Rosalía received this Thursday in London the Ivor Novello Award for International Composer of the Year, one of the most prestigious in the industry, which places her at the very top of the musical pantheon, on the same level as Paul McCartney, Elton John, or Adele.
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The one from Sant Esteve Sesrovires thus signed today a new historic milestone, at 33 years old, as she is the first Spanish artist to add this award to her record, but not the first Spanish speaker: Shakira was recognized with a special Ivor Novello for her career in 2022.
She is the first Spanish artist to add this award to her record
In this line, upon receiving the award, Rosalía said: “I know there are exceptional composers who will never receive the recognition they deserve, because they are not white middle-class Europeans whose education has been stable enough to turn a glimpse of talent into a successful career,” words that were met with applause in the auditorium.
“The thought of writing my fourth album terrified me,” confessed the Catalan singer during her speech, referring to her latest album ‘Lux’, as she recalled it took her three years to finish it, despite the pressure exerted by “that insatiable monster, commonly known as the music industry.”
“Thank you for giving so much love to my music,” continued Rosalía in front of the British audience, who admitted that the recognition from the Ivors Academy was a “great surprise” that she could not have even imagined “in her wildest dreams.”
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The award, given by the Ivors Academy – one of the largest professional associations of composers at the European level -, recognizes Rosalía’s talent as a composer, thanks to her latest album ‘Lux’, written in 13 different languages, which has been globally praised by critics.
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Additionally, it cements her reputation in the United Kingdom. Last November, the Catalan singer won the BRIT Award for International Artist of the Year in Manchester and delivered one of the most memorable performances of the night with a rave version of ‘Berghain’ alongside Björk, before starting a ‘Lux Tour’ that was unanimously rated five stars by the British press.
When announcing her as the winner in April, the president of the Ivors Academy, Tom Gray, stated that Rosalía is “redefining” songwriting: “Her work fuses tradition and experimentation with extraordinary precision and impact, creating songs that constantly evolve and fully immerse us in her world.”
At the ceremony, held at the London JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel, besides Rosalía, other artists were also recognized such as the British Sam Fender, who was named songwriter of the year; the Irish CMAT, who won the Ivor Novello for best album for ‘Euro-Country’; or the late George Michael, who posthumously received a membership of the academy.
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