Hailing from Southern Spain’s Jerez de la Frontera, Lara Fernández Castrelo was destined to become Judeline.
Pronounced “Yud-lain” as she describes it, her artistic name was inspired by one of her dad’s favorite songs, “Hey Jude” from the Beatles. Judeline’s sound however, has been an ever-evolving tapestry of wherever she pulls inspiration from. As a Capricorn sun, Sagittarius rising, Cancer moon, she possesses a distinctive allure and emotional depth, giving her the ability to connect with different cultures and genres. This has enabled her music to become a representation of layered rhythms from the traditional flamenco and bulerías of her upbringing, with the modern beats she was exposed to via MTV and other platforms of her generation. As a singer-songwriter her lyrics are witty and share with us a glimpse of her curiosity for culture, connection, experience, and life.
In 2020, Judeline made the move from Andalusia to the Spanish capital of Madrid to complete her studies and work on building a successful music career. Her first collaboration was with singer Alizzz on his project, Desclasificados. The album featured Judeline and was a commercial success. Following various collaborations, she released her debut EP titled de la luz in 2022 and the following year she signed a record deal with Interscope Records. That year she went on to release multiple projects including “TANGER Y ZAHARA” and single “CANIJO” which further catapulted her onto the radar of globally recognized artists such as J Balvin, with whom she was invited to tour with this year.
Despite her rapid growing global acclaim and being dubbed ‘the next Rosalia’, it’s clear that Judeline is creating a style all her own through music that is unpredictable and in constant evolution. Focusing primarily on indie-pop with Latin influence, we never quite know what lyrical stories she’ll reward us with next, adding even further to her allure.
As photographer Daniel Zuliani snapped portraits of an unassuming Judeline during her recent visit to Miami on the heels of her new single launch, “INRI”, we were fortunate to discover her story in her own words. Beyond the lens, we found a creative and approachable artist that was born to shine through her art and she solidified why Judeline is a Global Emerging Musician you need to know.
TIGRE SOUNDS: WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A SINGER?
JUDELINE: I think I always knew. I felt something strong every time I saw my favorite singers and divas perform and fill stadiums. When I would go to concerts, I couldn’t stop thinking, “I really want to be up there”. Since I began talking, I always dreamed about being on the stage.
TIGRE SOUNDS: HOW HAVE YOUR ANDALUSIAN BACKGROUND AND LATIN AMERICAN ROOTS SHAPED THE MUSICIAN YOU ARE?
JUDELINE: I grew up in Southern Spain so of course I was surrounded with flamenco. I was also watching MTV which gave me a mixed musical perspective. My father is from Venezuela and I was influenced by American grooves because he loved it. I had a lot of influence from the culture, the food and of course the sounds. It’s beautiful to have this mix of different things at home and it’s the mix of everything I heard and everything I feel that creates the type of music I want to make and listen to. Growing up I was in a punk band and did some acoustic guitar covers. Then I began listening to trap and rap and the mix of every type of sound that I liked is what I wanted to make. It was always an exploration – to this day I could never decide what sound I wanted to be mine so I made all of them. The music I heard in my whole life makes me the musician I am now.
TIGRE SOUNDS: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND TODAY?
JUDELINE: Genreless and Borderless.
TIGRE SOUNDS: YOU JUST LAUNCHED YOUR SINGLE “INRI” THAT OFFERS AN ETHEREAL BLEND OF SPANISH AND ARABIC RHYTHMS. WHO DO YOU SING TO WHEN YOU SAY ‘PONME UN ANILLO, HABIBI’?
JUDELINE: Hehe. I always had this particular taste while growing up and I am fascinated by people who can teach me about different cultures. When I sing that, and the melody is lifted by Arabic sounds, it’s my way of being cheeky and provokingly asking someone to teach me something new. It’s not necessarily to a particular person but a declaration of my passion for cultures and newness in a sense.
TIGRE SOUNDS: WHERE’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO CREATE MUSIC?
JUDELINE: I think it’s pretty cool to go to like a country or vacation home with your friends to be in nature. I also really like being in the studio without pressure, where you can just create without feeling like you have to release music on a deadline. When you’re free to contemplate ideas and you have time to bring them to life, I think that’s the ultimate creative experience.
TIGRE SOUNDS: WHAT ARTISTS ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH RIGHT NOW?
JUDELINE: I recently went to a Luis Miguel concert and can’t get enough of him. I’m in a LuisMi and Juan Luis Guerra vibe lately and have been listening to more chill music now, like Boleritos.
TIGRE SOUNDS: WHAT UPCOMING PROJECTS SHOULD WE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR?
JUDELINE: Following my recent single “INRI”, I’ll be releasing my album this fall. I’ve been working on it for 3 years with my producers, Tuiste and Mayo. The album’s executive producer is Rob Basel who has worked with SZA and Kendrick Lamar. It was a challenging process, sort of a love/hate relationship. But I’m really excited to share it with the world and can’t wait for it to be out. Follow my social media @judeli.ne and catch me if you can 😉
TIGRE SOUNDS: DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US?
JUDELINE: Which songs are you enjoying, which do you have on repeat?
TIGRE SOUNDS: We’re absolutely obsessed with your version of “ La Tortura”, you sang it so beautifully integrating your Spanish roots and giving it a global touch. And of course, we can’t get enough of “INRI”!
Stream Judeline on all major platforms and discover why she is a Tigre GEM: Global Emerging Musician.
All photos by Daniel Zuliani