Manuel Carrasco Jesús Isnard
EspañolTrending on Billboard
With his new album Pueblo Salvaje I, Manuel Carrasco completes the universe he opened a year ago with Pueblo Salvaje II, an album that marked a period of exploration and depth for the Andalusian artist. “I showed the trunk and the crown first, and now I’m showing the roots,” Carrasco says. “This way, we close the circle.”
Released under Universal Music Spain on Thursday (May 28) at 6 p.m. ET — midnight in the European country — the 11-track album moves between pop and flamenco roots, featuring lyrics about identity, memory and personal reconstruction. The set opens with “Polaroids,” a statement of principles where flamenco once again takes center stage in Carrasco’s sonic realm.
It also includes “A La Sombra De La Higuera,” built around acoustic guitars, clapping rhythms and arrangements closer to his roots, alongside previously released singles “Oh Si Pudiera” and “Cambiar,” as well as collaborations with Juanes and Kany García.
Just hours before its release, Carrasco presented the album at the Lutheran Church of Castellana in Madrid — a space chosen deliberately — where Billboard Español had the chance to speak with him. “This is supposed to be a sacred place, and for me, the album is sacred,” he said. “It’s an album that embraces you.”
If Pueblo Salvaje II showcased a more visceral and emotionally raw side of Carrasco, this new volume finds the artist in a more intimate and reflective place.
Among the album’s standout moments are collaborations with Juanes and Kany García, two artists who also strengthen the bridge Carrasco is building toward Latin America in this new phase of his career. With Juanes, Carrasco recorded “Gente Corriente,” a song built around guitars and a sensitivity closely tied to Latin folk, where both artists sing about everyday wounds, contradictions and the need to keep moving forward.
The Colombian rocker joined the project just days before the album’s completion. “He didn’t even think twice,” Carrasco shares, adding that Juanes “has elevated [the song] even further. He’s someone deeply rooted, who carries Colombia strongly with him.”
“Making music with Manuel is always a privilege,” the Colombian rocker said in a statement to Billboard. “I admire his poetry and the honesty he brings to his music. It’s an honor to accompany him on this new journey.”
Meanwhile, García collaborated on “Respétame,” a ballad marked by the dialogue between their voices, speaking about emotional boundaries within a relationship. According to Carrasco, they had wanted to work together for some time, and he finally reached out to the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter directly: “Look, Kany, let’s stop beating around the bush,” he recalls telling her. “This song is ready; if you like it, let’s do it.”
The album’s release comes just weeks ahead of Carrasco’s four-night residency at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville. Scheduled for June 13, 14, 19 and 20, the residency — titled Salvaje Desde La Raíz — will feature music from different stages of his career, with distinct setlists, visuals and stage designs each night. In total, Carrasco expects to gather around 250,000 people in Seville, a city where he already holds the attendance record for a concert by a Spanish artist at La Cartuja.
While he insists that “the numbers aren’t what’s important,” he acknowledges the anticipation surrounding the series of shows. “People are expecting something big, and something big is what we’re preparing,” he said. “I’ve had a long career, and I know it’s not easy to stay relevant over time. I’m living my best years, and it’s incredible that this is happening.”
Following the residency and a final show in Madrid on June 27, the artist plans to travel to Latin America for a tour that will include stops in Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru, among other countries, before wrapping up in the United States in early 2027. Details and dates will be announced later.