Almasäla / Almasala

Almasäla are a flamenco fusion group founded by vocalist Paloma Povedano, a former member of the world-renowned contemporary flamenco group Ojos de Brujo. Born in Andalucia, Spain, Povedano has a background in flamenco singing and dance, and though her membership in Ojos de Brujo lasted for just one album, the group's 1999 debut, Vengue, it established her reputation amidst the contemporary flamenco scene, where she collaborated and performed with a variety of acts before ultimately founding her own group, Almasäla. Comprised of Povedano (vocals, dance), Monica Samit (chorus vocals, palmas), Mario Mas (flamenco guitar), Irene Sansalvado (guitar, flute), Juan Antonio Guerra (bass), and Miguel Ballester (cajón, drums), the band made its recording debut in 2007 with Eolh on the Ventilador Music label. The album fuses contemporary flamenco with electronic production flourishes and other Latin styles such as bulería, rhumba, tango, and soleá. Almasäla's international appeal earned them a performance slot at the 2008 Glastonbury Festival in England.