Rita Payés is on the rise

For the 25-year-old Catalan jazz artist, music isn’t merely a form of entertainment; it’s an intimate dialogue between the past and present, a tribute to the culture that shaped her and an exploration of where she—and it—can go next.

Rita Payés has spent most of her life on a stage. Born in 1999 in Vilassar de Mar to a family steeped in music—her mother, Elisabeth Roma, is a classical guitarist, and her father and brother are trumpeters—it’s no surprise that music has always been her lingua franca. But Payés' journey from child prodigy to one of Europe’s most promising young jazz artists has been defined by more than her familial ties. It’s a testament to her raw talent, her respect for tradition, and her unflinching desire to carve out her own path.

Payés first gained attention as a teenage member of the Sant Andreu Jazz Band, an incubator for some of Catalonia's brightest young jazz talents under the direction of Joan Chamorro. It was there that Payés honed her voice—both as a singer and a trombonist—alongside fellow luminaries like Andrea Motis and Magalí Datzira. By 15, she had already released her first album, stepping into the spotlight as a soloist with a maturity that belied her years.

“Those years shaped me,” she reflects. “But they were also a time of experimentation. I was discovering who I was, what I wanted to say.” And what Payés wanted to say was uniquely hers: a blend of Catalan folk, bossa nova, and jazz steeped in nostalgia but undeniably modern.

Her 2019 collaboration with her mother, Imagina, was the first of many projects that demonstrated her commitment to blending genres and generations. It wasn’t just a mother-daughter album—it was a love letter to Catalonia’s musical heritage, imbued with the warmth and intimacy of familial collaboration.

Payés' latest album, De Camino al Camino, released in July 2024, marks a pivotal moment in her artistic evolution. The record is, in her own words, “an eternal learning process,” a collection of songs that reflect both personal milestones and artistic breakthroughs.

"I didn't plan to make this album—it just happened," she shares, her tone contemplative. "It started with a handful of songs that felt like pieces of a larger story. And suddenly, I realized there was something cohesive there, something worth sharing."

The album, recorded while she was balancing the whirlwind of touring and family life (she gave birth to her second daughter in May 2024), features a stunning array of collaborations. Silvia Pérez Cruz, Lau Noa, and Toni Vaquer are just a few of the artists who contributed to the project, lending their voices and expertise to what Payés describes as a "deeply communal" effort.

The standout track, "Se Transformará," showcases this spirit of collaboration. Featuring intricate string arrangements by Vaquer and recorded under less-than-ideal conditions — she battled a fever during the session — the song is a testament to her dedication and resilience.

"Each song feels like a snapshot," she says, “a little story or a moment in time. And that’s what excites me about this album—it’s imperfect, but it’s real.”

Payés' music is more than just a fusion of jazz and bossa nova; it’s a reflection of Catalonia’s vibrant, complex cultural identity. In an era where music often feels overproduced and disconnected from its roots, her work offers a refreshing alternative—a return to music as a pure, unadorned art form.

Her voice, described by NPR as “angelic,” floats effortlessly over her trombone’s rich, brassy tones, creating a sound that is both timeless and contemporary. Tracks like "Nunca Vas a Comprender" and "Vida" evoke the romance of traditional boleros while incorporating the improvisational spirit of jazz.

For Payés, this blending of influences isn’t just a stylistic choice—it’s an act of preservation and reinvention. "I’ve always been inspired by the music of the past," she explains. "But I want to bring it into the present, to make it resonate with people today."

Jazz carries its history with it and is always tipping its hat to the past. Payés' own organic personality blends so well with the soft inspiration ignited by the genre's deeply human sound. Speaking to her, it’s abundantly clear, this is all she wants from building her career as a world-class musician – personal connection.

This ethos has earned her a loyal following across Europe and beyond. From her breathtaking performance at the 2022 Goya Awards alongside C. Tangana to her Tiny Desk Concert, Payés continues to bring Catalan music to a global audience.

Despite her growing fame, she remains grounded, choosing to live outside the bustle of Barcelona with her daughters. Family, she says, is both her anchor and her muse. "I would play with them even if they weren’t my family," Payés says of her frequent collaborators, including her mother and husband, Pol Batlle. "There’s a musical admiration there that goes beyond blood."

Balancing motherhood, touring, and recording isn’t without its challenges. Payés admits that the demands of the modern music industry—social media, relentless touring schedules, and the pressure to constantly produce—can be overwhelming.

"I’m tired of everything that surrounds music," she confesses. "I just want to focus on the music itself, to let it speak for me. We already have to study music, do the concerts, prepare the live shows, write greetings, do everything.”

It’s what makes Payés such a lovable character who people really want to believe in and root for. There’s not a single unoriginal bone in her body and her cause is pure. “I have to be on top of posting things on Instagram, posting things on Patreon, doing all that, right? And of course, there are times when, well I'm sorry, but I can't do everything. it's a topic that I find difficult to take a stance on because no one understands it.”

As De Camino al Camino continues to gain momentum, Payés is gearing up for a European tour that promises to bring her intimate, soul-stirring performances to audiences far and wide. That tour includes a career-defining moment as a standout act playing ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag). “I mean, I usually enjoy playing a lot because it seems like the final game, you know?”

But she’s in no rush to plan her next move. "Music will come when it’s ready," she says. "I don’t want to force it. I want it to be honest, to come from a real place.”