Although his name may not sound familiar to you yet, we are sure that you have heard some of his most successful compositions. Gale released his debut album in 2023, What I Didn’t Tell You, thus achieving her first nomination as a new artist at the Latin Grammy 2023. Finally, she could not get the long-awaited golden gramophone—Joaquina took it—but we are sure that her name will not stop ringing.
Before starting to release music as an artist, Gale has been composing for other artists. In fact, she is behind some of the biggest hits of recent years. Does it sound familiar to you The meringue by Manuel Turizo? Well, she is a co-composer. She has also worked with stars such as Christina Aguilera, Anitta, Shakira, Cardi B, Juanes, Pharrell Williams, Myke Towers and Manuel Turizo among others.
Taking advantage of their visit to Seville to attend the Latin Grammys, WECB spoke with the artist. It was a day before the music awards were held and the Puerto Rican singer was completely excited.
The first thing is to congratulate you on your Latin Grammy nomination. How have you been this week? (Finally this award fell into the hands of Joaquina)
It’s something I’ve always dreamed of. Go figure. At the age of seven I already composed my first song and at the age of eleven I was already rehearsing the speech in front of the mirror with the shampoo bottle. It’s something I’ve worked and studied for my entire life. Now this nomination comes and I have my own project as an artist and it is the biggest dream I have ever had.
We have recently seen you in the studio with Ana Mena, new collaboration?
I love her. Ana Mena seemed like a spectacular woman to me. I love her voice, her delivery and her project. It was a very calm session to get to know each other, work and compose something for her project. It’s something that makes me very excited. But the point was to be able to get to know each other and to be able to open that door and connect. We will eventually work to do something together for the future. I would love it, it would be amazing.
It’s just that musically you’re pretty good.
Yes, I would love to. She has incredible style. We both make pop. I would love to work with someone who loves pop so much. Plus her voice and her timbre would go very well with mine.
We come from a few years where Latin music has been closely associated with urban music, but now pop is coming back into fashion. At the same level as the Anglo. Have you seen an evolution of him in your career?
Completely. Hundred percent. Look, I’m from Puerto Rico where reggaeton works. Right now pop is experiencing a spectacular moment. The way it has evolved. I love it. I feel like there are no limits in music. I think everything is quite mixed and available. I’m very excited that I can make the music I want. My music, for example, is pop, but it mixes elements of rock and urban music. I think that mix is my essence. I’m making music that I love and would love to hear on the radio.
I feel like there are no limits in music anymore.
What I didn’t tell you is your first album, but you have composed for many artists. Is it more complicated to compose for others or for yourself?
Look, I love this question, because it’s different every time. I feel like writing for other artists is like acting, because I try to put myself in their shoes. I’m trying to say what they want to say. I love that, when I collaborate with artists, they have an idea of what they want to say or that they are available to be vulnerable. That helps me as a creative and composer. For example, with Shakira or Manuel Turizo, it is a conversation. It is a very nice process. But when I’m writing for myself I want to say a lot of literal things, like people can read my diary and understand everything.
Is it more complicated then to talk to yourself to write a song?
I feel that it is a much more intimate process and doors are opened to fears. I do everything with fear, but I don’t let it paralyze me. That’s why, for example, I have a song called D Pic, which talks about unsolicited photos. It’s something I’ve never heard in a song and I feel like my friends are always talking to me about this, feeling uncomfortable. That’s when I thought I had to do it.
There are many Latin artists who go to Miami because they think they will be able to work better from there. In such a globalized world, is it still so necessary to move to this city?
I feel like now there are no limits in music or distance. You look for and find a way to work with whoever you want. For example, during the pandemic, I worked a lot via Zoom. I wrote Santo by Christina Aguilera and Ozuna. I also worked with Shakira. I think there is no distance in this regard. I went to Miami from Puerto Rico because I was considering going to Los Angeles. But I could live in Spain. I love Spain strongly and being here is great.
I swear that sometimes I feel more like myself in Spain than anywhere else in the world.
You studied during a period of your life in Salamanca, right?
Yes. And you don’t know. They were the best six months of my life. How much I wrote. But I swear that sometimes I feel more like myself being here than anywhere else in the world.
And what music did you listen to when you were in Salamanca?
I fell in love with Sloth. princesses It is one of the songs of my life. I went to see Sabina in concert, because I love her. When I saw it, I loved her. I also liked Vanesa Martín, with whom I later worked composing a song for her new album. I’m just fascinated by her music.
Have you been able to meet Leiva?
No, not yet. I’m dying. I’d love to. It’s just that he is too talented.
