In the opening footage of the music video of his song "Full Time Papi", the Spanish artist Álvaro Dela Fuente wields a leather whip. What’s next: advice dedicated to dedication, gay dirt and spectacular muscles show, all burst into choruses of other shirtless men, hanging ropes from ropes, chants, “yoseréserétu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu
"Full Time Papi" is the first single on De La Fuente's upcoming album Spanish leatherwhich marks the artist's star departure. A few years ago, when he was just starting out, he was a kid, using his PlayStation as a temporary recording device and singing Jotas and bandurria In a idyllic town in Spain. Now he has developed into a full-time dad model and has entered a weird journey to the big city club.
Since his first LP (2022) was released quarryde la Fuente, under his stage name Guitarricadelafuente, teamed up with high-profile pop stars like Troye Sivan, toured the world and spent a lot of time thinking about the ending: from death itself to the fanatical conclusion, but Magic Night. quarry De La Fuente's clear breakthrough went beyond Spain's breakthrough, winning his place on the best roster. With his second LP Spanish leatherhis goal is to attract a wider global audience. Working with Carter Lang, producer of Sza and Doja Cat Fame, De La Fuente no longer tries to capture the gilded gilded vignette at home, but instead relaxes in a brief moment of happiness, creating a universal description of desire and a desire to register in the breath. The result is fewer buttons Sketch of Spain There are more free Wheeling Mecano, updated to an ironically Akon- and David Guetta-inspired beat.
De la Fuente caught up before the album was released Rolling stones discuss Spanish leatherSurprising folk origins and his complex relationship with the past. The following conversation has been translated from Spanish and edited for clarity.
Your voice transforms from intimate, acoustic records to a more refined dance performance. How do you describe the evolution of music between the early release and this new album?
quarry I think it's a record inspired by the past: weighted by heritage, tradition and folklore. This transformation in Spain, at least in music, has returned to its roots, its origins. Not only in music, but in other fields, too: food, seeking authenticity. At some point, this became so popular that now everything is wrapped in aesthetics that somehow become cute, like the image of an old man playing cards on the street. But in the end, the person who portrays it is usually not the person who actually lives.
When I'm done quarryI like the idea that the songs I write are like part of the current folk canon. I was obsessed with the Woody Guthrie song "Jarama Valley" about Abraham Lincoln's brigade, and other songs written by Americans who came to support Republicans during the Spanish Civil War. This is a deep romantic moment for the Civil War. Many artists came to Spain with unity and wrote songs. These are American folk songs, but with Spanish themes. I was fascinated by the way that the phrase “Spanish leather” appears in different places. Interestingly, for them, "Spanish leather" carries this exotic quality when we just say leather. I'm interested in that we can express folklore as something borne out of the blue - we've found our roots. The way we speak, the humor, the manner we act, are all the consequences of the past.
and Spanish leatherI hope these songs are more modern, solidify my everyday perspective, and capture generational moments through these stories. I spent a few weeks in New York and Los Angeles, mostly in Los Angeles, working with Carter Lang in his studio. I have an idea, what I am doing is the Spanish. Suddenly, people from other countries, even if they don’t understand the language, are connected to music, which is really fun.
Has your songwriting process changed since your first recording?
I think the biggest change is learning to let go. Don't overthink. When I write, I start with melody and nonsense. For example, Future lovers First is "Cafeterías, Cafeterías, Cafeterías de Madrid." It doesn't make sense, but I like it. I was like, "What the hell am I talking about? What are I even talking about?"
What made me wake up at night was that what really touched me was the fear of death and the fear of growing up. I was really overwhelmed by the feeling that everything was over. Not only youth, but also like… tonight. or relationship. The other day, I thought, “We’re working hard” and suddenly I thought the show was over. I think it's a symptom of our immediacy and trying to introduce this super-appearing lifestyle, rather than wanting to get too far or behind. Before, I once wanted to write songs that were eternal. But now, I am more interested in finding fun in a short place, nothing is divine.
Different quarryI think this is a familiar experimental tortuous tradition and happens in pastoral imagination, Spanish leather Exist in a more urban context. Can you describe the physical and emotional landscape of this album?
In terms of narrative, I want Spanish leather As a literal landscape. It's about leaving the village, giving up on it, and heading to the city to discover new things and discover yourself. Along the way, you travel like some kind of Spanish landscape Don Quixotehallucination windmill. I think it's a form of liberation, not a disengagement from the past, but rather saying, "Okay, this is part of me now. I'm no longer a kid and I want to have fun in this city."
You asked me earlier how my songwriting changed and I think it has to do with enjoyment. I haven't thought about it this time. The lyrics are not always linear, and the song does not necessarily have a clear beginning, middle and ending quarry. At that time, I felt like I had to defend a song with just a guitar, no decoration, no skills. This time, I just want to enjoy these songs, play them with my guitar friends, and dance to them. I like them to feel straightforward. It's a song that brings me fun and I want them to do the same for others.
In the past, I have linked your music with playful porn, almost filled with fairytale curiosity. This time, I feel that desire occupies a more adult physical dimension, introducing new dynamics of gender and desire.
quarry Living in a more innocent space. I think Spanish leather Be a part of growing up, understanding porn, temptation, and how you feel about your body and your image.
Four years ago, I felt more stressed. I want to come up with perfect works, levels and experiments, but I don't necessarily express my content. Choosing "Full Time Papaya" as the first single is about breaking that. Like, I'm no longer a child. The gentle, childish porn, nude we used to play with, has changed. Now the body is just the body. There is a shame.
There is still a lot of play. Especially in language, there are many temptations in the lyrics. You can see in the visuals that it is inspired by what is in the song.
Have a good moment Spanish leather This reminds me of the moments when I had sexual desire in Spanish pop history, McCano. How do you balance nostalgia and innovation in music?
It's fun to mention Meghana. They are singing to promote super liberating things - time is very open, bold stories. I always find them inspiring. This album actually has some hidden Mecano references, especially in "Puerta del Sol". There is something about McCanaugh's language: it's speaking, speaking, eighties, and not afraid of speaking. The lack of self-awareness does bother me.
Going back to nostalgia and innovation, I think the two are moving forward in unison. It's like an umbilical cord: you keep reminiscing to create something new. Finally, everything comes from digging through life experience.
Our fear of the end of things is also nostalgic. Nostalgic things about Finish. I'm trying to make these songs more interactive in some way - to make the listener feel like a part of them. I don't like to see the beautiful things behind the glass box and cannot reach them. I wish these songs were beautiful, yes, but also fun, nostalgic and full of sensation. I hope they inspire joy. Make you think Feel thing.