Hello Lizy Bengochea, we are happy to have you today. Tell us about your 2022 so far! What have you been up to?
Hola! Thank you so much for having me! To be honest, I have been writing music for as long as I can remember and 2022 is the year I finally took the leap of faith and started putting it out into the world. Besides furthering my acting, language learning, and all the other totally normal teenager stuff I do haha; 2022 is the year I became a verified Spotify Artist, got over 50,000 streams, started producing my own music, and found out that I received consideration for two Grammy Nominations! I am overall just infinitely grateful for every single person who has listened to my music. Yes, recognition from the Recording Academy is a dream come true; but recognition is not the reason, and will never be the reason, I love making music. I sing because it is what I’m passionate about. It’s what makes me feel complete. It’s what I love to do. So the fact that people are resonating with my art and with me as a performer is a blessing I will never take for granted.
Congratulations on your latest single “Euphoria”, how do you feel about the newfound success, and what inspired you?
I truly have been passionate about singing since I was a tiny little baby. My parents claim that I sang before I spoke, but I don’t know if I believe that! You have no idea how much it means to me that people are listening to my music and connecting with it. Music, for me, has always had this transcendent power. It has the ability to make us understand how we are feeling and communicate with people in a way that nothing else really can. I say that truthful, authentic music will always find its crowd, and I am honored to be that source of comfort for people. My inspiration will always be that need to make music that truly resonates with people; whether that means making someone smile, work through a hard time, breathe, dance… whatever it may be.
How long was this song in the making, and what were your intentions or hopes in terms of what people will take away from it?
“Euphoria” is a song that I care deeply about and have felt in my heart that I needed to sing for a while now. Passionate music has the ability to overcome language barriers and make an impact anywhere in the world. To me, this song is love; it is a reminder of what is important in the world. I know my Korean isn’t perfect, I only started learning a few months ago, but I really did put my heart and soul into “Euphoria”. My hope is that whoever is listening takes the time to live in the moment of the song. In life, it is so easy to get caught up in the stress and craziness of everything and forget about living in the moment. My intention with “Euphoria” is to serve as a reminder that the little moments should always be cherished. I know it’s hard sometimes, but there are so many beautiful, joyful, and incredible things that make life worth living, and we should always remember to enjoy them.
Wow! Everybody is influenced by somebody. Who would you consider some of your biggest influences and how are they influential?
My family. My parents are Cuban immigrants who came to America with absolutely nothing. They went from working multiple jobs and starving every night to getting an education and becoming doctors. I admire them more than I can put into words. The work ethic I have seen from my family has proven to me that it doesn’t matter how difficult something may seem, nothing is impossible if you are passionate enough. Musically I look up to a lot of different artists. Lin Manuel Miranda is a personal hero of mine. Everything he writes is a masterpiece that tells a beautiful, complicated story. As I grow as an artist/human being, my admiration and respect for BTS is something I think about a lot. BTS has set a really positive example for me as a person and a performer. Not only are they incredibly talented artists, but their commitment to hard work and unfaltering passion are unmatched by anyone else in the music industry. I hope that as I continue to progress in my career I keep the humility, kindness, passion, and determination in the same way that BTS has.
How do you deal with writer’s block?
Writer’s block is something that everyone deals with at one point or another. When those moments come, it is important to check in with yourself and remind yourself why it is you do what you do. I find a lot of times writer’s block can come from fear of being vulnerable because, let’s face it, you can’t force authenticity. Putting yourself out there is a scary thing to do, espeecially in music where everything is closely examined under a microscope. However, if you are passionate, driven, and committed, the perfect song will always find its way from your heart to your listeners.
What would be your dream venue or event to perform at?
One day I want to give a free concert where everyone can come together and just enjoy the moment and the music. I love my fans more than anything. They are the reason that I am able to live my dream, so literally any type of performance they want I will do.
What’s a little-known fact about you that might surprise people?
I don’t know! Should I just list a ton? My personality type is INFP, I love animals, I’m really good at Mario-Kart, I know everything there is to know about Marvel superheroes, I cook delicious Arroz con Pollo and Japchae, I want to do every rollercoaster in the world, I spend most of my free time writing music, boxing, doing archery, playing tennis, or painting…. was that too much?
Where can people find you online and your music?
People can find me on Instagram @lizybengochea (https://www.instagram.com/lizybengochea/?hl=en) And my music is streaming on Spotify, Apple, Melon, Pandora, and all major streaming platforms under Lizy Bengochea.
You can also check out my website lizybengochea.com to stay up to date on my new releases!
Is there anything else you’d like to say before we wrap things up? Are there any words for your fans?
Yes! My brand new song written and produced completely by me “Café con Leche” is now streaming on all major platforms! “Café Con Leche” is definitely the most up-beat, pop song I have written so far. It is an absolute party. “Café Con Leche” is the perfect song to listen to while driving in the car, or just anytime you want to dance and be happy. I love and am so proud of my Latin heritage, so to finally make a song that really shows that side of me is super exciting. Thank you again for having me, and to everyone reading this, I truly am grateful for your support and to have you along for the ride. I know that the most beautiful moment is yet to come, and look forward to continuing to share my music with all of you. Lots of love always!
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