cantautor
what it is
Cantautor means 'singer song-writer' in Spanish. In Spain, the folk tradition of the singer-songwriter (most often a guitarist using an acoustic guitar) can be traced all the way back to the middle ages, in the Spanish trovadores and Hispano-Arabic music. Modern contautores have also been influenced by Latin American indigenous music, Spanish poetry, Rock, Pop and the classical guitar repertoire.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make cantautor a playlist
turn these 25 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is cantautor?
Cantautor means 'singer song-writer' in Spanish. In Spain, the folk tradition of the singer-songwriter (most often a guitarist using an acoustic guitar) can be traced all the way back to the middle ages, in the Spanish trovadores and Hispano-Arabic music. Modern contautores have also been influenced by Latin American indigenous music, Spanish poetry, Rock, Pop and the classical guitar repertoire.
What are good cantautor albums to start with?
Try Pánico by Manuel García, Victor Jara-Presente by Victor Jara, Yo, mi, me, contigo by Joaquín Sabina, and Serie De Oro by Facundo Cabral.
Who are some women making cantautor?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/cantautor/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making cantautor, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20