In a world consumed by the facades of social media, Joaquina’s art shines through the affectations.
Although it is often compared Compared to her contemporary Olivia Rodrigo, Joaquina’s teenage angst has a different, solemn tone. Her debut EP, “Los Mejores Años,” is a testament to her meticulous approach to writing lyrics and recording music. In an industry where many different people often play a role in the construction of a song, she stands out because she oversees every step of the process.
Joaquina became the youngest winner (she's 20 years old) of the new artist award at the 2023 Latin Grammys. The Venezuelan-born, Miami-raised singer-songwriter is poised to be Latin music's next big star.
We caught up with Joaquina ahead of her upcoming guest appearance at Andrea Bocelli's 30th career concert.anniversary Concert in London. The following interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
How does it feel to be the youngest winner of the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist?
It's a great honor. It's a great blessing to be able to count on something like this at the beginning of my career. I feel like it's like celebrating the beginning of an artist's career, like a push from your peers. I'm very grateful.
Based on your EP, which includes some of your thought process, I feel like I'm watching your brain go inside. Do you think reflecting on the process is a unique part of your art?
I don't know if it's a unique thing. I'm sure a lot of songwriters feel that way. My safe space is just writing my music, like in the studio or in my room, alone. There's nothing better than being alone, disconnected from the world, and pouring it all into my writing. I really enjoy the process of creating music. I'm really bad at organization, but I have folders where I have different stages where a song can breathe and live, like a demo folder, a middle production folder, a production mix folder.
From your demos, it seems like you were always reflective growing up and you talk about filling notebooks with your thoughts. Where does that feeling of reflection come from? Tell me a little more about what goes on in your head.
My parents are journalists. I grew up in a home where I inevitably saw them being very communicative. There were never any taboos in my home. I thank God for that and my parents. They always allowed me to express my feelings in the right way. I always saw my parents writing, reading and communicating, and they are both very intelligent. I think it was always very natural for me. I think I always lived a lot inside my own head, so I always felt the need to vomit everything else out somewhere.
I want to talk about your new singlemy, “Pessimisticto,“which is a little window into your next album. Tell me what your thought process was like.
“Pesimist” is a song I wrote last year in a hotel room in Madrid. It was the first time I was so far away from home to make music, I was singing in schools, auditoriums, coffee shops, and I realized that I was really doing it. I remember sitting in the hotel room, far away from my home, my family, my city, missing that particular person and thinking, “Damn, everywhere I go, I imagine you here with me.” Being away from you made me realize that if one day I lost you completely, it would shatter me.
What can we expect from the first album you are releasing?
I'm in the middle of the process right now. I'm 19, so I'm in a transitional chapter in my life. I'm not old, but I'm not very young either. I'm in the middle of it, and it's very uncomfortable. It's a very long process. knowledgehow to get to know myself better and better.
Can you tell me what it's like to perform at Andrea Bocelli's 30-year career celebration in London?
Honestly, it's a blessing. It's a big deal for me to be with someone as legendary and iconic as him and to be the only Latin person. I'm preparing for the occasion, the respect and the responsibility that he deserves. I can't even wrap my head around this.
You also recently graduated from the Art House Academy and from the Abbey Road Institute of Julio Reyes Copello. How do you feel about working with someone who has worked with other very popular artists?
That changed my life. Before, I was just in school making my music during the pandemic and releasing some of my songs on YouTube. I had the chance to meet him and send him one of my demos, and he liked it and I was like, “What the heck?” I was invited to be on the show, I studied production and sound engineering and also artistic development on his show and ended up forming an amazing collaborative friendship. until the day From todayIt means a lot to me to have someone with your wisdom and experience.
What expectations do you have for yourself and what do you expect your career to look like in the next 10 years?
It’s pressure, but someone once told me that pressure is a privilege, and that stuck with me. When I first started doing this professionally as my job, I was 15 and just starting to release my songs. It was more of a hobby back then, but I remember talking to my friends and telling them that all I wanted was to have pressure and a team by my side that believed in my music as much as I did. No one else saw that in me other than my mom, dad, and sister. My biggest dream was to have people who cared. Once I won the Grammy, I felt a lot of pressure, but I’m still the same person following the same path. My purpose hasn’t changed at all.
