Stories of a transformative Journey: Exploring the migratory experiences of four Andalusian jazz singers from a biographical perspective

Claudia Rolando; Rocío Marlen Villa

doi:10.35699/2317-6377.2025.54273

Authors

Claudia Rolando University of Leon, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3542-5239
Rocío Marlen Villa National University of Santiago del Estero, Argentina https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0045-0875

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35699/2317-6377.2025.54273

Keywords:

Singer, jazz, migration, Spain, biographical narrative

Abstract

This article explores the intersection of jazz and migration in Spain through the life experiences of four Andalusian jazz singers. A biographical approach was employed to investigate the meanings these singers attribute to migration based on their professional trajectories. The study reveals the dual role of migration as both a necessary step for artistic development and a reflection of broader cultural dynamics. Through life narratives, the challenges faced by these singers are discussed, while highlighting the transformative potential of these experiences. The research also engages with theoretical debates on biography as a method, reflecting on the particularities of this form of writing within the field of music studies. Finally, the study seeks to demonstrate how biographical narratives can provide insights into broader social phenomena.

Author Biographies

Claudia Rolando, University of Leon, Spain

Claudia Rolando is an Associate Professor in the Department of Education at the University of León. She earned her Ph.D. in Musicology in 2024. She also holds a Master’s in Teacher Training for Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, Vocational Training, and Language Teaching (2023), a Master’s in Musicology from the University of Valladolid (2009), and a Master’s in Arts Management from the University of the Basque Country (2008). Claudia also completed a Bachelor’s in Musical and Sonic Arts (2006) at the National University of Arts, Buenos Aires, and was awarded the title of Superior Professor of Music with a specialization in Classical Singing (2004) from the Conservatorio Nacional de Música “Carlos López Buchardo,” Buenos Aires.

She has extensive experience as an Associate Professor at various institutions, including the University of León (2022-2024), where she taught Choral and Vocal Studies, Pedagogy, and Music, and the University of Valladolid (2013-2022), where she specialized in Jazz, Dance History, and Choral and Vocal Studies. Earlier, she taught Ancient and Medieval Music at the University of Buenos Aires (2000-2003).

Dr. Rolando is a member of the Social Entrepreneurship Laboratory (UVa-LES) and the European Music Archaeology Project. She received a doctoral scholarship from the Basque Country Government and is an active member of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM-AL) and the Argentine Musicology Association (AAM).
Rocío Marlen Villa, National University of Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Rocío Marlen Villa is an advanced student of the Bachelor's Degree in Sociology at the National University of Santiago del Estero. She is currently working on the final project for the University Diploma in Social Sciences, focused on studying the life experiences of migrants through a biographical approach. Additionally, she is collaborating with the Social Entrepreneurship Laboratory at the University of Valladolid as an international student in the project 'Expression: Self-awareness and Vocal and Interpersonal Development through the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Young Migrants Living in Valladolid.

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