Judeline continues to present the songs that will be part of her long-awaited debut album, which will be released in 2024 through Interscope Records and Sonido Muchacho. ‘Mangata’ is officially the first of these previews, and ‘INRI’ the second. It is unknown if ‘Zahara’ or ‘Canijo’ will be part of the project.
In ‘INRI’, Judeline continues to mix styles and references. The base -written by Mayo, Tuiste, Browni and Rob Bisel- is inspired by Afrobeat, one of the most popular genres. The whispered voice -Judeline’s signature- does not give up the urban filter that has defined the 21st century. And the Andalusian echoes of the percussion remind us that Lara Fernández comes from Cádiz.
The richness of INRI is also evident in the lyrics, which include references to Arab culture. In the text, Judeline addresses a “habibi” who has a crush on her (the figure of the “habibi” has been present recently in songs by Mushkaa and La Cebolla). This boy speaks “dariya”, that is, Moroccan or Maghrebi Arabic. Judeline wants to marry her “habibi”. She sings that it is “God’s plan”. Another nuance, the religious one.
The word “INRI” is an acronym for the Latin inscription “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum,” which translates into English as “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (from this inscription comes the expression “para más inri”). Judeline is saying that the union with her “habibi” has divine approval. In the chorus, she sings “blessed by INRI.” Before that, she uses the expression “hali hali ya,” which, similar to “yeli yeli,” may be a reference to the gypsy song of honor to the bride.
The divine love story of ‘INRI’ is taken to the next level in a music video shot in Andalusia, packed with stunning imagery and loaded with religious iconography.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K73UE9o-rs
