When GALE wrote her first tune at age seven, she thought she is likely to be a superhero.
Titled “Amor Sincero,” the salsa monitor was devoted to a boy who didn’t like her again. “When I finished writing it, I was like, ‘Wait, did I just create something that didn’t exist just by using a melody and chords?’” she recollects. “I thought I had a superpower. Since then, I’ve just kept going.”
Expressing herself by way of music got here simply to the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, who grew up surrounded by inventive minds. Her father can also be a musician — who, alongside along with his band, performs at native occasions. Her grandfather was an expert cuatro participant. Meanwhile, her mom was an actress who carried out theater. “I was always free to experiment,” says the 29-year-old, who’s written songs for artists reminiscent of Fanny Lu, Juanes and Manuel Turizo, and is presently engaged on her first album.
Even earlier than studying to carry out professionally at Escuela Libre de Música, her father had been making ready her for the massive stage since she was just a little woman. “He used to make me perform every single time at every family reunion,” GALE says. “He would tell me, ‘If this is what you want to do your whole life, you need to practice.’ I was like, ‘I just want to go play hide and seek with my cousins!’ But then I’d sing 10 songs and I’d enjoy it.”
Now, GALE has turn into a go-to songwriter for a handful of artists — and on Nov. 17, she gained her first Latin Grammy, thanks for songwriting credit on Christina Aguilera’s Aguilera, which scored greatest conventional pop vocal album, and can also be nominated for greatest Latin pop album at February’s Grammys. “If you work hard and you manifest it, it happens. It’s grounding.”
Creating a path for herself is what GALE — who grew up listening to Shakira, Avril Lavigne and Selena Quintanilla — centered on since transferring to Miami from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. “First, I knew had to work my ass off to make things happen,” she explains. “What I always wanted was to have my own project as an artist and that’s what I was going to do no matter what. But how would I get there? I figured I’d start writing with other artists and build those relationships. Then get a publishing deal and get signed by a label.”
So, she began door-knocking and visited publishing firms to point out them the catalog of songs she had recorded in her closet. Her first massive break got here in 2019, when peermusic invited her to a session with Colombian artist Fanny Lu, which is once they co-wrote “En Mis Tacones.” Since then, she says, doorways opened because of “word of mouth because producers started recommending me, Fanny Lu wanted to work with me again.”
She ultimately obtained a publishing cope with Warner Chappell Music and a file cope with Sony Music Latin. Then, she landed on Aguilera’s venture — co-writing (together with DallasK and Josh Berrios) the Ozuna-assisted “Santo,” which peaked at No. 12 on Billboard‘s Latin Airplay chart in February.
She remembers assembly Aguilera throughout a writing session for “Brujería.” “She sat next to me and asks, ‘Is that you singing [on the demo]?’ I was like, ‘Yeah,’ and she said, ‘What a beautiful voice.’ In my mind I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve practiced singing Mi Reflejo every single day, I know the album from top to bottom. I’ve practiced performing all your songs…’ But what I really said was, ‘Thanks, you have a beautiful voice as well.’ It was a moment,” she says laughing.
Thankful that songwriting for different artists has opened doorways, she’s now additionally centered on her personal venture, with plans to drop her debut album in 2023 — which would come with her three singles, “Inmadura,” “Prolemas” and “D-Pic.” Describing her type as “Bad Bunny meets Dua Lipa meets Avril Lavigne,” her first songs showcase her uncooked, edgy songwriting expertise and her pop-punk and rock influences. And, as a substitute of going the collaborations route, she determined her first songs wouldn’t function different artists. “It’s me saying, ‘This is who I am and this is it, I hope you like it,’” she says. “Collaborations will come because they’re additionally essential and worthwhile. But for now, it’s simply me.”
Below, study extra about this month’s Latin Artist on the Rise, in her personal phrases:
Name: Carolina Isabel Colón Juarbe
Age: 29
Recommended Song: Oh snap, that’s arduous. Because my three singles are all totally different, however they’re related in that they’re uncooked and trustworthy. I assume if somebody is extra into the romantic, nostalgic vibe, then hearken to “Inmadura.” But if somebody is like of their badass period, then they should hearken to “D-Pic.” And “Problemas” is like the right combine musically of what I do: pop, rock and concrete. But if I needed to choose, I’d say “D-Pic,” as a result of it’s a press release. You’ll get an actual illustration of who I’m as an artist.
Biggest Achievement: Starting to take my songs which are born from a weak and intimate place and carry out in entrance of a dwell viewers. One of my favourite performances was the one I did at Latin Music Week in September. It felt magical. The reference to the folks was superb. I believed, “D–n, I am ready for this.” I’ll share that earlier than going onstage, I referred to as my dad and he stated, “Mi amor, don’t worry, from the stage you can’t see anyone because of the spotlight. You just do your thing.” First factor after I go up on the stage, I see everybody’s faces.
What’s Next: I’m engaged on my debut album, which is nearly executed. It’s very particular, as a result of it’s born after a breakup, the precise second after I determined to finish issues with this individual that I knew, because the very starting, that this particular person was not my particular person. But I needed to make it work. When I broke up with them, all these songs began coming to me and so they symbolize totally different levels. Because it hurts to harm somebody, it’s a curler coaster of emotions.
I’m very excited for the album. It’s coming early to mid-next 12 months. And I’m positively doing extra exhibits subsequent 12 months. In reality, I’m acting at Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián in Puerto Rico in January, which is a large occasion. It’s legendary in my nation.
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