Gata Cattana is the alias behind which Ana Isabel García Llorente hid. Born in Adamuz, Córdoba, in 1991, she showed talent from a very young age. She was called Gata (Cat) because of her sharp eyes, but it turned out to be the perfect nickname: fierce, a fighter, a poet, a rapper, and a feminist.
Her work displays a unique perspective that, even after her death, still resonates in songs and poems about feminism, justice, and freedom. She immersed herself in (the) Andalusian culture. An erudite rapper, a feminist poet, a political scientist fighting against social injustices.
Music was her passion, especially flamenco, and her favorite artist was Estrella Morente. Later, she discovered the world of rap, poetry and music. She was a pioneer in blending the rhythms of her roots with the most innovative beats and revolutionary lyrics. In her writing, she quoted female thinkers relevant for socialism and feminism, such as Rosa Luxemburg, Clara Campoamor, and Silvia Federici. She alluded to Socrates, Cicero, Prometheus, Icarus, Sisyphus, Eurydice… Classical myths and philosophies to explain the present. She also referenced Don Quixote, Neruda, Pío Baroja, Celaya…
Gata Cattana made socially conscious rap, a rap that stood with the people, with the oppressed, and since there is no other individual more subjugated than women, it was a rap that put women at the center, singing from their perspective and for them.
She defined her rap as being made for awakened people who were constantly informed, since she often used historical or mythological allusions to refer to current events, or at least to add a touch of curiosity.
When asked about her style, Gata Cattana replied:
“It depends on the album and the song. Sometimes it’s dark and cynical… other times it’s sweet and more melodic, other times more optimistic… What I do believe is that it’s not simplistic or easy; almost everything I do is quite deep and poetic.”
In one of her interviews, she quoted Quevedo and Góngora, referring to them as better rappers than many of today’s artists, and stated that nowadays, to be a poet was to be a rapper.
Gata passed away at the age of 25, leaving behind an inspiring body of work focused on feminism and social justice.
Nowadays, her voice has become one of the most important on the scene, backed up by artists like Mala Rodríguez and Sara Socas.
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