Concert Review: Judeline brings us to Bodhiria in Brooklyn
Review by Tara Saraf
May 15, Brooklyn
On the heels of the release of Bodhiria, the debut album by Lara Blanco, an Andalusian artist going by the name of Judeline, embarked on a world tour. When I saw a date for New York, I didn’t think twice about buying tickets. Judeline has collaborated with artists such as Tainy, Duki, and opened for J-Balvin. After discovering her through the entrancing “señal • atardecer” off her first EP, I have kept an eye out for singles like “2+1” and “CANIJO” over the years and was thrilled to hear about an album.
On Bodhiria, Judeline mixes contemporary sounds with flamenco and traditional Venezuelan flute. The lyrics encompass one’s spirituality and the trials and tribulations of love. She worked with other Spanish artists like Ralphie Choo and Rusowsky, both of whom have or will play shows in Brooklyn too.
Before the show, I was trading music recommendations with an equally avid Latin music listener. Hearing Arca songs between sets was also a bonus. Tbilisi artist Creams pumped up the crowd with her ambient beats and catchy lyrics.
Judeline made her entrance to “bodhitale”, setting the tone for the rest of the show. “Mientras mi alma esté en este limbo / Tú me perteneces a mí” are the last lines of the opening passage to the album. I was pleasantly surprised that the structure of the concert was as conceptual as the album itself, with Judeline and a perceived lover finding themselves in an ongoing wrestling match onstage, entertaining us quite a bit.
“TÚ ET MOI” featuring Mc Morena is Judeline’s first track with Portuguese and French lyrics. The r&b influence on “otro lugar • despertar” provides a refreshing moment in the set.
The seriousness of some of the music didn’t take away from the excitement of it being Judeline’s first time playing in New York, a place she wants to live in someday. She said it was the Hannah Montana moment she’d dreamt of as a kid coming from a small village in Spain. This led into the song “zarcillos de plata,” a beautiful guitar ballad, and the penultimate song of the night. I loved the intimacy of the show, but as Judeline’s discography and fanbase continue to grow, it won’t be far-fetched to imagine her playing even bigger venues on her next tour.