Marta Roure

Marta Roure (born January 16, 1981) is an Andorran singer and actress best known for representing Andorra in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. She made history as the first artist ever to perform in the Catalan language at Eurovision. Over the years, Marta Roure has balanced singing, acting, and personal life, while also engaging in her country’s cultural life.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Marta Roure was born in Andorra la Vella, the capital of the tiny Pyrenean nation of Andorra. She grew up in a musical family and was surrounded by the arts from an early age. In fact, she is the daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter of musicians. Her great-grandfather was a trumpeter, her father directed a band, and her grandfather Joan Roure i Jané was a celebrated composer in Andorra. As a child, Marta spent a lot of time in theaters and music halls, which inspired her to pursue music professionally. She moved to France during her youth for studies, but then returned home at 17 and quickly became serious about a music career. Then, she began performing with her father’s group, the Big Band d’Andorra, gaining her first stage experiences. After that, Marta continued to hone her skills by studying piano, voice, and music theory at the Andorran conservatory and later learning musical theater in Barcelona. 

Eurovision 2004: Andorra’s Debut on the World Stage

In early 2004, Marta Roure entered Andorra’s national selection for Eurovision, a TV contest called 12 Punts (“12 Points”). At the time she was 23 years old, working as a health technician and also a young mother of a two-year-old son. After several weeks of competition and a combined vote by expert judges and the Andorran and Catalan public, Marta won the contest. She won with the pop-rock song “Jugarem a estimar-nos” (Catalan for “Let’s Play at Loving Each Other”). This victory earned her the ticket to represent Andorra in Eurovision 2004, which was the country’s very first appearance at Eurovision.

Marta’s Eurovision performance took place on May 12, 2004, in Istanbul. She sang “Jugarem a estimar-nos” in her native Catalan, proudly showcasing Andorra’s language and identity on an international stage. It was a milestone moment: before that moment, no song had ever been performed in Catalan at Eurovision. In the semifinal, Andorra scored 12 points – the coveted “douze points” – which all came from the Spanish vote. However, the competition was tough; Andorra placed 18th out of 22 in that semifinal, which meant Marta did not advance to the final.

Musical Career After Eurovision

Right after Eurovision, Marta Roure capitalized on her fame. In July 2004 she released her debut album titled Nua (meaning “Naked” in Catalan). The album featured Catalan-language pop rock tunes. The Eurovision entry “Jugarem a estimar-nos” was included as a bonus track. Nua was produced by the Música Global label. Marta’s decision to sing entirely in Catalan – both at Eurovision and on her album – demonstrated her commitment to her cultural roots. 

After releasing Nua, Marta continued to develop her career but did so somewhat away from the pop mainstream. She chose to further her education and training in the performing arts. Later in 2004 and onwards, Marta Roure studied musical theatre at the Youkali school and drama at the Col·legi de Teatre in Barcelona. She refined her acting and stage skills, which led her to participate in various theatrical productions. Over the years, Marta performed on stage under the direction of different playwrights and directors. She appeared in local theater productions and musicals. One of her notable roles in recent years was in the stage play “Nues”, in which she took part around 2023–2024. Alongside theater, Marta also did occasional media work – she contributed to print publications and worked in radio in Andorra and Catalonia. 

Personal Life and Cultural Impact

Marta Roure’s personal life has interwoven with her artistic journey. She became a mother at a young age, giving birth to her first child, a son named Julen, in 2002. Balancing single motherhood with a budding music career was challenging, but Marta managed to pursue her dreams while raising her child. Later, in 2016, she welcomed a second son, Ixent. Family is very important to Marta, and she has drawn inspiration from her relatives. In fact, she once composed a song titled “Joan” in honor of her grandfather on his 100th birth anniversary.

By singing in Catalan at Eurovision and in her recordings, she has been an advocate for the Catalan language’s visibility in pop music. Moreover, Marta and other Andorran artists have spoken out about the importance of representing their country internationally. 

Recent Activities and Current Focus (2020s)

After a quieter period in the 2010s, Marta Roure made a notable comeback in the mid-2020s. In 2024 – exactly twenty years after her Eurovision debut – she returned to the recording studio with new music. That year she released a single called “Vivim sempre juntxs” (“We Always Live Together”), which is a Catalan-language cover of a famous Spanish song by Nacho Cano. The release of this single was timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of her Eurovision appearance, and it symbolized Marta’s return to the pop scene. She even performed the song live at the Eurovision Pre-Party event in Madrid in 2024. 

Shortly after that, Marta explored new creative directions with another 2024 single titled “Rèquiem #EnVena”. This song was an original composition she co-created with producer Jan Buxeda, and it showcased a more delicate and alternative sound compared to her earlier pop-rock work. Then, in early 2025, Marta released “L’âme d’un enfant blessé”, a song with a French title meaning “The Soul of a Wounded Child.” She wrote this as a tribute to her father, who had sadly passed away in August 2024. The song is also dedicated to all children who grow up with invisible wounds and carry those hurts into adulthood. Through this emotional project, Marta combined personal storytelling with a message of healing, reflecting her maturity as an artist.