If you haven’t heard of the talented singer-songwriter from Houston, TX, Alaina Castillo, run to your favorite streaming platform and take a listen right now. This bilingual up-and-coming pop star is paving her way with her captivating sounds made up of R&B and pop, with a bit of Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande sad-girl vibes – but in English and Spanish
This Mexican-American songstress and the first Latina ever to have songs chart in Mexico in both English and Spanish formats is about to take the world by storm. In 2021, Billboard named her a Latin Artist to Watch, saying the “singer/songwriter navigates easily between the two languages, infusing both with a heady mix of R&B that enhances lovely, breathy, vocals. Most definitely one to watch, with potential to grow in many spaces.”
Indeed, Alaina performed at the Latin American Music Awards that year, and in 2022 opened up for one of her favorite bands, Coldplay in her native Houston. She also snagged a coveted spot on both weekends during this year’s Coachella music festival and is joining Olivia Rodrigo producer Alexander 23 on tour this Fall, which brings her to Boston on October 20th.
Just last week as we were interviewing her, Alaina released her latest EP, “Fantasies” and tells us “today I’m releasing my EP, containing the singles I’ve been releasing, plus 2 or 3 new songs. I’m excited because I’ve been waiting for this next EP after my last one, Parallel Universe, but this one is a mix of the music I’ve been making, still sad-girl, but turning into the dance world, and with a few Spanish songs as well!”
Like many artists of today, Castillo’s career took off with the help of YouTube, where she started uploading cover songs and later, her own music. She quickly gained fans and followers, and has amassed millions of views across her social media channels. Part of her inspiration in creating music, she tells us, comes from finding her own voice and hoping she could help her fans do the same.
“I felt like I didn’t really have a voice growing up, like my opinion didn’t matter. But when I started writing music and creating my own aesthetic and my world, it became this thing that I could grab onto and no one else could tell me differently. It’s mine. I want my fans to also feel that same drive and passion, to think that their opinion and voice does matter. Whatever they’re going through, they can switch it around so easily with music, and that’s the message I want to give.”
Tickets to Alaina Castillo’s performance alongside Alexander 23 at Boston’s Big Night Live (attached to the TD Garden) can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com, and her new EP as well as her latest single “Call Me When You’re Lonely” are available on the various music platforms including Apple Music, Spotify and others.
Follow her for more on Tik Tok, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Twitch.
