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There are artists whose lyrics, voice, and music touch every emotion you can feel, ones where you can truly feel the stories they are telling and experience how deeply they care about their creative work. Eva Ruiz is one of those artists. A singer, songwriter, and actress from Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, Ruiz's roots have shaped who she is. The melodies, messages, and inspirations of her music are influenced by where she comes from. "I always want to reflect who I am, where I'm from, and everything visually and sonically so that when people listen to the album, they can have a bigger idea, connect, or travel to where I'm from," she shares. For Ruiz, that is simply her truth.

Her music is a full blend of R&B, modern pop, and Latin influences, carried by a soulful voice that transcends genre. Growing up, she began singing flamenco and coplas, influenced by her grandmother, the legendary flamenco singer Antonia "La Paquera de Algeciras." At the same time, her grandfather played Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, and Michael Jackson, which introduced Ruiz to those genres, but she never lost touch with her roots in Spanish music. "If you let yourself be and you just pay attention to who you are, truthfully, it just happens to build that way," she reflects on how her musical identity came together.

Her latest album, Agua Salada, which translates to "Salt Water," consists of eleven tracks and arrived eleven years after her debut album, 11 Vidas. The number eleven holds symbolic weight throughout the album. While creating the album, Ruiz discovered she is a perfectionist. She wanted everything set up correctly, aligned, and with a message that was clear. "I was connected to my island, and I really found that my superpower is my truth," she shares about the process. Being fully herself throughout the making of the album was a liberating experience. "I felt that I let go of a part of me, which is still here, but it was just like giving birth," she explains.

Agua Salada was recorded around the world in the Canary Islands, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. Ruiz's dream has always been to travel the world. "I'm an Aquarius; I love adventures, having stories to tell, and getting to know the world. It's just something that has always inspired me so much," she says, highlighting how different cultures nurture her creativity. The desire to experience new producers, new vibes, and new environments led to the kaleidoscope of rhythms, lyrics, and sounds that define the album.

Agua Salada features several collaborations, including Puerto Rican singer Dalex. Their track "LQNTD (Lo que nunca te dije)" weaves R&B and reggaeton melodies with bachata tones and was a personal favorite. The connection between the two artists goes back seven years, when Dalex visited Lanzarote. "I was like, I cannot believe how an artist can do R&B; at that time there were not a lot of people doing R&B, so it was just like a truthful connection," Ruiz recalls. A few years later, when Ruiz visited Miami, she had a beat and invited Dalex to a session. From there, “LQNTD (Lo que nunca te dije)” was created.

Among the album's most powerful and emotional moments is "AHORA QUE PUEDO," a song Ruiz actually wrote when she was just sixteen years old. For many years she waited for the right time to release the song because she believes in releasing something at the right moment and timing. "I didn't know it was gonna be my biggest song. It's just been beautiful, being a part of such a beautiful process in my life and in the trilogy (Culpa Mia)," she reflects on the song's journey and success.

When listeners reach the end of Agua Salada, Ruiz wants them to feel empowered, nostalgic, in love, and a little melancholic and to feel like they truly know Eva Ruiz as an artist. She recalls the first time people heard the album, describing it like watching a film you need to rewatch because it gives the feeling of "What did I just watch?" Each song holds a distinct story that is felt with her voice. 

Ruiz is at full speed with many more surprises this year. She is headed to the Cannes Film Festival, has new music on the way, and has several shows lined up, along with a special surprise shoot for fans. "There are so many beautiful things that are going to happen. Dreams come true, right? Como cumpliendo sueños right now. It's really beautiful to see everything coming to reality," she concludes. Ruiz shows that anything is possible when you follow your dreams, live your truth, and are completely yourself.

Listen to Agua Salada below: