Gema Contreras “La Canela”
“I was born in Granada, and in the art world I’m known as Gema ‘La Canela’, because my great-grandmother was nicknamed ‘La Canela’.”
“I have lived and felt music from a very young age. My role models and the artists I admire range from Camarón de la Isla to Héctor Lavoe and Pata Negra.”
Gema Contreras Rodríguez was born in Granada on 25 October 1992. She comes from a line of women artists who sang in the Zambras of the Sacromonte (traditional Gitano cave celebrations), and is related to Curro Albayzín, a living legend of flamenco.
At 17 she began her artistic career performing at peñas (flamenco clubs) and singing competitions, where she soon stood out for her distinctive voice, deep and heart-rending, and for a powerfully expressive delivery that leaves no one indifferent.
Performances in countries such as England, Germany, Switzerland and Morocco gave her the opportunity to develop as a professional singer. On her return to Spain she collaborated with groups from a range of musical styles, such as Fausto Taranto and Tabará, and has accompanied well-known singers and guitarists such as Jaime el Parrón, Tijeritas and Juan Habichuela Nieto, as well as a long list of dancers.
She has recently collaborated with renowned rappers on backing vocals and has released a solo track, “Amar no es solo amar”.