Gale doesn’t care how cliché or “woo-woo” it could sound, however she actually believes that music selected her.
Ever since childhood, the singer-songwriter, born Carolina Isabel Colón Juarbe in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, has finished all the things to verify her pop star desires come true. She began off by performing boleros for her household, then studied to turn out to be a classically educated singer. She broke into the business by co-writing songs for artists like Shakira (“Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran”), Christina Aguilera (“Brujería,” “Santo”) and Anitta (“Loco,” “Me Gusta”), till she ultimately scored a file take care of Sony Music Latin.
Whereas acting at South by Southwest earlier this 12 months, Gale was within the midst of making her second album, “Lo Que Puede Pasar.” On the time, she had solely shared two singles from the upcoming venture — “Skittles,” an indie-pop tribute to her late old flame, and “Ysilandia” a punky guitar ballad that includes fellow Puerto Rican singer Robi.
Since then, she’s accomplished her sophomore album and is eagerly awaiting its launch. She says she got down to make one thing “energetic, easy and extra big-sounding” and completed that objective via ingenious writing workouts and residing life wholeheartedly.
When she first launched herself together with her 2023 debut “Lo Que No Te Dije,” the singer blurred the strains between guitar-powered rock, reggaeton-inspired dance beats and radio-ready synth pop. Taking listeners via the sophisticated emotions of a breakup, Gale says she wasn’t interested by genres or boundaries — she wished to create one thing distinctive and private.
“The primary album could be very nostalgic, susceptible, private, and general a breakup album, that’s it. So for the second, I wish to have enjoyable and be artistic,” mentioned Gale.
In March, Gale spoke with De Los about her new artistic course of, her calling towards music and why she has such an affinity for pop. We reconnected over Zoom to get the complete story behind “Lo Que Puede Pasar,” her sophomore album that comes out Thursday, alongside together with her new single, “Perspectiva.”
This interview has been condensed and edited for readability.
What was it like first moving into the studio after releasing your debut album, “Lo Que No Te Dije?”
The reply to that’s pure creativity. The primary album could be very nostalgic, susceptible, private, and general a breakup album; that’s it. So for the second, I wish to have enjoyable and be artistic. The message behind “Lo Que Puede Pasar” is to get out of your head and cease overthinking issues — attempt to stay each expertise together with your coronary heart. Perhaps you’ll study one thing from it. You possibly can fall in love and even really feel unhappy. However both method, you’ll develop.
I used to be capable of faucet into this by writing prompts for myself. They are often something from themes or titles that I wish to discover via writing. I’d throw them within the bag, after which within the session, I pull out a immediate, and we go from there. It’s like touring again in time or connecting to a sense that I haven’t felt shortly.
It sounds such as you’re placing on a writing workshop within the studio. How a lot of the brand new album got here from these prompts?
It’s how many of the songs have been born. All of us picked little papelitos and began speaking about how I imagined every idea. For “Sería Cool,” I knew I wished to jot down from the attitude of going via a heavy heartbreak. So, it was much less about how I felt on the day I used to be really writing.
With “Skittles,” the immediate was the title of the track. I wished to jot down my love story with my old flame. I really feel like that’s one thing so particular — I imply, possibly not everybody. However, for lots of people, it’s memorable, dramatic and intense. Generally, like in my case, it was very stunning. So I wished to honor that relationship in that track, and that’s what we did with “Skittles.”
Some songs, although, weren’t from a immediate — like “Ysilandia” and “Domingo.” “Ysilandia” got here from a remedy session. “I used to be speaking to my therapist and developing with all these worries — “What if I don’t make it to the present? However what if my supervisor can’t go?” She advised me I lived in “Ysilandia,” which straight interprets to “What if Land?” — and that none of these issues exist. And I believed, “Oh my God, I’ve a fort in ‘Ysilandia.’ I’ve an entire life there. I’m overthinking all the things.”
“Domingo,” the final monitor on the album, was written on a Sunday. We have been within the studio, and I used to be actually lacking household and residential. The album general is a mixture of what was occurring in actual time with me and themes the universe picked out.
On “Domingo,” you open up about what it’s like to go away residence in pursuit of your desires. What made you wish to memorialize that homesickness?
I’m very near my household. They’re very intense. They spend each Sunday collectively, they go on yearly journeys collectively, all of them have matching shirts — it’s like a relentless celebration of over 20 folks. I’m very related to all of them, and having to go away them to chase my desires was one of many hardest selections I’ve ever needed to make. However that dream was so sturdy, and I had the blessing and encouragement from them. All of the sacrifices that it’s important to make and settle for while you select this profession is such a problem.
Your music profession appears to be marked with willpower. You’ve been performing because you have been a child, you left residence to check music and broke into the business by writing for different artists. What do you suppose was pushing you?
I’ve been very decided since I used to be little. I at all times knew that this was what I wished to do, however I didn’t know the technicalities of it. I knew I may write a track, and I felt like I had a superpower. I at all times knew I used to be going to make it. I didn’t understand how, however I knew music is what I’m right here for. It’s been very rewarding.
You’ve so many possibilities to surrender, but it surely’s too late to surrender — that’s what I at all times inform myself. I attempt to benefit from the course of and discover myself in it. Generally it takes a bit bit longer that method. However I additionally want to know my path and respect that I went to school. I studied music and began writing with different artists, and I embrace it a lot.
Had been there any true moments of doubt or have been you at all times dead-set on chasing music?
I at all times knew I used to be going to do it it doesn’t matter what. After I was 17, I graduated from this music faculty, La Libre de Musica in Puerto Rico, and I advised my dad and mom that I used to be prepared to maneuver to Miami and be a celebrity. My dad advised me I needed to go to school, so I advised him I’d if I may research music.
So, I nonetheless did it. I moved to Miami, began writing, bought a publishing deal and was capable of give attention to my artist profession.
Should you have been to place your self within the mindset of that 17-year-old, how did it really feel to be so sure about understanding what you wished?
Music’s at all times been like my protected place. After I consider 17-year-old me, I take into consideration me writing songs on my own in my bed room. I felt protected and heard. It was like remedy. It selected me — if that sounds cliché, I don’t care. However I actually can’t consider anything. I by no means felt like I selected music.
From the digital dance break on “Pa’ Qué Te Quedas” to the piano-powered ballad “El Amor Y Sus Consecuencias,” it is a pop file at its core. Why do you suppose you’re drawn to pop? What concerning the style resonates with you?
Rising up, I at all times say, I’m a pop girlie. I used to be raised by Britney [Spears], Christina [Aguilera], Shakira, Avril Lavigne and Selena Quintanilla. So it was both that or boleros, due to my dad. I used to be performing and singing all these stunning songs by Armando Manzanero and Pablo Milanes once I was 6 or 7 years previous. Their lyrics have a lot depth and are like stunning poems. I really feel like I’m these two worlds — pop and the very dramatic, heartfelt lyrics. I simply love that mixture.
So due to that, pop music isn’t superficial to me.
A whole lot of the album is about studying from lived experiences. What was the largest one or lesson you realized whereas making it?
Not chasing perfection. I was a management freak the place all the things wanted to be excellent. However with this album, I realized to let go of issues, settle for it and let issues be. I additionally realized to actually fall in love with the method. Earlier than, once I would attempt to management all the things, I used to be not having a superb time. I spotted I simply wanted to do my finest and perceive that I’m residing the dream of Galesita who was 7 years previous, writing her first track. I simply have to be grateful and preserve working exhausting.
