Canary Islands' Nueva Línea Takes Verbena Music Viral on TikTok

Arafo is a town known for its music, with a strong tradition of bands, orchestras, and popular art passed down through generations. This musical heritage continues to shape the town's culture. From this southeastern region came Nueva Línea, an orchestra that has successfully brought traditional "verbena" music from local festivals to online platforms.

Founded over 30 years ago, the orchestra now has nine members. It's fronted by four young female soloists – Sofía, Raquel, Maite, and Alicia – who are between 18 and 24 years old. They perform alongside five professional musicians. In just one year, Nueva Línea has gained over 600,000 TikTok followers and millions of views across various online platforms. One of their most popular videos alone has nearly 35 million views.

Their big break came with their version of Una noche de copas, a classic song from 1984 by Juan Carlos Calderón. Their new take, featuring modern sounds and female vocals, quickly spread on TikTok. It became a global hit, especially popular in Latin America.

The four soloists are still amazed by their music's success. They balance their performing careers with university studies, their first jobs, and ongoing music lessons.

José Marrero, the founder and director of Nueva Línea, is the man behind this success. He recalls, "In the 80s, orchestras were very amateur. Groups were small, and there wasn't much professionalism." Marrero believes that the arrival of Billo's Caracas Boys at the Santa Cruz carnivals changed everything for local music: "That visit was a turning point for the local style."

The orchestra grew steadily over the years, becoming a fixture in the festival scene. However, the current lineup has brought a significant change. Marrero explains, "I chose young women, four female soloists, which was a format almost unknown in the Canary Islands."

The four young women, who are the public face of the group, hail from Arafo, Güímar, and Fasnia. Sofía, the youngest, used to sing in folk and pop groups before joining Nueva Línea. She notes, "The group, in its current form, is quite new." Her voice is now one of the most recognized in the orchestra.

Raquel grew up attending local festivals but never thought she'd be performing. "I was always in the front row; I never imagined I'd be singing in an orchestra," she confesses. Alicia, on the other hand, joined without knowing any of the traditional songs. "I didn't know a single 'verbena' song. I had to learn them all from scratch," she laughs.

Maite, the oldest and newest member, highlights the hard work involved: "During the week we work and study; weekends are dedicated to the orchestra. It's exhausting, but we love it."

All four agree they haven't fully grasped how much their lives have changed. "People recognize us and congratulate us everywhere, whether at the mall or the gym. It's been a massive shift," they say. Much of their fame is outside the Canary Islands, particularly in Latin America. "We have more followers from other countries than from here," they note, with strong support in Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina. A recent surge in popularity happened when artist Quevedo shared their viral song on his social media. "It was wild," Sofía remembers. "That's when we understood that people outside the 'verbena' scene were listening to us."

Marrero explains, "We aim for our own sound, arrangements that give the group its unique personality and quickly connect with listeners." He recognizes how much the music industry has changed and the crucial role of social media. "Today, platforms dictate trends. Without TikTok or Instagram, it's very hard to be seen," he says, even handling some of the group's digital management himself.

Nueva Línea has performed across almost all the Canary Islands, including their first show in Gran Canaria. They are discussing tours in mainland Spain starting in 2027 and are carefully considering international opportunities.

The members have modest hopes for 2026: "to keep things going well." Maite puts it simply: "with the same excitement to play in every town square." They wish for "good vibes, a united group, and enjoying ourselves on stage." Alicia points out a key internal factor: "Behind us are musicians, technicians, and a huge team. We want to look after them."

Nueva Línea has carved out its own niche: a traditional 'verbena' orchestra that has successfully adapted to the new world of music, mastering social media virality without losing its roots.