For the last 25 years, Estopa has been one of the most listened to, loved and influential groups in Spanish music. The duo formed by brothers David and José Muñoz has traveled around the world, filling pavilions and stadiums thanks to their combination of rumba and rock born in the streets of Cornellà de Llobregat. However, not even they are free from controversies, particularly those related to artificial intelligence.
The Catalan duo generated some controversy and reactions on social networks after unveiling the cover of their latest album, Estopía, which many users pointed out as a possible use of generative AI. This publication was preceded by a message in which they addressed the detractors of this technology, causing even more noise. Despite this, they insist that everything was a campaign to promote the announcement of the album.
Although they were not directly interceded about it, the Muñoz brothers had the opportunity to explain the cover to the world during their last visit to El Hormiguero. Pablo Motos was in charge of showing the special edition of the vinyl, which has a complete and complex triptych designed inside. The presenter commented that a cover like this “deserves an explanation”, to which David agreed to tell the creation process.
The singer made reference to his “long-time” cover artist, David Salvador, better known as Jandi. During a meeting they held to come up with the idea for the new album, Muñoz insisted on his intention to celebrate Estopa's 25 years with all possible references to his career. Still, he did not want the album to become a Greatest Hits, since it was a completely new record. It was then that two concepts came out: Estopía and The Garden of Earthly Delights.
Hieronymus Bosch's work ended up being the main source of inspiration for the cover, with Muñoz insisting that Jandi drew it by hand. Despite this, the Cornellà artists had to give explanations on platforms such as X (Twitter) due to the controversy that the title and conceptual art generated. Several users analyzed the set and found several elements that would match an AI, theorizing that the cover artist retouched an already generated base.
“I guess we explained ourselves poorly when talking about AI. It seemed like we had done it by pressing a button... and of course, NO. He gave us that cover and like him we always loved it. And above all. Which we didn't have the slightest idea, due to our ignorance on this subject. It's just that there was this feeling and regret among the illustrators. We will learn for next time. Every new technology carries great responsibility,” they said on Elon Musk's platform.
