Bárbara Pérez Delivers Excellence & Honors Her Mother On New Song “Azul” From Upcoming EP
Intro:
Bárbara Pérez is today’s featured Spotlight artist with her elegant new track “Azul,” which has a new music video linked later in the article. She enters a new chapter in 2026 with the first single from her upcoming seven-track EP, Katharsis. This Spanish-language reggae track brings together the sounds and experiences that have shaped Pérez’s artistic journey, while returning her to the genre where her professional career first began. Looking ahead, we know that the upcoming Katharsis EP will deliver, based on the quality of this initial release. Before reading our full article below, you should listen to more of Bárbara Pérez down below.
Summary:
Cuban-rooted and based in Barcelona, Pérez began her professional musical journey in 2007 within the reggae scene. Over the years, her musical path expanded into soul and jazz, including trio and quintet projects, before leading her back to her Cuban heritage through salsa and Cuban music. She later explored electronic music collaborations, building a diverse artistic identity that moves comfortably between genres and traditions. Her work in artist management has also given her experience beyond performance, providing a broader perspective on the creative and professional sides of the music industry.
“Azul” reflects that breadth while remaining grounded in reggae. The song blends reggae with elements of soul, dub, and Latin alternative music, built around an organic groove, offbeat guitars, a warm rhythm section, and expressive brass arrangements. The production balances the spirit of classic roots reggae with a contemporary sonic approach, creating a track that feels both timeless and current.
Produced and arranged by Joseph Derteano, “Azul” combines live instrumentation with Pérez’s soulful vocal style. Her voice sits naturally within the warm, melodic production, allowing the rhythm to remain central while giving the song an intimate emotional quality. The result is a piece that feels deeply connected to her musical history without sounding confined by it.
Additionally, the song also carries a personal meaning for Pérez. She has shared that she wrote “Azul” for her mother, who passed away in 2025. Her mother’s strong connection to the color blue (including a love of blue hair) became part of the inspiration behind the song. This ultimately gives the title and atmosphere an emotional significance that reaches beyond its musical influences.
“Azul” serves as the introduction to Katharsis, an EP designed as a journey through the different styles, cultures, and experiences that have influenced Pérez throughout her life. Beginning the project with reggae is particularly meaningful, as it reconnects her with the musical world where her professional story started while allowing everything she discovered afterward (soul, jazz, Cuban music, Latin sounds, and electronic experimentation) to become part of the sound.
Previous releases such as the intimate 2021 bolero “Tu Bolero en Mi Piel,” dedicated to her musician father, and “Vente Negra,” her reinterpretation of a song that has travelled throughout Latin America and Europe, “Azul” represents another deeply personal step forward. With Katharsis, Bárbara Pérez is revisiting her roots & bringing every chapter of her musical journey with her.
