Meet Verena Fuentes | Singer/songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Verena Fuentes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Verena, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
As I’ve grown and progressed through my life and career, I’ve asked myself several times if it’s too late for me to achieve success in the music industry, especially as a woman. But I’ve come to believe that it’s never too late to pursue your passions and turn them into a full-time career. While I may not become the next Billie Eilish or Taylor Swift, what matters most to me is being able to make a living doing music. I’ll go as far as I can and won’t compare myself to anyone else. Of course, there have been times when I’ve questioned if I should continue down this path, and there are days when I feel terrible and doubt myself. But ultimately, it’s my heart that guides me back to music, and that’s how I know I should keep going. If I find more peace at the thought of moving on, then it’s time to reconsider. Note: this advice may or may not also be applied to relationships!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a Mexican singer/songwriter hailing from Mexico City and now based in Denver, CO. I like to consider my music to be a powerful and emotive blend of contemporary pop, R&B, and neo-soul, infused with my Latin American roots. With my lyrics, try to tackle themes of vulnerability, authenticity, and the complexities of the human experience, particularly as a woman, POC, and daughter. I strive to use my platform to give voice to my own experiences and those of others like me, making my music both relatable and meaningful.

Reaching this point in my career has not been easy. As a child, I faced a lot of bullying, which made it difficult for me to trust myself and believe in my own worth. It took a lot of hard work and self-reflection to build up my self-esteem and to understand that my music and my decisions, both creative and logistical, have value. I used to fear that my ideas were dumb and that no one would relate to my music. But through stepping out of my comfort zone and putting myself out there more often, I learned that my unique perspective and experiences can be valuable.

Now, I live by a new philosophy: always say yes… almost always. I’ve come to realize that exploring new opportunities, even if they scare me, can lead to new levels of success and open up endless doors. Of course, I use my career goals and common sense to determine which opportunities are not the best fit for me. But more often than not, if I’m hesitant to say yes, it’s because I’m afraid of failing. When that happens, I remind myself that it’s time to get out of my comfort zone again and so far, I have never regretted taking a chance.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh my… Denver is the best place to be in my opinion, so this will be easy. Here’s a list of things I would do:
– Lu House for Chinese food
– Broadway to do some thrift shopping
– Little Man Ice Cream
– Voodoo Doughnuts
– The Fisk Planetarium in Boulder
– Lookout Mountain in Golden
– Cheery Creek State Park
– La Rumba for some Salsa Dancing
– Denver Art Museum
– Monday jam sesh at Meadowlark
– Open Mic at the Corner Beet
– Confluence Park to see the sunset
– City Park
– hikes hikes hikes!!! everywhere that’s close to Denver

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Andres Guerrero, also known as Le Président, played a crucial role in helping me get my career started. We became friends about eight years ago and started working together in his home studio, which is now known as Emphas!s Studios in Mexico City. At first, we were just fooling around, but he believed in me more than I believed in myself at the time. When I showed him “It’s My Pride,” he loved it and wanted to produce it, even though producing my songs wasn’t on my radar at the time. He pushed me and helped turn the song into what it is today. I will always be infinitely grateful for everything he’s taught me, including the importance of delivering the highest quality possible.

Jorge Fajardo has also played a significant role in my career. We met about four years ago through Andres and he has provided me with advice on marketing my brand and has helped me with posters, booking gigs, and photos. I am deeply grateful for his friendship and support.

Miguel Aviña, the lead of the Latin American band Izcalli based in Denver, has also helped me get my career started in Denver. After moving here three years ago and starting my career in Mexico City, I was scared and didn’t know where to start. Miguel invited me to open for his concert in October 2020 and later invited me to play at Izcalli’s Rock de Mayo festival at Levitt Pavilion. He has been a role model and has helped me get my career started in Denver, even during the pandemic.

I have so many people to thank in my life and in the music industry for the opportunities they have given me. In Denver, the vast majority of the people I have met in the industry have been supportive and want to see their peers succeed. I love that about this city.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verenasmusic/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verena-fuentes-hernandez-a3415b230/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verenafuentesh

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCJXdN6-PdtwCas3DPinmoA?view_as=subscriber

Other: https://linktr.ee/verenasmusic

Image Credits
Eric Salas Jorge Fajardo Daniel Cano Josh Shanks Louis Ochoa Sara Medina