Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nayelly Rodriguez Baez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nayelly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I found my calling on the stage, something I never thought could happen. I was shy as a kid but found an early fascination with music. I especially liked how singers would emote and express complex emotions; one could say anything if it had a melody. They would sing what I could not put into words and show up with an open heart, no fear in sight. I wanted that.
I grew up in a family with many musical tastes. I sang at church and with my closest friends; something I could do with others, as a way to have fun and connect while getting a bit out of my comfort zone. Another way to challenge myself a bit.

In my freshman year of high school, after uprooting my life for the first time and moving to a new city, I found a contest ad. The contest had three rounds. In the first one, I could barely hold the microphone and would shake from the nerves. Yet, that moment on the stage felt right, so I kept going. I felt like I belonged for some strange. I became intrigued by the euphoria of singing in front of a crowd instead of my community for the first time, just like the singers I grew up admiring. The second round gave me more confidence. But it was the third, where I knew there was no looking back. There was nothing else I wanted more than being a singer. I would like to say I killed that round, but I found myself more nervous than ever before and gave my best impression of a category seven earthquake performing All I Ask by Adele. Despite all, I loved the feeling; I felt powerful. That moment marked a before and after of a journey of connection, growth, and emotion. Music became a healer and encouragement, first for me, and now I want to contribute to giving others what the singers I admired gave me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a Dominican Pop-Soul singer-songwriter and performer who recently graduated from Berklee College of Music. My music uses genres like Jazz, Folk, R&B, and Latin as a rich source for storytelling using both English and Spanish. I like to use my voice to tell more than just a story, focusing on melodies as a gateway for connection. My purpose is to serve the processes of creating the music that will accompany people in their lives. Whether it is music from my repertoire or collaboration projects that I am happy to be part of, either as a background musician or producer or adopting roles in event production or performance, I find joy in serving my community through music. I love creating music that aligns with how I feel. My music exists to serve those who need an uplift, a mirror, or a few minutes away from reality.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Seeing my music or an artistic project I was part of caused a reaction in someone. My fuel is knowing that music can positively impact people. I still remember the first time my performance made someone cry or the encouraging words of a stranger after a performance. I love how music can be yours as you create it, but once it’s out, it is someone else’s. Someone’s wedding song, the inside joke between friends that will always remind them of a specific moment in their lives, the way to bring back to life someone who is not with them anymore. People use it to learn new things and to heal others. Witnessing humanity in that way and contributing to it every day is one of the most rewarding experiences. It makes life worth living.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I read Momo by Michael Ende, and it significantly changed how I see life. The book presents a little girl whose superpower is to listen. Using the word “superpower” for something I considered so ordinary turned upside-down my vision of the world. My passion is to create sound, but it is in silence where I find treasures. There is magic in knowing when to stop and listen. The book gave me a perspective of how time can be stolen from our hands if we are in constant rush. Yes, there is beauty in rushing sometimes, but it is as important to know how to stop. Both can be applied to life and music.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nayellymusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nayelly.mp3/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nayelly-rodriguez-56b8492a2/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@nayelly.mp3?si=qLUvESFY4O03KZxE
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nayelly_mp3