarse and "smoky", expressed through flamenco and definitely cannot be surpassed. At her live performances, the audience is magnetized by her performance as she does not hesitate to share her own soul with them.
In 2007 she released her second album entitled "Mi Nina Lola", where she dared to face a very demanding repertoire, performing on famous classic copla songs as "Mi nina Lola", "Ojos Verdes" and "Mi Carmen". Producer of the album was the well known for his works producer Javier Limon (founder of the independent label Casa Limon, the person behind the excellent album "Lagrimas Negras" of Bebo Valdes and Diego El Cigala), who literally transformed Buika as an artist and gave her "smoky" voice the repertoire and quality that describes all of his productions. The album received several distinctions, among them two awards at the Spanish Music Awards 2007, "Best Production" and "Best Spanish Album".
In 2008 she released the album "Nina de Fuego" (2008) ("Girl made of fire"). The album is once more a collaboration between Buika and Javier Limon, where she returns to the Spanish copla, touches for the first time ranchera (Mexican popular song) and presents some new songs composed by herself and Limon. The lyrics refer to love and the lost affection in contemporary human relationships. Buika transforms her own personal experiences into songs and Limon works on lyrics written during many sleepless nights during her tour in 2007... This album also achieved distinctions and was nominated for the "Best Album of the Year" and "The Best Production" of the Year at the Latin Grammy Awards 2008.
Buika is currently one of the most wanted artists worldwide, asked by prestigious festivals to present her works, she performs in the most important venues all around the world, she collaborates with great artists (Mariza, Pedro Almodovar etc.) and also continues to surprise the Greek audience, due to her collaboration with Eleftheria Arvanitaki, participating in the last album of the great Greek singer entitled "Mirame", singing a duet written especially by Javier Limon for both Buika and Eleftheria Arvanitaki.
Buika's collaboration with Javier Limon does not stop there. On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the great Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, Buika along with Chucho Valdes (son of the marvellous Cuban jazz pianist Bebo Valdes) prepared, under the baguette of Javier Limon, a new album homage to the Lady that made Mexican music known worldwide, "El Ultimo Trago" (2009). Songs such as "Las ciudades", "Las simples cosas", "Sombras", "Luz de Luna" are transformed and Buika's performance is once more magical. "El Ultimo Trago" tour begun on summer of 2010 and the album was released in September.
Buika is a unique artist, a girl who is actually a woman, with a very powerful personality and a magical voice, living an intense life. A blend of flamenco, jazz, soul, rumba &954;&945;&953; latin.
Definitely, for listeners with an elegant taste.