Benidorm Fest 2022: Azúcar Moreno, Rigoberta Bandini and Rayden reportedly among the first six contestants

Ahead of the official confirmation from the Spanish Broadcaster RTVE, Spanish outlet ESCTimes has reported the first six acts due to take part in the upcoming Benidorm Fest 2022. These six contestants are the first lucky hopefuls vying to represent Spain at Eurovision 2022 — and there are some familiar names on the list.

The reported list include so far ESC 1990 Azúcar Moreno, Rigoberta Bandini and Rayden. The outlet confirms these artists have been already contacted by RTVE. See below the full first.

Benidorm Fest 2022: first six reported contestants

Please note: the below music videos are recent examples of the artists’ work, but are NOT their intended entries for Benidorm Fest.

Rayden

David Martínez Álvarez – known as Rayden – is a multifaceted artist known for his rap music, but also for his writing career. During his musical career, he got to work next to big names in Spain’s music industry like Pablo López, Leiva, Rozalén and Bely Basarte. But as well, his music has received praise, being nominated for Best Spanish Artist in the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2015 and Los 40 Principales Awards. The artist has published three books and is currently touring across Spain with his Quiero que nos volvamos a ver tour. His musical universe covers many styles, from acoustic to rap, tenderness to proper fiesta. He is now all aboard to fight for his Eurovision chance with his song “Calle de la llorería (Crying Street)” as he already teased last month.

Tanxugueiras

Strong, brave and empowered are the three attributes that best describe this three-piece group. And from Galicia to Eurovision, the Galician folk band is here to once again steal Spanish hearts. After winning this year’s Eurovision-Spain.com poll “La Elección Interna 2022” – which assesses reader’s favourites to represent the Iberian nation at Eurovision – it may feel, they may be a contender already. The folk band of cantareiras and tambourines is composed of sisters Olaia and Sabela Maneiro along with Aida Tarrío – all originally from Galicia. Since their first self-titled album released in 2018, the trio has walked a journey that led them to perform on more than a hundred stages around the globe in three years. Their most recent work shows an evolution towards the fusion between traditional music and sounds close to trap and electronic. Expect the same fiesta vibe in Benidorm.

Niña Polaca

The Madrid-Alicante band has as their main member’s singer and composer Álvaro Surma (Surma) and bassist and composer Alberto Rojo (Beto). Their music is described as pop songs that peck from a garage and feel like walking through Madrid during the 80s. The indie rock band rehearse in a small secret basement in the heart of Madrid’s La Latina neighbourhood, from which they began their journey throughout small venues in Madrid. Now as part of Subterfuge Records, the band has seen two studio albums released and more than 10 singles. Their lyrics are often described as humorous, charged with irony. The group’s name does indeed refer to Poland, as they named their band during a trip across the country.

Varry Brava

Varry Brava describe themselves as fun, unprejudiced, shameless and hedonistic. Óscar Ferrer (voice), Aarön Sáez (keyboard) and Vicente Illescas (guitar) form the Indie Pop band that already has five studio albums out. Their music has clear influences of Spain’s 80s pop like “Radio Futura” and includes disco and reminiscences of new romantic. Their last record “Hortera” includes a series of lighthearted songs that make many go footloose. Electronic music and upbeat rhythms are to hit Benidorm.

Rigoberta Bandini

Paula Ribó González – known as Rigoberta Bandini – is one of the hottest names in Spain’s music industry. Despite her career starting early, her solo career only began in 2019. In just two years, praise arrived fast. This year alone, she was included in the list of the 100 most creative Spaniards within the art category by Forbes. Her catalogue includes slickly produced, fresh and quirky electronic pop, mixed with spoken word or chord-like interludes. Her single “In Spain we call it Soledad” went viral on Spotify, reaching 200,000 monthly listens. With that same single, Rigoberta Bandini featured in our Wednesday Wishlist as our desired Spanish artist to represent the Nation. It seems she’s now one step closer to that dream.

Azúcar Moreno

With a musical career of over 30 years, the beloved Spanish duo and ESC 1990 representatives with “Bandido” are back. Sisters Toñi and Encarna Salazar debuted in 1984 as Azúcar Moreno after singing backup for Los Chunguitos. Their sound is always recognisable, delivering a mixture of contemporary flamenco and rhumba/pop. Ever since her Eurovision performance, her praise has not stopped. In the years that followed, Azúcar Moreno got to work along with producers Emilio Estefan and Estefano, achieved a Billboard Music Award and have become one of Spain’s top-selling artists in the Latin scene. Thirty-one years later since their Eurovision performance, they are back and ready to conquer Spain’s hearts once more.

Benidorm Fest 2022

The process of Benidorm Fest 2022 is almost culminating. The first two phases of the process resulted in more than 850 submissions, and the first 6 participants named. With 6 more slots missing, RTVE is expected to release this next week the complete line-up. Phases 3 and 4 will see the crowning of Spain’s new Eurovision contestant after surviving the semifinals and conquering the final. 

Spain’s revamped Benidorm International Song Festival has yet to unveil its most important secret: the official dates. RTVE has yet not confirmed when the upcoming Fest will take place, but as noticed in November, the event is set to take place on the last week of January in the Palau Municial d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm. Artists’ songs seem will also remain a secret.

Who is your favourite on the Benidorm Fest 2022 lineup so far? Are you excited for Benidorm Fest? And, who do you think will complete the six missing spots? Let us know in the comment section below.