“Membrillero” is the new single from Andalusian-Rooted Folktronica Group Rezelo

“Membrillero” is the first preview of Rezelo’s upcoming third EP, Vol III: Tierra, which completes their tribute to the traditional songs recorded by García Lorca and La Argentinita in 1931.

Unlike the introspective nature of their first EP and the festive atmosphere of the second, this third volume explores themes related to territory, such as displacement, the urban-rural dialectic, and depopulation.

Specifically, “Membrillero” addresses how our place of origin and environment shape our language, and how distancing from nature leads to a loss of vocabulary related to animals and plants, which once connected us to the land and previous generations.

To introduce this theme, Rezelo constructs a dialog between two characters, with distinct parts: a soft flute with a marine aura introduces the melody, while a powerful breakbeat elevates the song’s drama in its chorus, maintaining listener interest throughout the four-minute track.

Overall, the single offers a balanced fusion with influences ranging from Rodrigo Cuevas to Castora Herz and Baiuca, providing an excellent prelude to the group’s forthcoming work focused on updating traditional folklore.

Rezelo use tambourines, autotune, memory, and fun.

Rezelo was formed in Madrid in 2023 by lyricist and vocalist María Bartolomé and composer and guitarist Miguel Barrientos, driven by a shared desire to rethink and modernize the Spanish popular songbook by fusing it with contemporary genres such as urban music, electronica, and flamenco. This mix defines Rezelo’s creation of addictive beats and foundations that combine 808s and vocoder with samples of handclaps and castanets. Additionally, the group aims to revive honest lyrics using traditional elements to address current issues.

With this purpose, Rezelo’s first project began: producing 12 songs inspired by the album Colección de Canciones Populares Españolas, recorded by Federico García Lorca and Encarnación López “La Argentinita” in 1931. The group’s goal is to use the structure and melodies of this tradiitonal song selection to create entirely new songs that still allow listeners to recognize the rhythmic and melodic patterns of the original pieces.

In September 2023, Rezelo released their EP Vol. I: Carne, the first of a trilogy reinterpreting Lorca’s songbook. This initial release included four songs, earning them a spot in Madrid’s Matadero Artistic Residencies Program, in which they are currently participating. In April 2024, they released their second EP, Vol. II: Sangre, which has reached prominent stations like Radio 3, and they are now on tour promoting it.