Joaida Lopez is one of those performers who has that charisma. She makes people want to sit up and take notice. The Havana, Cuban-born Miamian is a singer-songwriter, and performer. She released her first independent single, "Now Take Me," with the follow up "Trapped," getting awards at the De La Voz anad La Cancion Festival in Miami.
This weekend, she's kicking off the release of her new video, a mesmerizing, spectacular bilingual cover of Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It."
miamiartzine.com talks to Joaida Lopez as our Artist's Spotlight.
miamiartzine.com: How did you get started?
Joaida Lopez: At a very early age I began to sing at the church chorus.
miamiartzine.com: Who or what are your influences?
Joaida Lopez: I was inspired by the powerful voice and dynamic personalities of Celia Cruz and Tina Tuner. My musical influence is originally Christian music, but as I grew up I learned about my Cuban music heritage, which more than anything taught me how to feel the music. The different types of music from Benny More to Ms. Cruz to Cuban African and percussion. I learned to feel the music and interpret the music through my voice, whether I was singing a danzon or a guaguanco, I learned how to use the strength and project my voice powerfully.
miamiartzine.com: What inspires your work?
Joaida Lopez: My belief of God-given talent to sing and to bring joy to other trough music.
miamiartzine.com: How does Miami/South Florida influence your work?
Joaida Lopez: Miami is a very diverse city with a lot of music influence of different cultures, which has taught me to sing many different genre like salsa, merengue, cumbia. And, pop, jazz, ballads etc. And even though I am a Cuban America, all these different cultures have defined my personalty and music career. I also enjoy challenging my voice with different vocal ranges. I pride myself with the ability of singing songs from Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and making them my songs with my vocal range.
miamiartzine.com: How would you describe your work?
Joaida Lopez: My work is very unique in the sense that I write different types of songs. In my concert, you'll hear everything from salsa to cumbia to club. I have also included in my repertoire Italian music. I am also in the process of converting my songs to Portuguese. I love to sing in many languages.
miamiartzine.com: What was your “aha” moment where you knew that you had “arrived” as an artist?
Joaida Lopez: After performing on a local TV show and people started to recognizing me in the streets and praising me for my performance.
miamiartzine.com: What has been the most unusual reaction to your work from the public?
Joaida Lopez: When I started seeing people with tears in their eyes. People in the audience would say to me that the songs I sing would bring out incredible emotions, and then tears.
miamiartzine.com: What would you like to achieve as an artist?
Joaida Lopez: As an artist I would like to fulfill the maximum of my potential.
miamiartzine.com: Tell me about wanting to make sure that Miami was the backdrop for your video.
Joaida Lopez: I wanted to show other people where I'm from and how Miami has evolved to a popular cosmopolitan city.
Miamiartzine.com: The cover of the Tina Turner song is very interesting. I like the switch between the two languages. So interesting. Can you talk more about that?
Joaida Lopez: I was raised in a bilingual environment, so going from one language to another is part of my daily routine.
Miamiartzine.com: Is the video getting airplay anywhere?
Joaida Lopez: All social media.
Watch the video here.
Joaida Lopez performs on Saturday, June 24, at Casa Panza, 1620 S.W. 8 St. Miami, FL. 33144.
