TBH, while I listen to a lot of Spanish language music, I only discovered Guitarricadelafuente from his guest spot on Troye Sivan’s “In My Room.” I immediately had to hear more and really enjoyed discovering his last album, La Cantera. I love the minimalist guitar driven pop sound on his latest album, Spanish Leather. Guitarricadelafuente is quickly becoming one of my favorite emerging LGBTQ+ artists, bringing a soft, poetic kind of storytelling to the world. From heartache to heatwaves, from hookups to hope, he takes us on a journey. Let’s get into it.
- BABIECA! – Kicks off quiet and shy—like a crush—and builds to a beat-pounding, chant-heavy climax. The stolen glances, the giddy moments on the dance floor, and the strength to risk it all after a few drinks.
- Futuros amantes – On this more somber sounding track, Guitarrica ruminates on a casual hookup in a trendy hotel. Something that’s happened before and always with the promise of something deeper next time.
- Full time papi – Another song that builds up slowly and reaches a peak with a chanting male chorus. Another tale of longing and an unrequited love. I love the repetition of the chorus and it’s been stuck in my head the last few weeks.
- Puerta del Sol – A beautifully minimal track about a fading situationship. What I think works so well is how somber the song gets as he reflects on the ways their romance isn’t working contrasting with harder edgier beats as he describes their bodies colliding in physical trysts. Emotional whiplash in the best way.
- Pipe dream – My favorite track on the album so far. I love the way the song begins with light and carefree guitar strumming while he sings about wanting more from a casual relationship and grows to a dancing beat while he asks his lover if he’d like to wake up from this pipe dream and have something more.
- Poses – I love the starts and stops on this album, the building from minimal to more filled out instrumentation. So far, we’ve been hearing about unrequited love and casual hookups, to me this song is a love letter to himself. A reminder of his one life to live and the dreams he’s making true. Through it all, still standing in the same poses.
- Los chicos del club – Minimal and acoustic guitar driven, Guitarrica sings of hazy Saturdays and chasing good times, eventually building to a sense of anguish with gritty wailing vocals at the end.
- Port Pelegrí – One of my other favorite songs on the album that feels light and fun with rhythmic chanting and seductive lyrics. Here he entices a crush to escape the heat of the city and head to the Spanish countryside or some frolicking on the beach, transitioning from acoustic sounds to electronic pop as he asks his crush to fall in love.
- Mataleón – Minimal and melodic, with lots of bullfighter imagery, he delivers some emotional vocals on this track. His lover as a bullfighter, Guitarrica as the bull surrendering. It also reads like a metaphor for vulnerability in his music. In both ways, he promises to be big on the peninsula.
- Quién teme a la máquina? – One of the shortest songs on the album is beautifully minimal with Guitarrica delivering delicate falsetto vocals. This album has been a whole hazy Spanish summer vibe and with this track, we’re reaching the end. “Y se nos pira tan rápido”
- Sonata nº 9 de los heavies de Gran Vía – I really love the vibe and aesthetic of this album, the imagery of the lyrics, even the music videos that have been released so far, all really drive a narrative that feels cinematic. And this brief instrumental track feels like the closing credits are starting to roll.
- Tramuntana – On this final track, I think Guitarrica delivers his best vocal performance with a light vibrato. A more polished track that includes strings and piano, the season has changed both literally and metaphorically. And fitting that the music video takes place in a much colder season in New York City. It’s a beautiful finish to this album.
The more I’ve listened to this album, the more I really appreciate the vibe and aesthetic Guitarrica has put together here. It’s continued to grow on me and I hope you’re holding space in your playlists for LGBTQ+ musicians like Guitarricadelafuente. Spanish Leather is tender, sexy, vulnerable, and unapologetically queer. Now I need the vinyl and US tour dates.
What about you? What’s your favorite track? Which lyric broke you in the best way? Join the conversation on Threads, BlueSky, or wherever the gays are screaming about new music.
