Artist Raquel Lojendio Explores Identity in New Poetry Collection 'Invertebrada'

Tenerife-born artist Raquel Lojendio has reached a new milestone in her writing career with the release of Invertebrada. According to Diario de Avisos, this collection of poems serves as an emotional map of her life. Following her 2022 novel, Bajo la piel del gecko, this new work moves away from long-form storytelling to present a series of texts written over many years. Throughout the collection, her Canarian identity remains a central theme, no matter where she happens to be living.

Lojendio’s move into writing is a natural extension of her work as a soprano, teacher, and multidisciplinary artist. She notes a clear difference between her creative processes: while writing a novel requires strict discipline and a set schedule, she views poetry as a spontaneous response to her emotions. She balances these two worlds by bringing a poetic, symbolic quality to her prose.

In her teaching role at institutions like the Reina Sofía School of Music, Lojendio encourages her students to pursue that same authenticity. She teaches that technique should be a tool for freedom, urging young performers to avoid artifice and focus on the true weight of every word and note. This approach reflects her own professional maturity, as she seamlessly integrates music, illustration, and literature into her life without the pressure of chasing specific goals.

Her musical career remains as busy as ever. Upcoming performances include the role of Marcellina in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro at the Teatro Real in Madrid, directed by Robert Carsen. She is also scheduled to perform in a concert version of Manuel de Falla’s La vida breve with the Galicia Symphony Orchestra, capping off a year defined by both her stage success and the growth of her literary voice.