We were lucky to catch up with Lupita Huizar recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lupita, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Although I’ve always ‘wanted’ to be a creative growing up, there was a point in my life where I started to become a young adult and realistically thinking and needing to have a game plan for my life.. My senior year of high school I had made the decision to give up music to focus on my extenuating circumstance at that time. Not long after I would graduate high school and spent some time focusing on finances. Then, shortly after deciding to major in communications in college. However, that was very shortly lived. While receiving community college registration help from my older brother, he had convinced me and signed me up for a music class for “easy credits”. Little did I know that that would change my perspective forever. At that point in my life, I never knew there were so many career options possible in the Music Industry. Thanks to my educators and classmates who were driven, motivated, focused musicians truly influenced me to believe in myself. Ever since then, I’ve been dedicated to living my life through my passions. Don’t get me wrong, social media can be deceiving. Things are not always sunshine and rainbows. There are some days harder than others, and some days where you just feel like giving up. But the way I feel when I’m performing, teaching, or even just discussing music business is a joy nothing else can ever replace. Overall, I would rather push through to stay in the music industry than work a meaningless job that I’m not passionate about.

Lupita, 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?

Hello! My name is Lupita, but you can call me Pita for short. I’ve been singing pretty much all of my life. My father was a musician and is the one who pretty much influence my life’s journey. My whole upbringing, my family has always struggled financially but we always did the best we could with what we had. My parents, both immigrants from Mexico, migrated to the U.S. when they were very young. My parents were never given handouts in this life and worked hard to build the life and family that we have. I knew from a very young age that I needed to work hard in order to make my family proud. But work even harder to accomplish my goals as a musician.

Currently, I am a freelance vocalist, vocal arranger, and voice/piano teacher from the San Gabriel Valley. With 15+ years of teaching/performing under my belt. I also have an extensive knowledge of the music industry in publishing, copyright, management, A&R, with experience in creative and social media management, accomplishing a BA in Music Industry at Cal Poly Pomona. At this moment in life there has been a main focus in Music Business where I’ve been successfully curating music articles (All Grass Music), participating in festival production (HuckFinn Jubilee), as well honing in my skills in Audio Production.

I’m currently lead vocals for a Selena Quintanilla tribute band named ‘Selenamos’ playing alongside Gabriel Villa of Chicano Batman. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to also perform alongside many other bands such as the likes of Allen G. Orchestra, Nightowl Productions, The Band Smooth Touch, Son Deux, Like Vinyl, Cal Poly Pomona’s Jazz Band, Shaman Cult, and much more. Right now I’m anticipating an upcoming performance in partnership with the LA Phil and Street Food Cinema at The Ford LA, too excited for that! Through these experiences, I’ve mastered singing in multiple genres such as Jazz, Top 40, Pop, R&B, Latin Pop, Mariachi, Cumbia, voiceover, and more. I do my absolute best to express exceptional professionalism, talent, and high energy in both lead and background vocal performance every chance I get.

I think what defines me from others is my experience in both the performance and business realm. In the music industry, I have the perspective of the performer, but with the knowledge and education of the business. I have worked very hard up to this point in my career to be utilized as a “Swiss Army knife” in the music industry learning as much as I can with any component I’m faced with and mastering it.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Something I personally feel that non-creatives struggle to understand about creatives is the aspect of time, especially how our time is spent. Unless you’re born a prodigy and absolutely perfect, everyone else is forced to practice and sacrifice lots and lots of time. Especially in this day and age where the production of products (ie songs, content) is demanded at a rapid rate. Creativity can take time, such as spending days away from society locked in a studio until you’re satisfied with your music. Sacrificing seeing family and friends in order to practice to make a performance seem effortlessly ran in one run live. Oftentimes holidays, birthdays, and get togethers are given up in our personal lives in order to perform and make other’s events and celebrations memorable. The work of a creative is never done, even if we feel momentarily we’ve accomplished something, we will continuously look ahead for ‘what’s next’. Creatives are the most ambitious and tenacious group of people you’ll ever meet. So please, non-creatives, be patient, understanding, and as supportive as possible. When you see our end product, you’ll know it was for a reason and we hope you’re proud of us.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

What drives me and pushes me forward is the thought of making my father proud. As a first generation Latina, I’ve seen my parents go through some difficult circumstances throughout their life. I feel as though it is my responsibility to prove that my parents sacrifice to come to this country was worth it. I not only strive to be successful, but I strive to be successful with what I’m passionate about. I’m dedicated to work hard and make that dream a reality. All while remaining grateful and thankful for all the opportunities presented to me that the generations before me were never granted.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pitacanta.squarespace.com/
• Instagram: @pita_canta
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pitacanta
• Youtube: http://www.YouTube.com/@Pitacanta
• Link tree: linktr.ee/pita_canta