How does a girl from a neighborhood in California become the queen of Latin music?
I believe there have been a lot of factors. It involves a lot of work, sacrifice, and dreaming big. Even though the obstacles were sometimes enormous and it was hard to see what was on the other side, I have always trusted the process and had faith. For me, it has been very important to have a team, a family that supported me a lot. Also, my community, because as an artist, I can create music and feel that is success, but in reality, it is the fans who have taken those songs to a level that nine-year-old Becky could only dream of. It's a great blessing. It has been a lot of different things and thanks to a lot of different people.
What is the most American and the most Mexican thing about you?
The most American thing I have is that I am Mexican because the U.S. was Mexico. Period.
We are living in a moment of absolute female dominance in music. What do you think music made by women brings?
I am very proud because I have been able to see the changes in recent years, how women are supporting each other in Latin music. We still have a lot of work to do, not necessarily on the artists' side but where it is beyond our control: culturally, on the industry side, in the press, and also in our communities. I always say there is no lack of talent, there is a lack of opportunities.
Latin music has always been a very macho world. Can feminism be done using those same codes?
I believe it can, but I also believe that feminism is not only for women. That word rubs some people the wrong way because it seems like "girls only," but I hope that the day I have children, women do not feel different from men. I would say that comes from my childhood. I am the oldest of four siblings, it was me, Paquito, Alejandro, and Estefanía, two boys and two girls. And in our house, our parents never treated us differently. They didn't tell me that I couldn't play sports or ride a bike because I was a woman; I rode a bike and played soccer and baseball, I loved it. And my brothers too. My mom never said that boys couldn't wear makeup, and I have always done makeup for my brothers. We had that safe space to discover, explore, create. And I am thankful to my parents for that because I believe that shaped my perspective of the world and prepared me to enter the Latin music industry, where there is a lot of machismo and many obstacles. It was fun for me to play with those challenges.
Your background is very humble. How do you think it has helped you manage a successful career?
When you say that, it sounds like I hear my grandmother saying, "Mija, a humble person doesn't say they are because that is in our actions, in our way of being." I am thankful to my team and my family; I am with people who value greatly what this life means. I dreamed of being an artist, but it never comes as you imagined and never feels like you imagined. There are many complexities, and the people around you have to understand you. Everyone around me is very excited every day. I learned the history of Spain, but I never imagined I could come here and enjoy the culture, the food, take naps every day. I love napping; we should take note in the U.S.! The people around me help me stay grounded and not go crazy because it is very easy to lose yourself.
The migrant community is going through a very complicated situation in the U.S., and you are very active in supporting initiatives to help them. How do you experience that situation?
Yes, behind the scenes, there is a lot of work that my team and I are doing every day. Sometimes I can't share everything because I have to protect the safety of many families right now, but I am literally dedicated to helping the migrant community. One might think that I was born in the U.S. and it doesn't directly impact me, but it is impacting my family, it is impacting my fans, and look, I am very proud to have been born in the U.S. because it was made by immigrants. We deserve to be represented and respected, not just the sadness and fear. Art and music, that two-minute escape, we deserve that too, right?
Latin music is one of the great pillars of popular music worldwide. Do you think that visibility can also help the Latin community?
Part of my pride is to say that we have always been talented, we have always been a community with a very rich culture. Now everyone wants to be part of the Latin party, well, everyone is invited, but if you want to celebrate the Latin culture, you should also protect it.
Qué haces is positioning itself strongly as a summer song. What ingredients must a great summer hit have for you?
It is a combination of things. Manuel Turizo and I took many years to do something together, and finally, a super catchy song came out. It makes you want to dance, but you can also listen to it with your eyes closed and feel the smile we had when we were recording it. Oh, how beautiful. The rhythms are also very easy; it has an urban pop inspiration, merengue, bachata. It is a genre-less song because we are genre-less artists, and I think that is a reflection of where we are in the industry right now. Many of us identify as such: genre-less artists. We are fans of music first.
What has been the summer song of your life?
It's hard to choose just one... I remember when I heard "Rebota" by Guaynaa. "How that girl moves it..." oh my god! When I was a child, my mom taught me "Atrévete, Te, Te" by Calle 13, and I thought it was a hit. But I think "Rebota" will be the song I show my children when they ask me about my summer song.