The Balearic musicians behind Rosalía, Rels B and Guitarricadelafuente

PalmaRosalía, seated as she does in every concert on the white grand piano to perform the song Sauvignon Blanc. It was the first of the four evenings presenting their latest album LUX (2026) in Barcelona, at the Palau Sant Jordi, last April. He turned to Llorenç Barceló from Manacor, his pianist, to toast with him, who had poured two glasses of wine, and introduced him as a "true Mallorcan." "Llorenç, do you want to say something? Because I always tell my version of the story, and I don't know about you…", he told him. He then replied: "About which story? The one about Taller de Músics?" And Rosalía continued: "No, about our story. It's your moment, you have ten seconds to summarize our story." Faced with the anticipation and the ovation generated, he modestly added: "Well, we met at Taller de Músics and became friends and here we are, after 15 or 20 years." And Rosalía concluded: "Sometimes they boo us uuuuh and no, we have always been just friends and you have always been a great friend. Thank you, Llorenç!

A touching and overwhelming moment, in front of a full house of 18,000 people. Four months after touring the world, these days they are precisely immersed in the final stretch of the American tour, performing the last evenings in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Florida, after forty concerts in both Europe and North and South America.

Rosalía and Llorenç Barceló – she is 33 years old and he is 37 – studied together at Taller de Músics del Liceu. She had already publicly praised him some time ago, saying that “no one sounds like him”. In fact, he has had him as a live musician since the tour of "Motomami (2022). A keyboard virtuoso, especially on the Hammond and Rhodes, in Mallorcan formations such as Glissando Big Band, Big Yuyu, and with Toni Vaquer. He is one of the driving forces behind the Manacor musical and cultural association S’Escat, which encourages musical creation, and currently also plays with Jorge Pardo. Despite his predisposition, his touring contract with the Catalan artist does not allow him to have answered the questions formulated by ARA Balears.

Rels B, the most recognized

Rels B is, for now, the most internationally recognized Balearic musician. Not only that, but he is considered the most listened-to Spanish artist worldwide, especially on platforms that dictate success, like Spotify. No joke. More than 80% of his listeners come from Latin America, where he fills stadiums with 60,000 fans.

Rels B is the Palma-born Daniel Heredia, about to turn 33. Also known artistically as Skinny Flakk, he is accompanied by two island producers who are essential in the production of his music, especially since his album A new star 1993 (2024) and up to the latest love love FLAKK (2026). They are the Palma-born Andrés Sastre Yuma, 32 years old, and the Ibiza-born Omar Alcaide, 26 years old, who, moreover, is the musical director and also one of the live musicians, and who has also been behind the production of No me tires flores, a song that Alejandro Sanz made together with Rels B.

Another Ibiza-born who also accompanies Rels B on stage is Pere Navarro, from Sant Agustí del Vedrà (32 years old): trumpeter, pianist, composer, producer, and DJ. “I started playing with him in June last year. The proposal came to me through Omar Alcaide, whom I've known since we were teenagers. I had previously worked for Rels B in a studio and production context”. In fact, he had done so on songs like ‘Balearico del nostalgia EP’ (2024) and ‘que todo siga igual,,, o que vaya mejor’’, from the album afroLOVA 25’ (2025).

“When the possibility of joining arose, it was a fairly natural evolution in the relationship within the band and for me it is an opportunity to share music with an artist, a team and a way of working very different from my personal projects. I am especially interested in this ability to enter another musical universe, to contribute my own sensitivity and, at the same time, to be influenced by what is happening around me,” explains Navarro. “I believe my main contribution is versatility, not only because I play both the trumpet and the keyboards, but also for my ability to understand the context I am in,” he comments. “My musical role doesn't change much, because the live show is very worked out and everyone has their role within the show. My responsibility is to fulfill it in the best possible way and put my sensitivity at the service of the music. When you are part of another artist's project, it is fundamental to understand that it is not about demonstrating everything you know how to do, but about listening to what each song asks for and contributing exactly what it needs at each moment. I try to bring my personality and my experience to the band, but always respecting Rels' language and the musical direction of the project,” adds the musician, who at the same time keeps active both his personal project and the jazz formation The Illusions – both jazz – and collaborations of fusion between house and jazz with the Mallorcan producer Kiko Navarro.

“Once the repertoire and the show are defined, we are quite on safe ground, trying to make each night work in the best possible way. Perhaps where I do feel an evolution is more in the personal and human sphere,” he expresses. “When you share so many stages and so many hours of travel with a group of people, a very special relationship ends up being created. You generate a relationship and a trust that also ends up having an impact on stage. You learn to know others, to understand them, and to know when you have to contribute or simply be there. But on a tour, you also contribute a lot from the human side, and that is probably the part that evolves the most over time,” he argues. “Musically, over time you develop a confidence that makes many things happen almost without having to talk about them. Personally, it is something I enjoy a lot,” concludes Navarro.

Pedro Moyà, the most veteran

In this same vein, Pedro Moyà, a 31-year-old from Binissalem, expresses himself. He has been playing with Rels B for even longer, having been their drummer since the end of 2021. "I joined the project that Christmas. It was a great end-of-year gift. I joined through a direct recommendation from Juanjo Monserrat, who was the guitarist and backing vocalist for the project at the time," recalls the drummer, who is also part of the group MUT. "When you're part of a band of this caliber, where talent and musical sensitivity abound wherever you look, and everyone's roles are so well-defined and you know what's expected of you, you try to do a little better each day than the last, both musically and personally. The contributions are the little things: always being mindful if you can lend a hand, clarify doubts, or simply try to build a team and make any situation easier to handle. We're among the most veteran members now, I really like it, and I notice that it helps those who join to have an easier path," he explains about the band's relationships, which he says are "spectacular." "We've gathered a very sensitive team, we love each other a lot, and we're very aware and grateful for what we do. It's very inspiring to see so many people admire and respect each other," he expresses.

"Making music with him [Rels B] is a privilege for me, and it's a luxury to experience and be part of historic concerts like the ones he does. Sometimes we take it for granted, but when we stop to think about it, we've lived through very surreal moments that a few years ago I wouldn't have even imagined," he adds, and talks about the "intense tours." "They have their downsides, like being away from loved ones, time differences, and being a bit out of touch. But at the same time, it also helps me to disconnect and take a break. Besides, most of my teammates aren't from Mallorca, so going on tour is the best way to spend more time with them," explains Moyà. "Many times there's no time for tourism or to get to know a city, but even so, I feel like I can get to know each place a little through the audience's energy, how people respond to the music, and the experience of playing there," says_Navarro.

Toni Llull, drummer and percussionist

The also Manacorí Toni Llull is 33 years old and for a year and a half has been the drummer and percussionist for Guitarricadelafuente, the artistic name of Álvaro Lafuente, 29 years old and from Benicàssim, one of the Spanish artists who has also turned pop upside down and has achieved the most international success. On September 24th, they will perform again in Mallorca, at the Auditòrium de Palma.

“Álex and Víctor Hernández, the brothers from the group Maestro Espada, who are the musical directors for the live shows, got in touch with me. They were looking for a profile that would be in charge of percussion above all, but who also had a hybrid character, and I fit the bill because they followed my path over these years with Marina Herlop and Tarta Relena a bit,” explains the musician, who accompanies the live performance of one of the names that is rising the most, so much so that the international tour has not only been through Europe, but also through Latin America and the United States. There, at the beginning of the year, they recorded a concert for Tiny Desk, the famous series of intimate performances by NPR Music, the US public radio: the scene is behind an office desk in Washington D.C. and captures the most intimate essence at close range. “I will always remember it with great affection”.

Since 2018 he has been the drummer for the Catalan Marina Herlop, with whom he had already had the group Myōboku. Then came the Catalan Tarta Relena, the Menorcan Anna Ferrer, and the Lloritana Maria Jaume. Since 2021 he has been touring non-stop. “Internationally, especially with Guitarricadelafuente and Marina Herlop. With the others, they are more national tours, which is also fine with me,” he says. “I’m having a great time, it’s what I’ve always wanted to do and I’m very lucky, but there also comes a point where it’s very tiring to always be away from home and it can be psychologically tough. But it’s worth it to me,” explains Llull, who holds the record for being the person playing simultaneously with the most artists right now. “In general, we put on very good concerts, I’m very lucky”.

“The relationship is quite close with everyone. With whom I’ve been touring the longest, I have more affinity. With Marina Herlop, we have a strong friendship, not to say family relationship”. “The concert at the Auditori de Barcelona of PA – Anna Ferrer’s latest album– was incredible; with Marina when we performed at the Mutek festival in Canada it was very emotional; and also with Tarta Relena the concert last year at the Teatre Grec for the Mercè festivities,” recalls Llull.