R3 (album)

After the international acclaim her second studio album, El Mal Querer, gave her, Rosalía began the recording sessions for her next projects in Los Angeles in early 2019.[1] That year, while embarking on a world tour, Rosalía released a collection of singles that showed her versatility and ability to interpret other musical expressions. In March, the first of eight singles, the international reggeaton hit "Con Altura", featuring Colombian superstar J Balvin and friend and producer El Guincho was released on digital platforms.[2] The track, which includes the extremely popular sond of 'La Rosalía', topped the charts in Argentina, Venezuela, Spain and Colombia among others and was the second most-watched music video released in 2019 on YouTube, as well as the most-watched female music video and the first on the list by a Spanish language song.[3] The song won multiple awards such as the Latin Grammy award for "Best Urban Song" and two MTV Video Music Awards for "Best Latin Video" and "Best Coreography". During summer season she also released the Latin Grammy-nominated track "Aute Cuture" and "Milionària", her first ever song in her native language as well as her collaboration with Puerto Rican singer Ozuna "Yo x Ti, Tu x Mi".[4] This one became another smash hit for the Spanish singer. It became a top ten hit in Belgium, Chile, Mexico and Puerto Rico and a new chart topper in Spain. Experimental track "A Palé" was released in November reaching moderate success.[5] In December she collaborated with American rapper Travis Scott on the remix of his track "Highest in the Room" alongside Lil Baby.[6] After tour ended in Madrid in December; Rosalía released her flamenco-orientated track "Juro Que" a month later.[7][8] The track was performed in a shortened version at the 62nd Grammy Awards alongside an Offset remixed version of "Malamente", making fans believe that this was the closing performance of the El Mal Querer musical era.

When Dutch radio station 3VOOR12 asked the singer through a Zoom press conference about a possible single compilation or box set, Rosalía expressed total rejection to the idea explaining that "I don't really enjoy singles that are collections of singles. I usually enjoy records that tell a story and that are alive and have a lot of thinking. I am totally against the first idea".[9] She stated that she only is thinking about projects, with her upcoming studio album being her priority.

In May 2020, in middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Barcelonian released a second collaboration with Travis Scott, which was scheduled for March but was delayed due to the biological catastrophe. "TKN" became Rosalía's first Billboard Hot 100 entry, peaking at 66.[10] The single became a hit in many parts of the world and also very popular on TikTok.[11] Despite many people thought this would be the official lead single of her upcoming studio album due to its projection, the singer denied it by telling the press "I am trying really hard to release a new project this year but all of the singles you've heard so far won't be included. As a musician I feel the responsibility to release a cohesive album, one that makes sense; one in where the songs are linked and share an essence. In conclusion, I want to make an album that makes sense as you listen to it as a whole". She also told La Repubblica and El Universal that this new project will not have any collaboration, despite teasing a second collaboration with Arca shortly after.[12] As of any release date, Rosalía hinted 2020 earlier to W Magazine but "as far as I want it to be a surprise, I can tell you that my third album will be released whenever it makes sense to".[9][13][14]

Rosalía started working on new songs in 2019 although recording sessions exclusively booked for the creative process of a new studio album began in March 2020 in the United States (most specifically in Miami and Los Angeles) and in Puerto Rico where Rosalía worked for the first time with producers and singers such as Chris Jeday, Tainy, Lunay, Rauw Alejandro and reggeaton legend Tego Calderón.[15][16] During the Latin Music Week that preceded the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Awards, Pharrell Williams revealed that he is a producer in the singer's upcoming project,[17] They first created an unreleased track at Conway in April 2018.[18]

American record producer Pharrell Williams revealed during Billboard Latin Music Week that Chad Hugo had also worked on the album, making it sound "definitely like a Neptune. It's a whole other vibration, it's crazy".[19] Producer Michael Uzowuru also stated: "this is the best, most impactful music i've ever made, i made because we cultivated a great relationship and i was gifted their trust to be the best version of myself. and vice versa".[20]

• Carcelera[21]