Amaia
Who is Amaia?
Amaia Romero Garmendia (Pamplona, 1997), known artistically as Amaia, is a singer-songwriter who became known to the wider public as the winner of the 2017 season of the television talent show “Operación Triunfo.” Unlike many of her fellow contestants, she showed a marked taste for indie and alternative sounds from the start, far removed from more commercial pop.
Her shyness in front of the media, contrasted with an enormous confidence as a performer on stage, made her one of the most beloved contestants of that season and a media figure even before releasing her first solo album.
Career
After the show, Amaia decided to take her time before launching her solo career, something unusual among talent show winners, in search of a sound of her own that reflected her real musical tastes. Her debut, “Pausa” (2019), was well received by critics for its commitment to introspective, personal pop, different from what was expected of a talent show winner.
In the following years she has continued releasing music with that same pursuit of authenticity, collaborating with producers and artists from the Spanish indie and alternative pop scene, and maintaining a close relationship with her audience through carefully crafted live shows.
Notable discography
Besides “Pausa,” her second album, “Lisboa” (2021), recorded partly in the Portuguese capital, stands out for delving deeper into that personal, intimate sound. Songs such as “Nadie sabe” and “Que vuelvas” reflect her characteristic style.
Legacy
Amaia has earned the respect of Spanish music critics for successfully escaping the “talent show artist” label, building a career consistent with her own artistic sensibility. Her career is often cited as an example that appearing on a television competition does not have to determine an artist’s creative direction.