We interviewed Fabiola Reyna from the band Reyna Tropical she is the singer, guitarist, songwriter and co-producer. With the album ‘Malegria,’ released at the end of March, we caught up with Fabiola, who talks to us about what inspired her to be who she is today and being one of the few out-lesbian guitarists in Mexico.
Tell us a bit about yourself, how did you get into playing the guitar, making music and singing?
I started playing guitar when I was 9. As a single mom, she would place me in as many extra curricular activities as possible so that she could work. Eventually I landed in a music camp where I started to play electric guitar and from there I began to connect with the instrument as my voice, my tool for expression. I enjoy arranging music and songwriting so singing came as a natural evolution to storytelling.
For any of our readers who would like to get into music, what advice would you give to them?
Trust your intuition when you feel the desire to create, sing, write, draw, dance. We hold a lot of resistance to those movements because we don’t see them as productive to the workflow, and therefore prevent us from reaching our creativity. I think the best thing to do is trust yourself, create the time and safe space to experiment with your voice, and then just be in that practice consistently until it begins to feel like a natural part of your every day.
Being one of the few out-lesbian guitarists in Mexico, how have fans and the music industry reacted to that?
I feel very accepted, supported, and loved so far. I think it’s still too early to tell but in general it feels like something that has been desperately needed.
Of course, everyone loves a coming out story! Would you be able to share yours with us?
I was with my first girlfriend when I was 11. We went to the same music camp and ended up in the same band. We instantly fell in love and would sneak around to see each other because after her mom found out we were together, we weren’t allowed to see each other. Our romance lasted, on and off, until I was 18 but I’ll always have a soft spot for her!
If you could use a magic telephone to call yourself at 15 years old what would you say?
I would remind myself to trust myself.
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What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Ask the land for consent.
Talk us through your new album Malegría, what inspired you?
Malegría is the culmination of 4 years worth of experiences so it’s tough to name all of my inspirations via email. I will just say that It’s an album that explores the process of grief—grief for what is happening to this earth, for the trauma, and pain that our ancestors have gone through in the severance of their culture, from their land and from the language, grief of losing a best friend and then how through movement, dance, singing, sensuality, connection, and listening that grief can turn into creation, and rebirth.
When can people see you next perform?
I’ll be going on tour with Portugal The Man in May and will be starting my headline tour in July. For more touring information check this out.
Thanks for chatting to us Reyna, if you want to keep up with everything Reyna is doing check out her instagram @reynatropical.
If you want to hear the new songs from the album check them out here.
Love Team Nonchalant xx
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
