We were lucky to catch up with Cuban Diva recently and have shared our conversation below.
Thanks for joining us, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
About two years ago someone that owned a clothing company called N3verbasic was watching one of my IG LIVE shows since I was showing the Tyson fight there and it was the funniest thing to watch. I was holding my cell phone the entire time facing the tv for all of my IG friends to watch it for free, but my hand got really tired. I then went for a tripod and he commented on my live “this is the most interesting thing I have seen on IG in awhile” Well he said it using different words but I don’t want to say exactly how he said it on here. I don’t think it’s appropriate 😂 After the live show was done, he sent me a DM on Instagram and long story short I became an ambassador for the clothing brand. It went very well. I made him a lot of money and I know I helped build his company in so many ways. I can definitely take credit for that and the customers can say the same about me. It went so well with this one design we called it “The June 27th Special Edition” this particular t-shirt sold out each and every time. It was in high demand that we had to keep remaking the shirts because of all the non stop pre-orders all over the US. I can definitely say I spent a lot of time on this company. People started to think I was the owner. I was always doing pop ups and special events out here in Houston. I carried the name N3verbasic and made it a lifestyle not just a brand. To say I almost got the initials tattooed on me. The owner saw how much time and effort I put into the company that he decided to make me a CEO. I was extremely excited and felt I definitely deserved that position. One thing I did forget to mention is that the owner lives up North and I live in Houston. So I took care of all the shipping at home one by one and even did some local pick ups/drop offs around town. We had a really good thing going for sure. I gave this company my all that I literally stopped focusing on my music career. Long story short but let me just say this “I don’t regret working with this company” simply because it made me happy doing it, but I can say now that I am back to doing music and no longer work with the clothing brand. We had our differences and it was best to part ways in the end. This part of my life was truly meaningful and it was a beautiful journey and experience. Everything I learned from running a business I can apply to running my own one day if that’s my calling.
Cuban, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I have been singing all of my life. I come from a musically inclined family. My father who till this day can still sing amazingly is who I got my voice from. He was a very well known Latin ballad singer in Las Vegas back in the 70’s and 80’s which is where I was born actually. When you get to meet me you will see I am not a shy person and I have always been the one to pick up a microphone no matter where I am and sing like no one’s watching. I used to sing outside the apartment complex I used to live in when I was in elementary school. I was always at the swimming pool hanging out with friends. I was known as “Lil Mermaid” in my teen days. I started off singing in bars/clubs when I was growing up at places that if you are from Houston would really sound familiar to you. Just to name a few Toc Bar, Club Heat, Emilianos, Riggers, and I was even a big part and the only female singer of a group called “The 80’s Babies” RIP to my best friend who recently passed away “Cyp Da Hype” who was a huge part of that. I even performed out of town at a Club called “Pure” in Corpus Christi many years ago. I recently performed again in Corpus this year but this time at a place called “Gemini” it was a lot of fun and Corpus definitely shows love. I have sung in many restaurants and still do and enjoy karaoke nights. That has always been my type of fun. I really enjoy it, especially the reaction that people make when I sing because they don’t expect it when they see me. For 1: Everyone thinks I am a “GRINGA” (I am sure you all know what that means) when they see me. When I sing Spanish music everyone is shocked. I am American with Cuban Parts that’s how I like to describe myself. LOL Both my parents are from Havana Cuba but like I mentioned I was born in Las Vegas, NV. I have 2 sisters who each do their own thing. We 3 lived in Los Angeles for a few years and then we moved to Miami after that. My mother passed away in Miami when I was 9 years old due to a horrible tragedy that was all over the news, but that’s a story for another day. My parents were divorced in Las Vegas. I don’t have much memory of Vegas or much of Los Angeles unfortunately I was really young. When we lived in Miami we only had our mother in our lives. We had to move to Houston due to biological parent rights in court and my father finding out that my mother had passed. He found out through a tv show called “Ocurrió Así” it was a popular show years ago where people would reenact the exact way people were murdered. My father was living in Houston at the time we were living in Miami. He had remarried and was living his new life. When he found out of the tragedy someone made arrangements for him to fly out to Miami to come get his daughters. He brought us to Houston and this is how we ended up here. I am now a mother of 4 and I balance my life the best way I know how. It isn’t an easy task to balance life as an artist, but just know anything is possible when you truly want it. I am still in the music industry and I recently dropped my newest single called “Sufre”. It means “Suffer” for those that don’t read in Spanish. It’s based on a true story. I was married once and I am now divorced for over 4 years. I went through many ups and downs and decided to leave one day for good. It was the best decision I could have ever made. I can honestly say I found myself again. Here I am now writing music about my life and telling my story. I can say this “I don’t see what I’ve been through as a loss but instead a lesson.” Somethings I’ll never get the answer to and I am ok with it. I realized we must move on. One monkey don’t stop no show like (King George said in his lyrics.) I just want to inspire people to follow their dreams because there will always be someone trying to discourage yours. Stay motivated and keep reaching for the moon because even if you miss you will still be among the stars. My great friend Javo G from Corpus Christi always says that and it stuck to me. I have a lot of support out here and in other cities and many people want to see what’s next and I’m ready to show them. I just recently came from San Antonio from being on a talk show called “Puro Pedo Talk Show” and I also had a radio interview at KLMO 98.9 and it was amazing. I am grateful for everyone that has opened their doors for me. As I was in San Antonio I also received the amazing news of being part of the Pride festival out there in June thanks to Margo Espino for connecting me with the event coordinator out there. have a few upcoming performances. I am doing a special tribute to the queen of tejano “Selena Quintanilla” April 16th in Beaumont TX thanks to Iris for reaching out to me. She found me through a video that circulated the internet on facebook and Instagram of me singing“Como La Flor” in acapella at a radio station in Corpus Christi called Majic 104.9 with LBJ and López Broadcasting which was another radio interview I had a month or so ago. Everyone that knows me well knows I love me some SELENA. I currently sing reggaeton music, but I have always had a passion for tejano, cumbia, and even rancheras so don’t be shocked when you see me on stage soon. Some people think I’m Mexican because of how much I love the culture but it all falls into how I was raised when my mother passed away. I was raised by my step mother who is from Monterrey MX and I learned many things about Mexican culture when I lived there for a few months also. Living in Monterrey, Mexico Monterrey is also another story for another day lol. I can honestly say a piece of my heart is Mexican. I literally should write a book one day everyone tells me that lol. Well I can go on and on about my life, but the main thing I want people to know and never forget about me is that “I NEVER GIVE UP” I may fall, stumble, trip and take a breather for a bit but I always come back and I come back harder each time. I have an amazing support team that really pushes me to keep going. My kids love what I do and that definitely motivates me. They sing my lyrics and they love my sound. My youngest daughter can also sing and I will be here for her every step of the way if she later decides she wants to be a singer. I’m an open book so feel free to reach out to me if you want to know more xoxo.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Consistency is key. Although my consistency fluctuates because of what I’ve been through and having kids I never give up. Also I suggest that you keep your supporters wanting more from you. Give them a piece of your life to look forward to. Let them know what you’re doing and your next move but not all at once. Take good photos and invest in your craft. These are things I constantly work on. I didn’t mention this before but I am also a spokeswoman for Paxton Lawfirm and I have done many infomercials for them. I have been told I am good at promoting things, businesses and pretty much anything. I have been on Univision y mas TV and we are currently working on other things. We constantly do giveaways too and give the best prizes so make sure to follow us. I am also a co-host along with Anthony and Ghetto who started the podcast like 5 years ago and I have been with the podcast for 3 years now. It’s a music review podcast called “Hip Hop Live Review” . It’s on every other Wednesday night from 8pm to 10pm CST make sure to follow us to watch us in action live on Facebook.. I enjoy co-hosting so much because it revolves around music. We review music and even bring in special guests to the show to help rate the music. We hand pick who can come to the show so it doesn’t get watered down with just anyone like other podcasts. I love doing these types of things. I feel it’s my purpose in life to help others in whatever it is I can. Who knows maybe one day I’ll manage an artist or 2. I have a great ear for music and have brought some really amazing artists to the show as well as my team. We have had artists really blow up in the music industry since. I stay busy and people get motivated by that. I have been told many times that I inspire and motivate others to be on the frontline and take charge of their lives. I want to help in many other ways too, not just musically. This specific idea has always been on the back of my mind since the 1st experience I encountered. If I ever win the lottery or come up with some great amount of money I hope to open a luxury shelter for battered women. I hope to speak in shelters about my experiences and how I got out of abusive relationships and if I did it they can too. That’s something I see in the near future for me. I think what makes people gravitate to my everyday life is how real I am and how I always speak the truth. I’m an open book and I’m not afraid to tell my story. You just never know what people are going through and who can be your next blessing.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect to me in my career and everyday life is the smile on people’s faces. The comments and things people say and how they feel when I’m on stage or live online. The way my oldest daughter tells me that I’m the strongest woman she’s ever met and that she salutes me for overcoming all I’ve been through and still standing tall following my dreams. Those are the things that keep my heart beating and wanting more out of life. I hope to one day leave a mark and for people to remember me by “The one that never gave up”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/Cubandiva?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=5b6ef1e4-d99c-43f5-8deb-06d5b8a51169
- Instagram: @cubandivaofficial
- Facebook: Cuban Diva
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@CubanDivaOfficial
- Other: I’m not too hard to find if you just type in Cuban Diva