Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Castaño.
Hi Vanessa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
After I was given a solo at age 6 in my school choir my choir teacher encouraged my mom to invest in growing my talent! Ever since then, I have travelled around the US and the world opening for world-class acts such as America’s Got Talent winner “Terry Fator” and American Idol finalist “Melinda Doolittle”. In South Africa, I have performed with Grammy-award winning group “Ladysmith Black Mambazo” and have performed for political galas where former Secretary of State “Condoleezza Rice” has spoken.
After graduating college and pursuing a bread-and-butter career in nursing, I am now investing in my solo music career and am growing as an artist. Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, and Pia Toscano remain to be my biggest artist inspirations!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a very bumpy road to say the least! Since I don’t have any musicians in my family who have successfully pursued a career in music, I have had to learn to navigate this career journey on my own.
Also, I was never sure if I could actually make a decent living in California as a performing artist. Growing up in an upper middleclass social class, I didn’t want the stress of living as a “starving artist”.
I never wanted to sell my soul or compromise my values by performing in sleezy bars/clubs so I went to school to get a bread-and-butter career to support my music career with the hopes of leaving that and having music support me 100%.
The other challenge has also been to find my own voice as an artist. It is so easy to compare yourself to other artists so that has been something I am working on.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I would describe my genre of music as classical crossover… think of Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Adele. I also sing many romantic covers in Spanish/Italian.
What makes me unique is that I can sing fluently in multiple languages including Spanish and Italian.
I am proud that I have performed around the world!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have to first be grateful to God for giving me the talent and the desire to sing!
I have to thank my parents for paying for my music lessons and taking me to them.
My paternal grandmother won a vocal scholarship in college but didn’t go because no one encouraged her or believed in her. However, when she found out that I was pursuing my dream with singing, she championed me on and encouraged me to live out both of our dreams. She was a very gifted singer and sang in the church choir until she passed at age 96.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @vanessacastanomusic
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@vanessacastanomusic?si=2Nhj6xBtofv_dOmz
