Meet America Ortiz

We recently connected with America Ortiz and have shared our conversation below.

Hi America, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I believe I draw my resilience from my mom. I’m sure everyone says that, but it’s true! My mom single-handedly raised me and my three siblings. We moved to Minnesota from Texas, so we didn’t have family here either. Growing up, I watched my mom triumph over obstacles and navigate all the crazy things life threw at her with grace. I saw her sing through laughter, and I’ve seen her sing through tears. Through her, I learned the power of music and its ability to Inspire hope and positivity in our lives no matter our circumstances. The things she taught me have helped me navigate my own hardships. She is such an inspiration to me and a true model of resilience.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a Mexican American, Twin Cities-based singer/songwriter. Although I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember, my professional journey began about twelve years ago, singing backup vocals in my mom’s band. I believe the experience I gained from all that time prepared me and led me to what I do now. Today, I am the lead singer of the Latin alternative group America y Los Sentimientos. We are a bilingual band that explores a modern fusion of Pop, Rock, and Cumbia in English and Spanish. We have a wide range of musical and cultural influences from members from Mexico, El Salvador, and Wisconsin, and I am from San Antonio, TX. Although we come from different backgrounds, we celebrate and embrace the diversity each member brings, and we try to incorporate that in our writing as much as possible! We formed about two years ago and hit the ground running, performing around the twin cities at venues like Sociable Cider Werks, Midway Saloon, Can Can Wonderland, and a few others. Through our performances, we have been lucky to meet some great local talent who have evolved into a robust, supportive community for us, and we are so grateful for that. I can’t wait to see what venues we’ll get to explore and who we will have the pleasure of meeting in the future. After taking time to find our footing on stage, we have stepped into our next phase, off stage. We have recently began recording our first original project, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone! This project will truly showcase our blend of cultures and musical influences.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Always be willing to learn: Stay open to growth and learning new things. As I embarked on my journey of becoming an artist, I realized that in order to excel in my craft, I needed to expand my skills and knowledge. I recognized that there were several areas where I lacked proficiency that could potentially hold me back from achieving my goals. However, I did not let this discourage me. Instead I embraced the idea of learning new things, and I took it upon myself to acquire the skills that I need to succeed. I learned how to network with people more effectively, communicate my ideas more clearly, and collaborate with other artists. I even took up guitar to improve on my song writing and began working to improve my stage presence.

By having a growth mindset and being open to new experiences, I was able to create opportunities for myself that I never thought were possible. I am now more confident in my abilities and my potential to succeed. I firmly believe that having the willingness to learn and evolve is essential not only in the world of music but in every aspect of life. It is through constant learning and adaptation that we can continue to grow and thrive.

Remember the joy and the why: Always remember to have fun and enjoy what you do. Don’t lose sight of the passion that initially drew you to this field. Despite the challenges and demands of the industry, revisiting the joy and happiness that comes with your work will help you combat burnout and keep your motivation and drive alive. It’s essential to remember why you do what you do and who you are doing it for. Personally, I perform for myself to express my emotions and bring joy to others. I love bringing people together through my art and making my family proud. Focusing on the pleasure of performing empowers me to overcome the negativity and push through the challenges.

Communication: Effective communication skills are crucial for success in any line of work, and the music industry is no exception. Whether you are a musician, an event organizer, a sound engineer, or any other professional in the field, you will need to interact with a diverse range of people and communicate in various styles to reach your goals.

For instance, you might need to liaise with venue booking managers to secure gigs or negotiate deals, collaborate with other artists to create new music, or work with sound engineers to ensure that your live performances sound great. Moreover, you must also engage with your fans and followers on social media and other platforms to build a strong online presence and expand your audience.

To achieve all this, you need to hone your communication skills and be adaptable to different situations. You should be able to express your ideas and needs clearly, listen actively to others, and build positive relationships with your colleagues and fans. Additionally, you should leverage the power of technology to boost your outreach and connect with people from all over the world. With the right communication skills and tools, you can take your music career to new heights and reach a wider audience than ever before.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Over the past 12 months, I have been working hard to build up my confidence and overcome the constant imposter syndrome that I have been experiencing. It has been a challenging journey, but I have learned to trust myself and believe in my abilities. I have come to realize that I belong in any space I enter, and I deserve to be there just as much as anyone else.

As a performer, people often assume that I am super confident and have no worries in the world. However, stepping onto a stage in front of a bunch of strangers can be both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there and showcase your craft.

I have found that being confident in what I am doing can eliminate a ton of anxiety and really let me be free in my craft. When I trust myself and believe in my abilities, I am able to perform at my best and truly enjoy what I am doing. It is a work in progress, but I am proud of the progress I have made so far and am excited to continue growing in confidence and skill.

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@no_aesthetic_stills

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