CANADA's Nicolás Méndez Directs Rosalía's Surreal "Berghain" Video Featuring Björk and Yves Tumor
In 2010, I sat down with Luis Cerveró, one of the founding partners of CANADA—a creative production company born during turbulent times. Founded in 2008 amid the global financial crisis, CANADA began as a small collective of directors united by a singular mission: to connect with audiences through meaningful, meticulously crafted films.
What started in Barcelona has since evolved into a family of international creatives and producers with offices spanning Barcelona, London, and Los Angeles. At its core, CANADA's philosophy remains unchanged—a shared love for the craft, an unwavering belief in collaboration, and a reverence for true artistry.
The Founders
In 2008, directors Nicolás Méndez, Lope Serrano, and Luis Cerveró—who had long worked from the same artistic perspective across different companies—decided to join forces.
Luis Cerveró himself could be described as a Renaissance man. After co-founding CANADA, he left in 2013 to pursue directing and art directing music videos for major international artists including Justice, and Ratatat. His mastery of visual effects and innovative techniques translated seamlessly into the commercial world, where he created award-winning work for Adidas, Sony, Mutti, Carrefour, Vodafone, and Mumm—most notably an acclaimed spot for Petit Bateau. Luis remains one of the most sought-after directors in both commercial and music video spheres.
The Breakthrough
CANADA's meteoric rise began in 2010 with the music video for El Guincho's "Bombay." This breakthrough attracted attention from the UK, leading to collaborations with Scissor Sisters, The Vaccines, and Battles. Shortly after my interview with the team, CANADA played a pivotal role in launching Spanish artists C. Tangana and Rosalía onto the international stage. The turning point came in May 2018 when Rosalía released "Malamente." The CANADA-directed music video received universal acclaim, earning a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Short Form Music Video and Pitchfork's Video of the Year. The company's roster exploded, directing videos for Dua Lipa and commercial campaigns for Louis Vuitton, among others.
CANADA Today: The Rosalía Renaissance
Now, CANADA is back in the spotlight with Rosalía's latest release—a testament to the collective's enduring creative vision.
Co-founder, and Director, Nicolás Méndez, whose cinematic craft is built on a foundation of writing, brings precision and meaning to every narrative and aesthetic decision. His iconic Rosalía videos have sent ripples across culture, conjuring folkloric imagery imbued with curious darkness and lit by a spark of irreverence. Sincerity. Authenticity. Emotive intensity.
Yesterday, Rosalía released "Berghain," featuring Björk and Yves Tumor, accompanied by a music video directed by Méndez. The highly surreal clip follows Rosalía as she moves from her apartment through a crowded bus, a jewelry store, and a doctor's office—enveloped first by orchestra musicians, then a menagerie of animals. Columbia Records describes the track as "the grand orchestral centerpiece" of the album's second movement: "an operatic journey across languages and emotion that expands from soft introspection to sweeping cinematic power."
Fashion enthusiasts were quick to identify archival Easter eggs throughout the video. Rosalía and stylist Jose Carayol paid tribute to favorite designers via runway pieces from late '90s and early 2000s collections—the kind of dramatic, referential performance we've come to expect from the Spanish singer.
