To many observers, the career of Spanish pop star Rosalia could look like an overnight success. One moment, the now 33-year-old artist seemed relatively unknown to an international audience; the next, she was performing on the world's biggest stages and collaborating with major names like Bad Bunny , Billie Eilish and Björk.

In reality, her rise reflects a careful, sustained progression of a young woman determined to make it big.

Rosalia Vila Tobella grew up in the Spanish town of Sant Esteve Sesrovires, about a 40-minute drive from Barcelona. Music was part of her life from early on. She learned to dance at local venues and sang and played guitar when she was still a young girl. One of her former teachers remembered her as confident and determined — and how she insisted that even as a teenager, she was destined to be a pop star .

Roots in flamenco

Rosalia's formal training centered on flamenco , which formed the backbone of her music.…