Alfred García

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is García and the second or maternal family name is Castillo.
Alfred García
García in 2020.
García in 2020.
Background information
Birth nameAlfred García Castillo
Born (1997-03-14) 14 March 1997 (age 27)
El Prat de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
Genres
Occupation
  • Singer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • trombone
  • guitar
  • keyboard
  • drums
Years active2012–present

Alfred García Castillo (born 14 March 1997) is a Spanish singer-songwriter. He gained national recognition when he took part in series nine of the reality television talent competition Operación Triunfo, where he finished in fourth place, and also represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal, alongside Amaia Romero, with the song "Tu canción", finishing in twenty-third place.[1][2][3]

Early life

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García was born on 14 March 1997 in El Prat de Llobregat, Catalonia. He began formal training in vocals and trombone at the age of seven. García is also a self-taught guitarist, drummer, and keyboardist.[4] He received musical training at the Unió Filharmònica del Prat.[5] García is studying for a degree in audiovisual communication, as well as being in his third year of a higher degree in music and jazz and modern music studies at the Taller de Músics, a music school in Barcelona.[5][6]

Career

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2012–2016: Beginnings

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At the age of fifteen, García released the self-produced and self-published album Beginning. At the age of seventeen, thanks to the musical project La Capsa, he recorded his first single "She Looks So Beautiful", written by himself and produced by Argentine musician Esteban García. The single won the Audience Award at the Festival Cara B in Barcelona.[5][7] García has also released a musical short film, A Free Christmas Story.[6]

In 2016, García participated in season four of talent show La Voz, the Spanish version of The Voice. He performed John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change" in the Blind Auditions, but none of the coaches turned for him.[8] Also in 2016, García released the self-produced and self-published acoustic album Inblack (Volume One).[9]

2017–2018: Operación Triunfo and Eurovision

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Amaia and Alfred performing at the Eurovision Pre-Party in Madrid in April 2018.

In 2017, García auditioned for series nine of reality television music competition Operación Triunfo. On 23 October 2017, he was selected to enter the show's "Academy". On 29 January 2018, during the special live show "Gala Eurovisión" of Operación Triunfo, he was selected by public vote to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 along with his then-girlfriend Amaia Romero, with the song "Tu canción".[1] During the finale of Operación Triunfo 2017 on 5 February 2018, García finished in fourth place.[3]

Amaia and Alfred were the second to perform at the Eurovision final, held on 12 May 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal.[10] They placed twenty-third out of the 26 participating countries with 61 points: 43 from the professional juries and 18 from the televote.[11]

2018–2019: 1016

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Alfred performing at the 2019 Arenal Sound festival.

Two days after returning from the Eurovision Song Contest, García started to record 1016, his first studio album with a major record label, Universal Music Spain.[12] The album was preceded by the 1016 Is Coming tour in festivals across Spain in Summer 2018.[13] In addition, García performed at a special charity concert of Operación Triunfo 2017 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid on 29 June 2018, and made special guest appearances at concerts by David Bisbal or Love of Lesbian, among others.[14][15][16][17]

"De la Tierra hasta Marte", the first single from 1016, was released on 5 December 2018. The album was released on 14 December 2018 and debuted at number 2 on the Spanish Albums Chart.[18][19] In support of his debut studio album, 1016, García embarked on the 1016 Tour, which began on 28 February 2019 and ended on 9 November 2019.

2021: 1997

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After a year-long hiatus, on 15 January 2021, García released "Los Espabilados", which served both as the first single from his upcoming studio album and the theme song for the Movistar+ series Alive and Kicking.[20] Follow-up singles "Praia dos Moinhos" y "Toro de Cristal" were also included in the studio album 1997, released on 29 October 2021.[21] The album debuted at number 5 on the Spanish Albums Chart.[22]

2022–2023: Benidorm Fest and Tu cara me suena

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In September 2022, García was announced as part of the cast of the tenth season of reality television series Tu cara me suena.[23]

In October 2022, García was selected to participate in the second edition of Benidorm Fest, the song festival organised to determine Spain's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Desde que tú estás".[24] He finished in fifth place in the second semi-final, one position short of advancing to the national final.

In June 2023, García won Tu cara me suena with his performance of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. He donated the proceeds to Heal Los Angeles Foundation. [25]

Discography

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Main article: Alfred García discography
Albums
  • Beginning (2012)
  • Inblack (Volume One) (2016)
  • 1016 (2018)
  • 1997 (2021)

Awards and nominations

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Year Organization Category Nominee/work Result Ref.
2016 Festival Cara•B Audience Award "She Looks So Beautiful" Won [26]
2018 Premis Ciutat del Prat Amics del Prat Alfred García Won [27]
2019 Premis Enderrock Best New Artist Alfred García Nominated [28]
Best Non-Catalan Language Artist Alfred García Nominated [29]
Best Singer-Songwriter Album 1016 Nominated [30]
Best Singer-Songwriter Song "Et vull veure" Won [31][32]
LOS40 Music Awards Del 40 al 1 Artist Award Alfred García Nominated [33]
Soundie Music Video Awards Best Music Video from a Catalan Artist "Wonder" Won [34]
2020 Premios Odeón Best New Artist Alfred García Nominated [35]

References

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  1. ^ a b Adams, William Lee (30 January 2018). "Spain: Alfred & Amaia win OT Eurovision Gala with "Tu canción"". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  2. ^ Jiandani, Sanjay (30 January 2018). "Spain: Alfred & Amaia will fly to Lisbon!". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b Ortiz, Laura (6 February 2018). "Amaia gana 'OT 2017'". FormulaTV. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  4. ^ Diéguez, Antonio (12 December 2017). "Los caminos de Amaia y Alfred antes de encontrarse en 'Operación Triunfo'". El Mundo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Alfred García". Festival Connexions (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Alfred es concursante de OT". RTVE (in Spanish). 20 October 2017. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  7. ^ "El Prat al Día: Alfred García guanya el premi del Públic del Festival Cara B". El Part al Día (in Catalan). 16 February 2018. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  8. ^ "El día que Alfred de OT no hizo girarse a ningún coach de La Voz". El Diario (in Spanish). Vertele!. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  9. ^ Hoh Tang Serradell, Man (21 December 2016). "Alfred Garcia se nos pasa al jazz con "Georgia"". Young España (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  10. ^ Redacción (11 May 2018). "Amaia y Alfred serán los segundos en actuar en el Festival de Eurovisión". Diari de Terrasa (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Lisbon 2018 Grand Final". Eurovision.tv. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Alfred graba un disco en solitario". diariovasco.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Alfred empezará su gira '1016 is coming tour' el 20 de julio". 20minutos.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  14. ^ EFE (30 June 2018). "Amaia vuelve a brillar en el concierto solidario de OT en el Bernabéu". Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). Madrid. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  15. ^ Hermida, Noelia (30 June 2018). "Operación Triunfo reúne a 60.000 personas en el Bernabeu". La Nueva España (in Spanish). Madrid: Editorial Prensa Asturiana, S.A. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  16. ^ "La sorprendente actuación de Alfred en el concierto de David Bisbal". Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). Pamplona. 23 June 2018. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  17. ^ Bianciotto, Jordi (10 June 2018). "Love of Lesbian, cumpleaños épico". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). Barcelona. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  18. ^ "Así suena De la Tierra hasta Marte, el single de Alfred tras OT 2017". eldiario.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Álbumes: Semana 51". Productores de Música de España. Archived from the original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  20. ^ Romero, Leticia (21 December 2020). "Alfred García anuncia nuevo disco y fecha del primer single: 'Los espabilados'" (in Spanish). RTVE. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Alfred García publicará el álbum '1997' a finales de octubre" (in Spanish). Popelera.net. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  22. ^ "Top 100 Álbumes: Semana 44". Productores de Música de España. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Alfred García, nuevo fichaje de 'Tu cara me suena' para su décima edición en Antena 3". El Periódico de Catalunya (in European Spanish). 16 September 2022. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Estos son los títulos de las canciones de los concursantes del Benidorm Fest 2023". rtve.es (in European Spanish). RTVE. 2 November 2022. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  25. ^ "Alfred García revive al Rey del Pop en 'Tu cara me suena': "Me quito el sombrero"". www.20minutos.es - Últimas Noticias. 3 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  26. ^ Suitfil, Mercedes (22 February 2016). "El Festival Cara-B demuestra su éxito con la segunda edición". Earsgasm Web (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  27. ^ "Alfred García i els Castellers del Prat són els guardonats d'Amics d'El Prat del 2018". Amics del Prat (in European Spanish). 12 September 2019. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  28. ^ "Alfred García, K-liu i Suu són els finalistes a millor artista revelació del 2018". Enderrock (in Catalan). 9 February 2019. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  29. ^ "Alfred García, Ramon Mirabet i Rosalía, els finalistes a millor artista en llengua no catalana del 2018". Enderrock (in Catalan). 10 February 2019. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  30. ^ "Alfred García, Joan Dausà i Judit Neddermann, nominats a millor disc de cançó d'autor del 2018". Enderrock (in Catalan). 12 February 2019. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  31. ^ "Alfred García, Joan Dausà i Judit Neddermann són els nominats a Millor cançó de cançó d'autor del 2018". Enderrock (in Catalan). 12 February 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  32. ^ "El palmarès dels Premis Enderrock 2019". Enderrock (in Catalan). 6 October 2019. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  33. ^ "Los 40 Music Awards 2019". Los 40 (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  34. ^ "Los videoclips de Shura, Cora Novoa o Alfred García ganan el Soundie 2019". La Vanguardia (in European Spanish). 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  35. ^ Basanta, Carmen (15 January 2020). "Premios Odeón: Aitana, Rosalía, Beret y Don Patricio, favoritos en las nominaciones". Europa FM (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alfred García.
Preceded by Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest
2018
(with Amaia Romero) 		Succeeded by
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