After two albums in the mainstream Latin pop genre, Ojos Negros (1992) and El Amor (1994), which had become their breakthrough on the South American and U.S. markets respectively, but which only had been moderate commercial successes compared to Bandido (1990) and Mambo (1991) in their native Spain, Martinez' production of Esclava De Tu Piel was a return to a more up-to-date, dancefloor oriented and altogether rougher soundscape, the prime example being the title track "Esclava De Tu Piel" which combined heavy dance beats with distorted guitars and toasting by American Salsa singer Roberto Blades.

"Solo Se Vive Una Vez" became a major hit in the summer of 1996, topping the charts both in Spain and several countries in South and Central America, and has since served as one of Azúcar Moreno's signature tunes.

The follow-up proved to be another of Azúcar Moreno's highest charting singles; "Hoy Tengo Ganas De Ti" (translated: "Today I Desire You"), originally one of Miguel Gallardo's biggest hits and first recorded in 1975, but then as a dramatic ballad.

Esclava De Tu Piel was also Azúcar Moreno's first album to incorporate influences from the Middle East; the fourth single was a radically reworked flamenco/rock/dance cover of the traditional "Hava Nagila", sung entirely in Hebrew with a men's choir.

Esclava De Tu Piel remains the bestselling album of Azúcar Moreno's career to date, having sold some five hundred thousand copies in Spain alone and thus certified five times platinum.