Rosalía inspiring the next generation in classical music
Rosalía is one of the biggest Spanish stars in music
- Published
The day before Rosalía announced her fourth studio album, Lux, she posted a video of herself on Instagram with classical music playing in the background.
It was a teaser for how her new album was going to sound. In the opening seconds of lead single Berghain, violins are followed by a choir singing.
The popular Spanish singer, who is classically trained herself, collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) on the project.
It's also sparked suggestions that it could switch a new generation of young listeners on to classical music.
But, as BBC Newsbeat's been finding out, many of them were already well aware of it.
'Really inspired'
"I think a lot of people are always like: 'Oh, classical music is so boring'," says 15-year-old Si.
"But when I'm playing classical music... I feel like I want to continue because it's just really fun."
Si is speaking to BBC Newsbeat at the LSO East London Academy, which aims to give 11 to 18-year-olds a chance to learn an instrument.
It's a free programme, with coaching delivered by professional musicians.
Si says hearing Rosalía's album has left him feeling "really inspired".
"It's really cool to see modern music turn more creative and different to what we normally think of as pop music," he says.
"So, having these classical instruments in modern music is a lot more fun."
Si is a member of the LSO East London Academy
Although Rosalía's album has fueled a mainstream conversation about classical music, with younger listeners getting involved, she's not the first pop artist to employ orchestral sounds in her work.
Hattie Butterworth, a cellist and editor of Choir & Organ and Opera Now magazines, believes that more pop stars are taking an interest in classical music.
"I think there's something about artists being more inherently connected to their musicality that audiences really respond to," she says.
Authenticity is important to modern audiences, and Hattie says this could help to explain the appeal.
"If you know an artist has that background in singing, or in clarinet, or in a orchestral instrument, it feels like there's a bit more validity to it."
Hattie Butterworth is the editor of two magazines about classical music
According to TikTok, Rosalía's Lux has driven a wave of new videos on the platform, with top tracks La Perla and Berghain being used in 600,000 posts that have generated three billion views.
But there's evidence to suggest that some parts of the audience were already acquainted with classical music.
TikTok told Newsbeat use of the ClassicalMusic hashtag had increased by 60% over the past 12 months.
And certain creators, such as organist Anna Lapwood, who shares videos of her performing to her 1.4m followers, are social media stars in their own right.
But research conducted for TikTok this September, based on a small survey of 1,001 UK respondents aged 16 to 25, reported that 35% felt classical music could be "exclusive and unwelcoming".
Ayaana has been playing the cello since she was 11-years-old
It's a feeling Ayanna, 18, can relate to.
She's also a member of the LSO East Academy and has been playing cello since she was 11.
She confesses she "kind of hated" the instrument when she first started, but says she grew to love it.
"After you become immersed in how it sounds, it changes the way you think about it," she says.
"Now, I'd love to have a career in music."
Ayanna says she felt like that was going to be difficult for her.
"You need a lot of money, and a lot of the people are a lot more wealthy," she says.
"It's quite biased ethnically and sometimes you'll see a lot of people being able to play music because it's just privilege."
Ayanna says that being part of the Academy, and a larger, younger audience getting switched on to classical music, helps her to keep playing.
"Seeing a lot of other ethnic minorities being able to play music just creates a community amongst everyone," she says.
One day, young musicians like Ayanna could end up performing alongside an international pop star, which is exactly what happened with one member of the LSO who spoke to Newsbeat.
Rosalía's album has fueled a mainstream conversation about classical music
Belinda McFarlane, known as Bindi, has been part of the orchestra for 35 years and is currently its second violinist.
She was part of the team that helped Rosalía in the studio, and says the nature of the recording process meant they only heard parts of each song.
"The finished product was thrilling to hear," says Bindi.
"How she'd woven all the music that we'd recorded in and out of her tracks. It really is a fantastic album."
And Bindi says meeting the singer was "fantastic".
"She was in the sessions and her ideas were present and she was really friendly," she says.
"I don't know if she'll remember my name, but, anyway, it was pretty much a thrill to work with her."
- Published7 November
- Published5 November
