There are voices that are not only heard but felt. There are artists who do not just perform, but transform. And there are paths that, without having yet reached their summit, are already leaving an indelible mark. Today we are joined by a woman who sings from her roots and her heart, who turns every stage into a temple of emotions. From her first secret notes with her grandmother to sharing the stage with legends like Alejandro Sanz or Camela, Shakira Martínez doesn’t just sing: she tells us who she is in every song.
Welcome, Shakira. Thank you for letting us glimpse into your story…
Shakira Martínez is one of the most profound emerging voices in the flamenco-pop and urban music scene in Spain. With humble origins, a strong family heritage, and a unique sensitivity, she has managed to combine the purity of flamenco with the strength of the contemporary. Her career is marked by authenticity, consistency, and a special connection with the public. Today, in the midst of her successful tour ‘ABRÁZAME’ (Hug Me), she opens her soul to us.
Your first concert was at a family gathering and you never stopped from there. What do you think your grandmother Lina saw in you before anyone else?
Well, what my grandmother saw in me, I suppose, must have been some kind of special aptitude or sensitivity to dedicate myself to this. The truth is, I never actually asked her directly, so I couldn’t say exactly what made her think this could be my path.
Maybe she simply noticed I had a certain ease, or perhaps it was something more intuitive—just a gut feeling when she saw how I expressed myself in that moment. The truth is, although we never discussed it deeply, I will always be grateful that she believed in me and encouraged me to follow this road.
You’ve turned down big TV contests to follow your own pace and training. What does it mean to you to protect your time and your path in an industry that moves so fast?
For me, defending my time and my path in the industry means, above all, being true to myself and to my principles. Over the years, I’ve learned that nothing is handed to you in this world, and if you want your voice to be heard, you have to be consistent with who you are and what you want to share.
I’ve been lucky to experience incredible things in other programs and projects—moments that I really enjoyed and that have certainly contributed to my growth. But with maturity, I’ve also come to understand which paths I wouldn’t choose again. There are things that, while they may have seemed fun or interesting at the time, I now know don’t align with who I am, especially in terms of how I want my music and my art to be perceived.
It’s not about closing doors; it’s about consciously choosing which ones to walk through. In the end, it’s an act of self-awareness: knowing what you’re willing to give, what you’re willing to accept, and above all, what you’re not willing to compromise. Because if I’ve learned anything, it’s that when you stop being yourself to please others, you end up losing more than you gain. And in music, as in life, authenticity is the only thing that truly lasts.
When you sing songs like "Porque" or "Quiero que me olvides", what wounds, loves, or memories do you think of? Do you sing to heal, to release, or to share?
The act of singing has many faces: sometimes we sing to heal our own wounds, other times to share a lesson, and occasionally just to accompany the listener. In my case, many of the heartbreak songs I perform don’t come directly from my own personal experience—fortunately, I haven’t lived through all the dramas I sing about—but it’s true that I have a highly developed sense of empathy.
When I face a sad song or a story of failed love, I can completely immerse myself in that emotion—even if it’s not mine. It’s like I connect with that pain or joy through someone else’s eyes. I don’t need to have lived it exactly to understand it; it’s enough to observe, listen, and above all, feel honestly.
I think that’s precisely the magic of art: the ability to convey universal emotions even when they’re not exactly yours. As a performer, my job is to be a channel, a bridge between the story the song tells and the audience who receives it. And for that, sometimes sensitivity matters more than lived experience. In the end, what matters is that when I sing about heartbreak—even if it’s not mine—it sounds real to the person who has lived it.
What did you feel when Alejandro Sanz gave you that space to share the stage? Did you ever imagine that moment?
Honestly, I felt deeply grateful—and I still do—because working with Alejandro was a true honor. He is, without a doubt, one of the great icons of music in our country; a complete artist who has defined an era. For someone with his career and talent to trust in me… well, I still get emotional when I think about it. It was an immense opportunity, one of those that shift your perspective, and I will be eternally grateful for that gift.
And although it may sound curious, yes, in a way I did imagine it. I have this peculiar trait where I sometimes ‘decree’ things that I somehow feel will happen. It’s not something rational—it’s more like an intimate conviction, as if I knew in my heart it would come true. But what’s beautiful is that even though I sensed that moment would arrive, the way it actually unfolded exceeded all my expectations. Life has that magic: it gives you what you long for, but always in its own way and at the perfect time.
That is exactly the most valuable lesson I’ve come to internalize: you can be completely confident in your potential and in what you deserve, but in the end, the universe delivers it wrapped in surprises you could never have imagined. And in my case, always—always—it’s been for the better. That unshakable faith, combined with the ability to be amazed, is what makes the journey so special.
In this tour ‘ABRÁZAME’, who are you really embracing with your music? The audience, your roots, the little girl who used to sing in secret…?
This tour, Abrázame, represents much more than a series of concerts; it’s my way of building an emotional bridge with every person who comes to see us. The title is no coincidence: when I sing this song, which I wrote with all my love for my grandfather and great-grandfather, I feel like I’m wrapping the audience in a musical hug. It’s one of those songs that carries so much of my essence, so much genuine emotion, that it couldn’t just be another track in the setlist.
Abrázame began as a family tribute, but it has become something much greater. Every night, when I perform it, I try to make those words resonate uniquely in the heart of each listener. Because the magic lies in how the same lyrics can take on a thousand different meanings depending on each person’s experiences.
The most beautiful thing is seeing how the audience responds to that intention. I feel that they perfectly understand what I want to convey: that warmth, that human connection that only music can create. It’s not just about singing well or giving voice to a melody; it’s about creating a space where, for a few minutes, we all feel a little less alone, a little more understood. That’s the transformative power of music that I love so deeply.
Your voice has something ancestral. Do you feel that every time you sing, your grandmother, your land, your history also sing with you?
The stage is a space where I not only share my music, but also my emotions and my roots. There are moments when, performing certain songs, I inevitably connect with deep memories of my family. Every melody, every lyric, has the power to transport me to meaningful times with them. Some songs especially make me think of my parents, all the effort and love they’ve given me. Others remind me of the joy and complicity I share with my siblings, or the wisdom and tenderness of my grandparents. There are even songs that take me back to those conversations full of stories and advice I had with my grandmothers.
That’s why every time I go on or off stage, I carry that emotional legacy with me. My family is my constant inspiration, and their presence—even if sometimes just in memory—is the force that drives me to give my best in every performance. They are a fundamental part of my story, and that is reflected in my music and in the way I connect with the audience.
Has there been a moment, in the midst of success, when you’ve felt fragile or on the verge of giving up? What sustained you then?
The stage is much more than just a place to perform music; it’s a space where my deepest emotions and dearest roots come to life. There are moments when, singing certain songs, I feel a special connection with my family, as if each melody were an invisible thread linking me to them. Some songs take me straight to the warmth of my parents, to their unconditional support and those silent sacrifices they made for me. Others remind me of shared laughter with my siblings, that unique bond only siblings understand. And there are songs that, just by hearing them, bring me back to the wise stories of my grandparents or the tender love of my grandmothers—those teachings that left an indelible mark on my life.
That’s why each performance is a tribute to those who have shaped my story. It doesn’t matter if I’m stepping onto the stage full of adrenaline or stepping off with the satisfaction of a job well done: I always carry my family with me. They are my constant inspiration, my strength in moments of doubt, and the reason I give my best in every note. Their presence, even if just in memory, is the heartbeat that gives life to my music and allows me to connect authentically with the audience.
What has the audience not yet seen of Shakira Martínez that is still to come?
At this point in the tour, the audience hasn’t yet seen the show in its full expression. Although we’re already deep into the concerts, we’re constantly working on the show’s evolution. New ideas come up every day—innovations in both the music and the staging—and in every...
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