Arca (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arca
Arca at Sónar in Barcelona, 2019
Born	(1989-10-14) October 14, 1989 (age 35) Caracas, Venezuela
Occupation	Musician singer composer DJ record producer model mixing engineer
Years active	2012–present
Works	Discography
Musical career
Genres	Electronic experimental IDM industrial hip hop avant-pop alternative reggaeton
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	XL Mute Hippos in Tanks UNO NYC Poni Republic Nang Soundsister
Associated acts	Björk FKA Twigs Jesse Kanda Kelela Oliver Coates Cardopusher [es]

Alejandra Ghersi Rodríguez (born October 14, 1989), who is known by her stage name Arca, is a famous musician, singer, and record producer from Venezuela. She is now based in Barcelona, Spain. Arca is known for her unique and experimental electronic music.

Before she became Arca, she released music under the name Nuuro. After studying at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in New York, she released her first EPs (short albums) as Arca. These EPs, especially Stretch 2, mixed electronic music with hip hop and got her noticed by music critics.

Arca has released many popular albums, including Xen (2014) and Mutant (2015). Her third album, Arca (2017), was the first where she sang on most of the tracks. Between 2020 and 2021, she released a series of five albums called the Kick series. These albums explored many different music styles, like reggaeton and techno.

Besides her own music, Arca has worked with many famous artists. She helped produce music for Kanye West's album Yeezus, FKA Twigs's EPs and albums, and Björk's albums Vulnicura and Utopia. She has also worked with artists like Rosalía, The Weeknd, and Sia.

Early Life and Beginnings

Arca was born in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on October 14, 1989. Her father, Henrique Ghersi Rossón, is an investment banker. When Arca was three, her family moved to Darien, Connecticut, in the United States. They moved back to Caracas when she was nine.

After returning to Venezuela, Arca began making electronic music using a program called FL Studio. As a teenager, she released music under the name Nuuro and became popular in her home country. She even worked with famous Venezuelan bands like La Vida Bohème. Later, she moved to New York City to study at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University.

Music Career

2012–2016: First Albums and Famous Collaborations

In 2012, Arca released her first official EP, Baron Libre, followed by Stretch 1 and Stretch 2. These releases helped establish her unique sound.

Her career took a big step forward in 2013 when she helped produce five songs on Kanye West's album Yeezus. The next year, she worked closely with the singer FKA Twigs on her EP2.

In 2014, Arca signed with the British record label Mute Records and released her first full-length album, Xen. She also began a very important collaboration with the Icelandic singer Björk. Arca co-produced most of the songs on Björk's 2015 album Vulnicura. In November 2015, Arca released her second album, Mutant.

2017–Present: Arca and the Kick Series

In 2017, Arca signed with XL Recordings and released her third album, Arca. This album was special because it was the first to feature her own singing voice on many of the songs. It received great reviews from critics.

She continued to work with Björk, producing most of her 2017 album Utopia. She also worked with the singer Kelela on her album Take Me Apart.

In 2020, Arca released a 62-minute-long single called "@@@@@". This was followed by her fourth album, Kick I, which featured guest artists like Björk and Rosalía. The album earned Arca a nomination for a Grammy Award.

In late 2021, Arca surprised her fans by releasing four more albums in one week: Kick II, Kick III, Kick IIII, and Kick IIIII. Each album in the Kick series explores different sounds, from dance music to quiet, atmospheric tracks.

Since then, Arca has continued to collaborate with other artists. She worked on a remix of Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande's song "Rain on Me" and produced tracks for FKA Twigs. She has also performed with superstars like Beyoncé and Madonna.

Artistry and Style

What Is Arca's Music Like?

Arca's music is often described as experimental, meaning she likes to try new and unusual sounds. She mixes many genres, including electronic music, hip hop, and IDM, which is a complex style of electronic music. Her work often explores deep ideas about identity and science fiction.

Her early EPs were influenced by hip hop and club music. Her album Xen has been compared to classical music, while Mutant is more focused on creating interesting soundscapes. The Kick series shows her wide range of styles. Kick I is a form of experimental pop, Kick II features reggaeton beats, Kick III is influenced by IDM, and Kick IIIII is more calm and ambient.

Who Are Arca's Influences?

Growing up, Arca was inspired by the music her older brother listened to, including artists like Aphex Twin and Björk. She has said that Björk was a major inspiration for her to start singing on her own albums.

She also loves pop music, which influenced her album Kick I. She has named Madonna as a major influence on her music and style. The German composer Richard Wagner's famous opera series, Der Ring des Nibelungen, was an inspiration for the five-part Kick album series.

Visuals and Album Art

The visual art that goes with Arca's music is a very important part of her work. For many years, she worked with artist Jesse Kanda, who created the unique and memorable album covers for Xen, Mutant, and Arca.

For the Kick series, she worked with a team of artists, including Frederik Heyman, to create the futuristic and detailed album covers. Arca's visuals are often bold and thought-provoking, designed to match the creative spirit of her music.

Personal Life

Arca is open about her identity. In 2018, she came out as non-binary, which means she does not identify strictly as male or female. She also identifies as a trans woman. She uses she/her, it/its, and they/them pronouns.

In an interview, she explained that her identity is an important part of her art and how she expresses herself to the world. Arca currently lives in Barcelona, Spain.

Discography

Albums

• Xen (2014)
• Mutant (2015)
• Arca (2017)
• Kick I (2020)
• Kick II (2021)
• Kick III (2021)
• Kick IIII (2021)
• Kick IIIII (2021)

Mixtapes

• Baron Foyel (2011)
• Sheep (2015)
• &&&&& (2013)
• Entrañas (2016)
• @@@@@ (2020)

EPs

• Baron Libre (2012)
• Stretch 1 (2012)
• Stretch 2 (2012)
• Madre (2021)
• Issued by Bottega (2021)

Singles

• Hips Don't Lie Arca Remix (2014)
• GENDER WAYANG ARCA EMBER (2019)
• Big Science Arca Remix (2022)
• Cayó (2022)
• El Alma Que Te Trajo (2022)
• Ritual (2023)
• Chama (2024)
• Aquamarine/Arcamarine (2024)
• Electricity Arca Remix (2025)
• .../Sola (2025)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Arca (cantante) para niños