Álvaro Lafuente Calvo, a 29-year-old musician and actor from the coastal town of Benicàssim, Spain, has been steadily gaining recognition for his evolving artistic work that bridges traditional Spanish music and contemporary themes. Known by his stage name Guitarricadelafuente, a nod to his surname and his favored instrument, the guitar, Lafuente’s musical career began with sharing covers and original songs on Instagram in 2017. He initially developed a local following through live performances before collaborating with producer Raül Refree—recognized for working with Rosalía—on his debut album, "La Cantera" (2022). This record heavily incorporates Spanish folk genres such as jota and flamenco, reflecting Lafuente’s roots and family musical heritage, which traces back to his paternal great-grandfather, a guitar teacher.

Lafuente’s second album, "Spanish Leather" (2025), marks a stylistic shift toward contemporary indie pop. This project includes a cover photograph by German artist Wolfgang Tillmans and explores the singer’s queer identity, a theme also present in his 2023 collaboration with Australian pop singer Troye Sivan on the track "In My Room."

In 2024, Lafuente expanded his artistic pursuits after meeting Spanish filmmakers Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo—collectively known as Los Javis—at the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona, where Lafuente is currently based. The directors invited him to act in their second film, "La Bola Negra" ("The Black Ball"), which won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The nearly three-hour film offers a cinematic exploration of Spain’s queer history during the Franco era, drawing partial inspiration from an unfinished play by Federico García Lorca. Lafuente plays Sebastián, a young man whose life is upended by an aerial attack in 1937, leading to his role as a prison guard for the Francoist regime. The character grapples with political repression and concealing his sexuality in a time when strict notions of masculinity prevailed.

Although Lafuente had aspired to act since childhood, he describes his casting as unexpected and credits the filmmakers’ confidence for encouraging him to accept the role. He reflects on the transformative nature of the experience, both personally and professionally, noting that it deepened his understanding of the historical context and emotional toll endured by those living under Franco’s dictatorship.

Looking ahead, Lafuente is working on his third album, which draws inspiration in part from his film experience. While he remains open to future acting opportunities, he acknowledges that the intensity and positive atmosphere of this project set a high bar. “This movie gives you a desire to live,” he said, referring to the stories of love and survival that were suppressed during a repressive era. Through his music and acting, Lafuente continues to engage with Spain’s cultural past while addressing contemporary issues of identity and expression.