We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Victoria Blue a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Victoria, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?
For me, growing up as a Afro-Latina has always caused a sort of cultural confusion. When people first meet me or come to one of my shows, they aren’t expecting me to be a Latina, much less sing in Spanish. Its something I’ve constantly had to explain and at the same time take pride in getting to share my story. After all these years, I still can’t believe there isn’t enough awareness about Afro-Latinos and their connection to the Hispanic heritage and culture. One of my latest songs “MORENA” tells the story of how my cultural upbringing (father being Afro-Cuban and my mother from Puerto Rico) has influenced my music and much of who I am.
Victoria, 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?
Im a singer/songwriter and performer. My background is Cuban/Puerto-rican so my music is a fusion of Pop R&b with latin influences. The singer-songwriter, awarded “Best
Outstanding Vocalist” at The National Music Festival held in
New York City, is an international artist and traveling
musician. You may also recognize her from the Fox Network
Season 3 hit show ‘The X Factor USA’. She competed in Los
Angeles alongside mentor judges Simon Cowell, Paulina
Rubio, Demi Lovato and Kelly Rowland. In 2016, Victoria was
cast as the principal vocalist for the first original production
show ‘C’est Rouge!’, directed by the distinctive award
winning Blanca Li. Held at the Faena Theatre, the original
production is a live, cabaret-inspired 1950’s musical. Set to
Latin American and Jazz rhythms, Victoria played the
narrative protagonist leading the audience throughout a
wonderland of sensual and seductive vignettes. In 2017 she
debuted her first EP “Heart On The Line”. The title holding a
special meaning in relation to the growing pains and
setbacks she’s experienced throughout her music career.
Making her way in commercial media, Victoria was the
voice behind many TV and radio ads for which she wrote
and sang jingles for local and national brands including
Toyota. In 2018 she began her double artist in residency at
both The St. Regis Hotel in Miami Beach and The Ritz
Carlton. In 2021 Victoria was invited to attended the Latin
American Music Awards and sang background alongside
Maluma and Ziggy Marley for their “7 Days In Jamaica”
release. Bridging the gap between both American and
Latin markets, Victoria Blue is set to bring a new diversified
sound and electrified vocal style to the masses.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is that I get to do what I love every single day. Having the freedom to express myself within my music, with other creatives, the fact that I get to bring the melodies that I hear in my head to life and then share it with the world is extraordinary. And the most special part is that I can look within myself and find that little girl who always dreamed about being a singer, and know that I kept her promise, I’m making her proud and all her dreams are coming true.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
A few years back I hemorrhaged my vocal chords and almost permanently lost my voice. I couldn’t speak for about 5 months which to me is a VERY long time. It was a super close call but I had a great doctor who operated on my vocal folds and gave me hope of recuperation. I was in a dark place and could only speak for a few minutes everyday after the surgery, relearning how to control my breath work, vocal muscles and even how to speak. My voice was not the same and I had to regain my confidence in being able to sing again. On the road to recovery, I decided I needed to push through the difficult process I was in and used the therapy of music itself to write and record my first ever EP, Heart On The Line. The project illustrates the struggles and hardships throughout my journey on finding my voice again through the imperfections, high and lows and being vulnerable enough to put my ‘Heart On The Line’. After all these years I can truly say that my voice is now stronger than ever and I’m grateful for what those moments taught me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/VictoriaBlue
- Instagram: @Victoria_Blue
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaBlueMusic/
- Twitter: @Victoria_Blue
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/VictoriaBlueMusic
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3gwxqApdwW4amdnM59dwPk?si=LxC4IQjvSsWF9HKRKYfNXg
Image Credits
RedUmbrella (Katie Deluca) & Daniel List