Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ellie La Gringa. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ellie, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I think confidence and self-esteem is built overtime. I think as children, we all have a lot of confidence, and then the real world starts and a lot of us lose it. Especially with social media, not only can you receive negative or mean comments, but just in general, we are constantly looking at other people’s lives and inevitably comparing ourselves. That said, I didn’t really start developing my confidence and self-esteem until I realized it was an issue for me. Once I was able to see how my low self-esteem was impacting my relationships, my career, my daily routine, I really started focusing on it. Which for me, looked like not being on social media as much and only following people that bring me joy. Even some of my favorite artists I don’t follow anymore, because I would feel envious of them or wish that I could be as successful. So, social media was definitely a big piece. I also was able to boost my confidence by ending relationships that were toxic and unhealthy, and aby being more disciplined with my time. Doing things that helped me grow as a person and being committed to doing those things daily. Simple things, like writing, eating healthy, working out, meditation. For me, self-esteem is a lot about your inner-dialogue. How do I talk to myself, what do I think about myself? But I also started watching what I said out loud, and really focused on speaking positively, not only about myself, but in general. Overall, it is a process. Everyone has their good days and bad days, but if at the end of each you can say you like yourself, and the person that you are, I think that is a great step in the right direction.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am Ellie La Gringa, an American singer and songwriter making Latin urban music. I mostly make reggaeton music, but am definitely inspired by many genres, such as R&B, dancehall, salsa, etc. I started writing music many years ago, but only began recording and publishing my songs in 2022. Everything is still pretty new to me in a lot of ways. I would definitely say I am still starting out in this industry. Even though I am American and not Latina, I spent a lot of time in Latin and South America, and after living in Colombia for awhile, I fell in love with reggaeton. In terms of what’s next, well, I guess only God knows that. But I hope to continue to put out a lot of new music in 2024 and collab with other artists in my genre. You can find my music on all streaming platforms under Ellie La Gringa, and same for Instagram and TikTok.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Being a good person and knowing who I am. 2. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
3. Expertise in my field. For me, that is songwriting and creating melodies.
Those would be my three most important qualities to have. and I think apply to anyone starting out in a new field by themselves. The first quality is really about having a solid foundation and idea of who you are as a person. Because many industries, like the music industry, can have a lot of people trying to pull you one way or tell you what you have to do, it is really important to stay true to yourself and stand your ground. Secondly, communication skills are so important. When you are starting out on your own, you need to connect with others already in the industry. I would definitely recommend finding people you want to work with or get to know, and reaching out to them. When you do meet people, having good social skills is essential to be able to build and foster new relationships. Lastly, you have to be good at what you’re trying to do. If you do get an opportunity, you want to be able to showcase your talent and prove yourself. Focusing on your area of expertise and building your skillset is essential.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
I think my biggest area of growth in the past 12 months has been letting go of certain expectations. It is so trendy these days to hear about visualization and manifestation, and if you see it, you can achieve it. I put so much pressure on myself to reach certain numbers and profits and followers, and to keep growing my music and my brand. But after having a bit of a health scare this year, that perspective really switched for me, almost instantly. I make music because I love it. It is something that comes really natural to me, and something that brings me a lot of joy and freedom. So, that is what I focus on now. Not posting on social media, not getting the perfect outfit for a video, not finding the best producer for my next single. I just make music and let go of all of the what-if situations that may or may not happen. I’ve built back a lot of confidence and self-worth this way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://instabio.cc/ellielagringa
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ellielagringa
Image Credits
AlexVisualss
