Diandra Interviews Andrea Cruz: How Music Teaches Diversity

Preferring to create music that cannot fit in any space beyond your choice to like it, Andrea Cruz joins a rising generation of new artists that are hesitant to take up a genre. For her music is diversity in itself, and for that reason it should not be seen as a sonic box but as an emotional educator. Through a good song you can learn to be a better person. 

Diandra: What was your first memory with music?

Andrea: I remember when I was a child a teacher asked me to draw who I wanted to be when I grow up, and I drew a woman in a red dress with a microphone. From then on, I began to visualize that there is something more to my connection with music, but no one had tapped into it yet. My mother began to put me in choirs and my teacher, Melissa, told her I was special, and that she should put me in classes. Yet, when I took lessons I could not fully capture the theory of music and the structure. Thus, I went to school to study Globalism and The History of Religion, and when I graduated I decided to go into music and let myself experiment. Three years later, I am here. 

Diandra: How does your studies in religion inspire your music?

Andrea: I think learning about the world and all these other cultures taught me tolerance, and helped me see that just because you do not learn something in school does not mean it is not real. Thus, my studies taught me about diversity, and that is the most important inspiration it has had on my music. 

Diandra: It certainly comes out in how spiritual you make your music and performance feel.

Andrea: Exactly! It was so impactful understanding things from different perspectives, and understanding that everyone is diverse. Humanity is so ancient, and my job, in this time, is to be tolerant of that. We have so much history, and I want to make music that unites us to that. 

Diandra: So you think that mission made you destined to be a folk singer? 

Andrea: I have never embraced being tied to the folk genre because I simply flow in melodies and form and ideas. I do not purposefully go for a specific genre. When it comes to performance, it is a free space. Frankly, I do not know what genre I belong to, but I think, if anything, I can say I am “global music”.

Diandra: Has music made you more spiritual? 

Andrea: Oh, yes! It has taught me so much about myself that I never knew. She has helped me humble myself because music gives you introspection. She tells you what you want, what you need, what can do, what you can’t do.

Diandra: What specifically has music taught you about yourself that you never knew? 

Andrea: To be honest, it taught me I have no shame. (She laughs!) I learned that I am bold and brave. I thought going on stage would scare me, but it was the opposite. I went on and it was like, “If you like me then cool, and if not, oh well!” I just want people to have the opportunity to hear my music, and choose if they like it. I want them to experience me, and have no limits in what they like. We can’t say that only what I like exists because that denies diversity, and the chance for you to see that you can like more.

Diandra: It’s ironic that you take about having no fear because so many artist discuss how hard it is to lose it. Did it take you a lot to lose your fear about being an artist and performer? 

Andrea: No. I came in with such an authenticity over who I am and want to be. I came in with an inner fire over what I wanted to do.

Diandra: In speaking to you, I see someone whom is intelligent and compassionate. How do you protect your heart, when creating these songs/ messages promoting compassion? 

Andrea: It’s hard not to want to be selfish.  Sometimes, you want to really drive a message home, and it hurts the song. You have to let the people take what they take from your music, and not be so eager to mold or give them an interpretation. Sometimes, I have to give into a message I wanted to convey so as to assure that more people can feel connected to the song. I have to be a fountain of thought for you: not myself. I have to be the line you walk to find your own compassion and thoughts. 

Diandra: So you think that music is an educator? 

Andrea: Definitely!  Music is a powerful language. It can influence our moods to the point that hearing a song triggers a past memory of a place. So I understand that, for this reason, we must use music to teach people differently and better. To teach them how to go through love and heartbreak. To teach them how to be friendlier and more compassionate. There is so much music in this world to teach people how to be happy.

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