Mariana Beauchamp’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

Mariana Beauchamp shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Mariana, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
One of my favorite poems encapsulates my current journey really well. It was written by the Spanish poet Antonio Machado and it goes as following:

“Caminante, son tus huellas
el camino y nada más;
Caminante, no hay camino,
se hace camino al andar.
Al andar se hace el camino,
y al volver la vista atrás
se ve la senda que nunca
se ha de volver a pisar.
Caminante no hay camino
sino estelas en la mar.”

The main idea of the poem translates to there is no path, the path is created as you walk; and that currently describes how I view this current part of my life, I am not quite wandering or walking a set path, but rather creating one as I go.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a multi-disciplinary artist from Puerto Rico based in New York City. I am carving my path as a singer-songwriter. In my music I explore genres such as indie-pop, folk-pop and alternative styles all centered around a Caribbean influenced sound. I write in Spanish as well as English and write about holding one’s self, what we give to each other, and this thing called living. What I hope people get from my music is comfort and company. I hope they understand they are not going through this alone, whatever that is.That the world is complicated, scary, and unjust for many of us and one of the ways in which we could better understand each other is through music. I am currently working on a couple of singles that will come out next year. I’ve been in the process of re-directing my sound and with that comes working with new people. I’ve slowly but surely begun working with and collaborating with musicians from the U.S., Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Colombia. I’m excited for what will come out of this and to share it with everyone.
Aside from being an artist I am also a voice teacher that recently finished her Master’s in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy at NYU and am driven by learning every day and sharing what I know.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Many things can stress or even break the bonds between people but at the end of the day the common thread is always us; the people themselves. We have the ability to break and repair these bonds. This is why it is so important to me to be able to build a sturdy community, in which I can find refuge. To be able to build a prosperous community though, one has to be at peace with one’s self and learn how to care for one’s own well-being, which is a theme I explore in my song Para Protegerme. Community shelters and fuels me creatively and in some ways. Through my art, I hope I am able to create new bonds between people or perhaps help mend the broken ones that already exist.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There’s been many occasions in which I’ve thought of giving up, especially now given the state of the world’s political and social climate. It’s difficult to convince yourself that what you’re doing is important, that by speaking about how you experience the world holds value amidst so much collective pain. It’s difficult to convince yourself that you have something worth saying when everything seems to be falling apart.
I explore this struggle in my song Pessimist, which speaks to those days when helplessness wins. I guess what keeps me going though, is survival, creating is the only way to keep my sanity. In an age of instant gratification and digital abysses, it’s easy to become numb to it all; but making art reminds me I’m capable of feeling and creating. It reminds me that I am a result of all of those who came before me, and if what they’ve said and done has allowed me to stand here; then the least I can do is not take that for granted.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I hope to protect and defend throughout my life is Puerto Rican music. As Puerto Ricans we have shaped, defined and preserved our cultural identity and our history through music. Our music ranges from genres such Bomba and Plena to Salsa and Bolero. Puerto Rican artists through the years have been more than entertainers, they have also created a living record of the island’s social struggles, traditions, and culture. I hope I can contribute to that cultural record through my work.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
My character, my integrity and my willingness to give to others, either parts of who I am or anything I can for their prosperity and well being.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marianabeauchamp.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariana.beauchamp/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mariana.beauchamp
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2wdz2gC90XICdreTuWCyHT

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mariana-beauchamp/1688757864