Romance, eroticism and sex. That’s what the lyrics of RR are all about, the group formed by Rosalía (Barcelona, 30 years old) and Rauw Alejandro (San Juan, Puerto Rico, 30 years old), who are known to be a sentimental couple for a couple of years. His first three songs (Kiss, Vampires and Promise) can be heard on digital platforms from midnight. Aside from the fact that his Miami home “smells like tobacco and melon,” we heard two reggaeton-based songs with interesting soundtracks and a twisted, original bolero with a surprise ending. Three pieces with little flamenco that would have brimmed with sugar in the hands and voices of another duo, but on them they sound like a whole, well tied, always prioritizing the song and avoiding individual flair.
They call it a “project” as if they were in their first CEO prep course. But this is music. The RR project, or rather RЯ, which kisses the initials of Rosalía and Rauw in the logo they published. They say they’ve been working on it for the past year. Almost everything is known about Rosalía. Even better saying: It is well known what this type of superheroine who appears in the TikTok window in front of millions of people, skillfully wants to show on her social networks to tell them that the world is changing and she knows where the Wind blows.
Rauw Alejandro is a few steps behind in terms of popularity. His musical experience began when his parents divorced and at the age of 10 he moved to live with his mother in Carolina, one of the reggaeton districts in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. “All reggaeton players come from there, it’s the cradle. The first DJs and producers went to Carolina and a musical atmosphere emerged. Now there are more recording studios than schools or sports parks,” he told this newspaper in 2021. Rauw had a hard time distinguishing himself among the Puerto Rican musicians of his generation (Bad Bunny, Ozuna, Anuel AA, Myke Towers, 2, Jhay Cortez…), because one of his qualities was dancing, and it wasn’t good to see a reggaeton player move like Michael Jackson. Although a little later than the others, he managed to advance in evolution with a recording career, one album a year: Afrodisiaco (2020), Viceversa (2021), which includes his hit Todo de ti; and Saturn (2022).
As reported, RR’s songs tell a story of their own: “They’re like love phases. One has to do with the past, the other with the present, and the other with the future.
So are the three songs, composed and written by the two and with the help of production from Noah Goldstein, Dylan Patrice and El Zorro. At the moment they only recorded videos of Beso:
Kiss. A piano melody introduces the theme. It can also be the next ringtone for a cell phone brand. Immediately, Rosalía’s voice rings out, her unmistakable tone to describe how much she longs for her partner’s cuddle. A slow, sensual, wobbly reggaeton rhythm. Rauw Alejandro takes on the most Latin American part; When she appears, the magic returns. “Smoke like you’re going to get kicked out for smoking. / And dance as I know a god would move while dancing. / And you kiss like you’ve always known how to kiss. / And no one had to teach you, you,” sings the Catalan. A theme where the two adapt to the song and not like many of the collaborations that saturate the Latin American market where each one seems to go its own way. Comment that the video consists of many homemade pictures in which the couple express their love and have a great time, that’s what it’s all about. It ends with Rosalía wiping away tears and saying, “Oh my god, and all the mascara is leaking here. I love you”. And gives him a kiss. Lovers of social chronicles take note: she is carrying a small box in her hand that looks like it contains a ring.
vampires. It all starts with a deep sound that looks like an organ keyboard, playing hauntingly and hypnotically throughout the song. This sound will guide the listener through a song where the first protagonist this time is Rauw Alejandro. They talk about the night, sex and fangs. “My gun doesn’t have a safety, it fires by itself./ It’s from Barcelona, but it’s in Carola. / She is not a follower, she is the wave,” he sings, and that everyone draws their own interpretations. It’s the disco song that twerks the most, with disruptive moments like some explosive percussions and Rosalía’s signature tongue twister: “La que pica, spicy, wasabi.” / I am natural, Wabisabi”.
Promise. RR’s Best Song A deconstructed bolero that would have fitted perfectly into Motomami. A bolero based theme full of noises and sound details that turn listening into an adventure. “I want to eat cherries with you and climb all the mountains. / Throw us naked into the water and then sleep on the beach. / And dry your hair and eat your face. / And even if time passes, I will not forget anything”, Rosalía sings to her lover. The final minute is outstanding. A rich organ accompanies the flamenco voice of Rosalía (that Rosalía from El mal querer), percussion to the beat and a few final laughs from him, the lovebirds’ laughter.
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