Giselle Torres

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Young Mexican-American singer, writer, and songwriter Giselle Torres, well known among the 2.3 million followers of her YouTube channel for the freshness of her songs, and whom thousands listened to on X Factor (US) in 2013, will release her new single Fin del Mundo (End of the World) on October 9.

Interview conducted on October 27, 2020

Fin del Mundo is a pop song with touches of reggaeton that talks about having the courage to love in these days of terrible uncertainty: “What if it was the end of the world…Would you dare to be with me?”

What is your upbringing?

My Dad is from New York and my mom is Mexican so I grew up in a Mexican-American household.

How did you discover music?

I started doing musical theatre when I was 2 years old because my mom has a musical theatre company in Florida, so I basically grew up on a stage!

How did you start to write music?

Writing has always been a part of me since I was 8 years old but I began doing it professionally when I was 13. It all usually starts from some sort of inspiration or experience I go through which then inspires me to write about it. It could be anything, a breakup, a crush, friends, family, really whatever motivates me at the moment to write about.

How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?

I got my first guitar at around 12 years old and it’s actually the same one I use today! I got it because I used to play around and write music for fun as a kid, and I remember I had made my own homemade guitar made from a shoebox and rubber bands until one day my mom was like “we gotta get you a real guitar.” Hahaha.

What was your first performance at like?

I did musical theatre so I wanna say my first performance was probably playing “Chip” in Beauty and the Beast. I don’t really remember much of it because I was so young!

How was the X Factor? You finish in the Top 6. Did you think that would happen?

No I didn’t! I had just turned 11, but this was where it all started for me. We never thought anything would come out of it, just that it would be a cool experience, but it ended up being an incredible memory.

Do you feel that shows like The Voice, American Idol and X Factor are a good thing for young performers?

Yes I do! I feel like this was where I grew as an artist the most. Yes, I was still very young but I learned so much. From being this shy little girl to being thrown into this high stake pressure and interviews, and all these glitz and glam costumes and makeup, it was a change of scene for sure. I remember coming back home from the live shows once the show was over, and my family telling me that I had grown up so much even though it had only been a month since I had left. And I think they were right, being on a show like the X-Factor gives you certain experiences and gives you a taste of how this industry actually is, that stay with you forever. I was lucky to have learned so much at that age, but I think the best part about it was coming back home and going back to still being that regular girl but now having so much more knowledge than before.

What makes a good songwriter?

I think every songwriter is different which is what is so amazing about them because they each tell their own stories. But I think the most important thing to me is keeping it real and authentic. To write from the heart, whether it comes from a place of truth and experience or its imaginary, but to communicate it in a way in which people can connect to it emotionally and want to replay it over and over again to relive that “story” in their head. I think of songwriters as storytellers, and the listeners as the readers.

Why did you start your YouTube Channel?

My mom actually started my YouTube channel because I was 9 years old at the time and truthfully we started doing it for fun. My mom bought a small camcorder and got my two friends and me and we shot a music video on the beach. I started discovering this passion for pop music and this whole idea of being able to share it with the world at the click of a button that completely fascinated me.

What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?

The title of the first original song I wrote and released was “Breaking Apart” and I recorded it at Peer Music Studios in Miami, FL.

Are you going to make a new video for your birthday every year?

Yes! I make a song for every birthday. I don’t necessarily know when I will stop doing it…. but I think It’s a nice memory to have to look back on.

Was Havana film in Cuba?

It was not! It was shot in Little Havana in Miami, FL.

How was it to perform in front of Pope Francis in Mexico?

It was an amazing and surreal experience. It was the first time I had ever performed for such an immense crowd (250k people) and I was 14 at the time, so it was definitely nerve-wracking but one of the highlights of my life for sure.

How do you pick covers for your YouTube channels?

I usually see which songs are trending or which songs my favorite artists have released and pick out of there.

Tell me about your new single “Fin del Mundo”? Which was going to release on September 24th. And now it has been moved to October 9th. Why was the release date moved back?

“Fin Del Mundo” translated to English means “End Of the World”. And I wrote this song back In February when things felt very uncertain and I feel like this year has brought us a lot of obstacles and challenges but it has also shown us to be grateful for each moment and spend time with those we love. “Fin Del Mundo” is about spending your last day on earth with the person you love most. I’m asking the listener “What if?” Would you spend your last day with them or would you be too scared to confess what you’re feeling?
The song was actually never moved back! We had always planned to release it sometime in October since this video is one of the most complex ones I’ve ever shot because it involves a lot of visual effects and a lot of people working on it behind the scenes so we wanted to make sure that it’d be ready and not rushed.

How do you stay healthy while performing?

If I am doing concerts or performing on stage, it’s a whole lot of vitamin supplements, exercise, hot tea and honey and steaming to keep the voice healthy.

What are you’re feeling about streaming music?

I think it has opened up a whole new opportunity for every artist out there, especially independent artists. Now anyone can release their music to the world without a label and I think that is such an amazing thing.

Digital vs. vinyl?

Digital! Mostly because I don’t have a lot of Vinyl and all my songs are online.

You also do some acting. How was to be Molly on ABC Speechless? Can you tell us any stories about being on the set?

It was a lot of fun! I made some great friends and the whole shoot was a great experience. Most of the stories consist of me sneaking to grab food from crafty in between takes as per usual, haha!

Tell me about your coming film project- Princess Cut 2?

I am actually a part of Princess Cut 2 and 3! They’re part of a trilogy and I play the role of “Ariana Garza”. It’s a funny story because when I auditioned for the role, I was just meant to act in it but later on, they found out I am also a singer so they asked me if I could possibly play guitar and sing something short in one of the scenes, I wrote a song in a few hours and played it for the director and producers and next thing I know, they’re asking me to write three songs for the movie soundtrack and they ended up rewriting a few scenes to add them in!

If you cast you as Maria on a new film version of West Side Story. Would do you it?

Yes, of course, I actually auditioned for the film version when I was 15 years old!

Do you think kids should go back to school?

I think kids should go back when doctors and scientists have proven that it is safe to do so.

What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?

Taylor Swift’s songs from her early albums are always on my mind. The other day I was jamming to “You Belong With Me” and “Love Story” in my kitchen. I think it’s because I really look up to her and her music was what really got me to begin writing at such a young age.

How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?

I think it has definitely affected artists and performers right now considering no one can hold concerts or live performances, so I think that it’s going to take a while until things get back to normal in the future.

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?

I’ve been trying to stay busy! Creating a lot and writing music 🙂

Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?

I’ve actually been cooking a lot! I’ve never really been into it, but lately it’s all I do when I’m bored!

95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?

I think it definitely has and I would probably say Netflix!

Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it may be the end of the music fest for the next couple of years?

I hope not! I don’t think so, but it truly is hard to know. I feel like everything is very uncertain right now.

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