At just 25 years old, Alba Farelo, better known as Bad Gyal, has become an international urban star. With more than a million followers on Instagram and fans all over the world, the Catalan has recently collaborated with Havana Club. We spoke to the artist about the iconic bottle she designed, the party, the music, the urban energy and more.
The connection that is generated at a party has something unique, it’s hard to explain. As they say in Cuba, music says everything that words can’t say… and that’s why the Bad Gyal x Havana Club union was born. The meeting of the brand’s Cuban roots and the artist’s authentic urban energy is enshrined in the launch of a limited edition Havana Club 7 x Bad Gyal, bottle, designed by the singer herself as a tribute to the party, the music and the people.
Both Bad Gyal and Havana Club have always been committed to achieving a quality result with an authentic style. Aspirations that have become a reality in this collaboration in which the Catalan has brought her urban touch to Cuban rum with details such as golden dripping and neon pink ink. On the occasion of this meeting, we asked the singer about her favourite outfits for partying, the music she likes to dance to and more.
Highxtar (H) – This is the first time you have worked with Havana Club… how did this collaboration come about?
Bad Gyal (B) – Havana Club got in touch with my team and they made me this proposal. They showed me several collaborations they had done before with other international artists like Skepta and I thought it was a very cool idea. The truth is that I am very happy with the final result.
(H) – What do the iconic Havana Club 7 bottle and Bad Gyal have in common?
(B) – In the end my role as an artist is linked to concepts such as having a good time, partying, enjoying life…. And this is what Havana Club also conveys and represents, especially the iconic and well-known Havana Club 7 bottle.
(H) – What inspired you to design this special edition of the iconic bottle?
(B) – The bottle takes inspiration from the colours, textures and materials I feel most comfortable with. I love gold and metallic, pink and shiny things, that’s why I wear a lot of clothes in these tones. This is the universe that represents me and with which my fans identify me. That’s why I wanted to put these elements on the bottle, both my typography and the gold dripping and the fuchsia details.
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(H) – You have managed to give your urban touch to Cuban rum… how would you define the national urban energy?
(B) – Right now there is a moment of very diverse energies, among them, the energy of growth… I think in today’s society there is a lot of hunger to grow, to be great, to eat the world and to go far, whatever it is that you do. Be it as a singer, an artist, a designer, whatever your talent is.
(H) – If you had to share this bottle… who would it be with?
(B) – I would share it with my four siblings who have all recently come of age. I’ve sent a bottle of the limited edition Havana Club 7 x Bad Gyal to each of them. I’m really looking forward to trying it with them because these things are always a good time as a family. However, I swear some of the four of them have already opened it.
(H) – You filmed a clip in the streets of Barcelona to announce the collaboration with Havana Club… what do you like most about the party night in your hometown?
(B) – I like going out in Barcelona because the city gives you so many possibilities. You can move from the most commercial party where you find the coolest people, the places with the most expensive bottles on the market and reserved places, to more low key places where I can be more relaxed. That’s what I like the most about the city that I still have the possibility to go out and party in places that are a bit more different and to be a bit more on my own.
(H) – With this union… you once again demonstrate your love for South America and its traditions, what do you admire most about it?
(B) – The more I go there, the more I feel the differences between Europe and South America. I feel a great admiration for their culture, their traditions, what they do, their way of life…. I am a very fanatical spectator. The desire to live, to enjoy, the way of life? But I don’t feel I represent them because in the end I’m part of another system with a very different culture, but that’s why I respect and love it.
(H) – Tell us what an epic night out with Bad Gyal would be like.
(B) – Well, dancing, probably a lot of dancing. I have a great time when I go out with people who like to dance because that’s when I really enjoy the party and feel free to flow myself as well. There has to be a lot of dancing for it to be an epic night with me.
(H) – What’s the ultimate outfit for a night out?
(B) – Well, anything other than jeans. Now in summer, depending on the type of party, I’d wear one thing or another. But 100% shorts for dancing. If it’s something more theatrical I’d wear shorts, but if it’s something more formal and I want to be elegant I’d wear silk trousers with a shirt.
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(H) – You’ve always stressed your passion for dancehall… another style of music you like to party to that we’d never say?
(B) – Well, the truth is that there is no style that you wouldn’t expect… obviously what I like to listen to the most when I go out to party are the more danceable genres. It’s nothing new for me to tell you dancehall and dembow. Lately I’ve also been listening to a lot of brega, a popular Brazilian music genre. I also listen to more dosmilero house and garage from the UK. But mostly, for partying, anything fast tempo with more than a hundred and something bpms.
(H) – Finally… when and where can we see you in 2022?
(B) – Just this week I’m announcing several dates in Spain, USA and Latin America. At the moment I can’t say anything, only the Primavera Sound 2022 show which has already been announced, the rest you’ll have to wait…
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