Fiamma: Puerto Rican Rock Star In The Making
Puerto Rican musican Fiamma is gearing up to release one of the biggest projects in her career and we’ve gotten a chance to learn all about it. Exploring a new genre has allowed her to embrace her Latin roots in a new and unique way while staying true to herself. If you wanna know all about Fiamma keep reading below!
FEATURE INTERVIEW:
You mentioned being influenced by rock bands like Paramore and Evanescence. How did this transition from rock to reggaeton happen for you?
When you live in PR, listening to reggaeton is definitely inevitable. The culture is everywhere, it is contagious, and it runs through our veins. In my case, I grew up listening to rock music, but more specifically, female led rock bands because I felt empowered by their stage presence and power. When I heard female reggaeton artists, for me, it was a game changer. They made me feel the same way these female rock artists made me feel. I started listening to artists like Arcangel, Ivy Queen, Don Omar, Jowell y Randy and I fell in love with the genre!
What inspired you to start your music career, and how did you overcome any initial challenges?
Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to make music. I didn’t know how it was going to happen, but I was certain that it would. In 9th grade, I started a rock band with my friends, and I didn’t know how to play any instruments, so I thought I’d try singing. It instantly became my passion. The only issue was that I was a really shy kid. I would record myself singing with my camera turning away from me, and I didn’t want to sing for anyone else.
Moving to Miami helped me get out of my shell. It made me step out of my comfort zone and taught me about different music genres. I went to the studio for the first time in 2019 and fell in love with it. I haven’t stopped since then.
Can you share the story behind the creation of your first reggaeton single, “Chiki Pon,” and how it helped you gain recognition?
When I wrote “Chiki Pon“, I wanted to try to make a reggaeton song for the first time. At that time, I was only singing in English so it was a challenge that I wanted to take. The first line that came to mind was “La roquerita metiendole al reggaeton antes calladita pero ahora un mujeron”. It was literally what was happening at the moment. As I said before, I was struggling with being shy, and I wanted to step out of my shell. I feel like this was me saying “I am done being insecure and I am going to dive into music because this is what I am meant to do”.
To my surprise, the song got into a Spotify Editorial playlist called “Urbano Rising”. I feel like it was a sign from the Universe saying this is what you are meant to do, so I listened to the Universe and haven’t looked back ever since. Things really started working out from that point forward.
How would you describe your unique musical style and what sets you apart from other artists in the reggaeton scene?
My music is very inspired by that core reggaeton from the 2000s. What sets me apart is my strong delivery combined with my songwriting skills. Also, being introverted made me focus on my craft, and pushed me to become the complete opposite.
You’ve experimented with various genres like dembow, jersey club, and trap. Are there any other genres you’d like to explore in the future?
There are many genres I have yet to explore. Recently I have been experimenting with afro, house, merengue and many more. I am excited to showcase my voice in the upcoming music. It will be a new era with lots of collaborations and new sounds. I’ve been enjoying working with different producers from different cultures, and they have brought out new flavors that I didn’t know I had in me.
What are the main themes and messages you aim to convey through your music?
I love being a woman! We are so powerful and strong, and that’s what I love talking about in my music. I also like to sing about things that we go through such as partying with friends, heartbreak, happiness, and having fun. I hope that when people listen to my music, they can either get empowered, relate to the different stories, or admire the fact that us women can be direct and get what we want too.
How would you describe the sound and style of the new single? What was the creative process behind it?
Summer, playita, drinks and dance! That’s how I would describe my next single. It is going to blow people’s minds because it is so different from what I am currently doing. Like I said before, I wanted to showcase my voice more because I’m usually rapping in my songs.
The creative process was a little bit surprising. We were about to leave the studio, and the producer wanted to show me a beat that he thought I would like. The words instantly came to my head, and we started working on it. It was a magical and pivotal moment in my career. It marked the start of a new era.
How would you describe your personal style? What are your favorite designers and brands right now?
I would describe my personal style as a mix of comfortable and sexy. I like to use baggy pants for comfort, and combine it with a mesh top, or crop top, and I also like to incorporate chains, faux fur, and studs into my outfits. My makeup has to include dark eyeliner and dark eyeshadow. Very grunge and punk-ish!
For this photo shoot, I used the help of a local designer named Tony Visions. He has helped me a lot throughout my career, and I love his work. I’ve also worked with another local designer, Lili Allure, who did my look for the Women’s Gold Cup performance. They are both amazing!
How do you use fashion and build your image so that it complements your music and performance?
I feel like an artist’s image has to help the audience understand what you’re all about, and since I am all about empowerment and being strong that’s what I like to bring into my style. I use a lot of dark sounds in my music and complement that with fashion. When finishing my make-up, I have to add “la raya” which is the line coming down my right eye. I’d like to think it gives me superpowers, and it makes me feel like a badass which is what I am portraying in my music.
How have your roots and cultural influences shaped you and your art?
My roots and culture shaped me to want to be an inspiration for others like the people from Puerto Rico have been an inspiration to me. When I was little, I would watch tv and see the big things Puerto Ricans were doing in PR and outside of PR, and I admired the fact that even though we are from a small island we can accomplish bigger things. It made me push myself to be great.
How do you see yourself contributing to the growth and evolution of the Puerto Rican music scene?
Something I love about Puerto Rico is that they are constantly evolving musically, and if I can inspire some artists to make music and be themselves, I think it would be a great contribution to music in general.
What message would you like to give your fans and aspiring artists?
Be yourself, be authentic, and get out of your comfort zone! Everything that’s meant for you will come your way, but you have to put in the work. Get out of your own way, start saying yes to things even if they scare you, and don’t hold back.
TEAM CREDITS:
Editor-in-Chief: Prince Chenoa
Feature Editor: Taylor Winter Wilson (@taylorwinter)
Writer: Frida García (@fridadda_)
Photographer: Michael Hursey (@mhursey)
Production Assistant: The Newforce Network (@thenewforcenetwork)
Wardrobe Stylist: David Woods (@tonyvisions)
Hair Stylist: Melena Dicupe (@_miiimiii___)
Location: Onzyte Studios (@onzytestudios)
Record Label: Universal Music Latin (@universalmusica)
