When GALE wrote her first track at age seven, she thought she may be a superhero.
Titled “Amor Sincero,” the salsa monitor was devoted to a boy who didn’t like her again. “After I completed writing it, I used to be like, ‘Wait, did I simply create one thing that didn’t exist simply through the use of a melody and chords?’” she recollects. “I believed I had a superpower. Since then, I’ve simply saved going.”
Expressing herself via music got here simply to the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, who grew up surrounded by creative minds. Her father can also be a musician — who, alongside along with his band, performs at native occasions. Her grandfather was knowledgeable cuatro participant. In the meantime, her mom was an actress who carried out theater. “I used to be at all times free to experiment,” says the 29-year-old, who’s written songs for artists corresponding to Fanny Lu, Juanes and Manuel Turizo, and is at present engaged on her first album.
Even earlier than studying to carry out professionally at Escuela Libre de Música, her father had been getting ready her for the large stage since she was a bit lady. “He used to make me carry out each single time at each household reunion,” GALE says. “He would inform me, ‘If that is what you need to do your complete life, you could observe.’ I used to be like, ‘I simply need to go play disguise and search with my cousins!’ However then I’d sing 10 songs and I’d get pleasure from it.”
Now, GALE has grow to be 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 finest conventional pop vocal album, and can also be nominated for finest Latin pop album at February’s Grammys. “For those who work onerous and also you manifest it, it occurs. It’s grounding.”
Making 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 needed to work my ass off to make issues occur,” she explains. “What I at all times needed was to have my very own challenge as an artist and that’s what I used to be going to do it doesn’t matter what. However how would I get there? I figured I’d begin writing with different artists and construct these relationships. Then get a publishing deal and get signed by a label.”
So, she began door-knocking and visited publishing firms to indicate them the catalog of songs she had recorded in her closet. Her first huge break got here in 2019, when peermusic invited her to a session with Colombian artist Fanny Lu, which is after they co-wrote “En Mis Tacones.” Since then, she says, doorways opened because of “phrase of mouth as a result of producers began recommending me, Fanny Lu needed to work with me once more.”
She ultimately bought a publishing cope with Warner Chappell Music and a report cope with Sony Music Latin. Then, she landed on Aguilera’s challenge — 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 subsequent to me and asks, ‘Is that you just singing [on the demo]?’ I used to be like, ‘Yeah,’ and she or he stated, ‘What a wonderful voice.’ In my thoughts I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve practiced singing Mi Reflejo each single day, I do know the album from prime to backside. I’ve practiced performing all of your songs…’ However what I actually stated was, ‘Thanks, you’ve gotten a wonderful voice as properly.’ It was a second,” she says laughing.
Grateful that songwriting for different artists has opened doorways, she’s now additionally centered on her personal challenge, 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 “Dangerous 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, ‘That is who I’m and that is it, I hope you prefer it,’” she says. “Collaborations will come as a result of they’re additionally essential and useful. However for now, it’s simply me.”
Under, study extra about this month’s Latin Artist on the Rise, in her personal phrases:
Title: Carolina Isabel Colón Juarbe
Age: 29
Advisable Music: Oh snap, that’s onerous. As a result of my three singles are all completely different, however they’re comparable in that they’re uncooked and sincere. I assume if somebody is extra into the romantic, nostalgic vibe, then take heed to “Inmadura.” But when somebody is like of their badass period, then they need to take heed to “D-Pic.” And “Problemas” is like the right combine musically of what I do: pop, rock and concrete. But when 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.
Largest Achievement: Beginning to take my songs which can be born from a weak and intimate place and carry out in entrance of a stay viewers. One among my favourite performances was the one I did at Latin Music Week in September. It felt magical. The reference to the individuals was wonderful. I believed, “D–n, I’m prepared for this.” I’ll share that earlier than going onstage, I known as my dad and he stated, “Mi amor, don’t fear, from the stage you may’t see anybody due to the highlight. You simply do your factor.” Very first thing once I go up on the stage, I see everybody’s faces.
What’s Subsequent: I’m engaged on my debut album, which is nearly performed. It’s very particular, as a result of it’s born after a breakup, the precise second once I determined to finish issues with this person who I knew, for the reason that very starting, that this individual was not my individual. However I needed to make it work. After I broke up with them, all these songs began coming to me they usually symbolize completely different levels. As a result of 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 yr. And I’m undoubtedly doing extra exhibits subsequent yr. Actually, 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.
