Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorena Isabell.
Lorena Isabell was born in Santiago, Chile on September 18, 1970, and was baptized under the name of Lorena Isabel Guzmán Vargas. From a very young age, Lorena showed a great interest in music, causing her to teach herself guitar that years later she was able to translate to other Latino American string instruments such as the Cuatro and tiple.
As a teenager, during high school and college, she actively participated in numerous singing competitions and concerts performing at folk clubs, schools and neighborhood events. In 1990 she had the opportunity to be part of the academy of the Chilean Folkloric Ballet BAFOCHI introducing her to the purely folkloric world of Chilean music. During this period she was immersed in a cultural environment of social music called new song and new Chilean song that had been brewing since the 1960s. This music gained momentum and increased popularity in the country as well as abroad during the military government from 1973-1988.
Her background in folkloric music fused with classical music and Jazz came about based on the varied musical friendships formed during that period. Early during her internship (1994) at the Productora Providencia (Chile) y DG Medios y Espectáculos (Chile), Lorena worked in the press department where she had the opportunity to work with groups and musicians of national and international renown such as Raúl Di Blasio, Los Pericos, Illapu, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Aerosmith, Rolling Stone, Megadeth, Cindy Lauper, Café Tacuba and Pet Shop Boys among many others.
In late 1994, Lorena traveled to San Diego, CA, USA with her first husband and father of her two daughters. Lorena is very well recognized in the environment of the Latin Bohemian music in San Diego earning the love and admiration of musicians in collaborative projects as well as a loyal following of fans that have been attracted to her emotional and heartfelt performances for the last 25 years. Lorena’s most successful collaborations have been with the debut of the song “Hoy” 18 years ago in a coproduction in Hollywood Mexico of the American movie “The Price of Glory”.
This same song has been newly arranged and produced again in Lorena’s current album release titled HOY. Lorena has resided in San Diego, CA for the past 24 years living with her husband and three children. Images, audio clips and trailer can be downloaded here: https://www.halo-production.com/press-concert-120719
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
You must believe in yourself whether or not you have the support you need. Don’t listen to society; don’t listen to standards because that will stop you and freeze. Listen to your own talent and capacity. Everything in the environment wants to change you. If you believe in yourself, no one can tell what or who to be. Don’t listen to the ego because it lies. The truth is that when you do something that you love, it floats with you, things come. When you deliver something that you love nothing in the world matters, you just do it. Because the only thing for sure is that we will die, and that might be tomorrow. Dwelling in the past or the future isn’t important, it’s what is happening and what you do now that matters.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
My background is what sets me apart being raised within a dictatorship government. Artistic expression, especially against the oppressive government, was forbidden. That experience could either traumatize and destroy that expression or take that experience and create something new in response to the oppression. In my case, I have always had my voice and a guitar to cope with all the years of oppression.
We were the first generation of traumatized people. Many of us became artists because that was the only way we could cope with the situation – the music and lyrics of the songs spoke about the reality of the moment. This experience marked me for the rest of my life. And I can also see how arts can heal people, you can’t wrong with art. It is the pure expression of your soul.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Gnostic teaching, Buddhism, SadhGuru, teachings of Jesus, Autobiography of a Yogi.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lorenaisabell.com, www.halo-production.com
- Email: lorenaisabellmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenaisabellmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LorenaIsabell/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
Image Credit:
Bianca Barreto
Joseph A. Henseler
Felipe Barral
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
