Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Meet Michelle Valenzuela: The Country Singer with a Latin Flare

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Michelle Valenzuela is definitely a force to be reckoned with. A unique artist in her own right, she translates the country genre into her own interpretation and makes one of the best sounding music out there.

Michelle Valenzuela, Michelle, Valenzuela, Interview, Latin
via Michelle Valenzuela/Official Website

Here at Country Thang Daily, we got to get to know the singer-songwriter a little more. She got to talk about her process, her influences, and her exciting new album! We can’t wait to see what else Valenzuela brings to the table!

Interviewing Michelle Valenzuela

Country Thang Daily: First off, what interested you in doing country music?

Michelle Valenzuela: They say country music is three chords and the truth and I think there’s power behind telling your story. I started writing songs when I was twelve years old and what drew me to country music were the stories.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3fqqAunuFF/

I was always so intrigued by the honesty in the lyrics and I’ve always been very expressive, even at a young age. When I found out that Dolly Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” and Carole King wrote “Natural Woman,” I knew that’s what I wanted to do when I got older. I became a student of these writers and their songs, and that’s how it all began.

CTD: Who are your biggest influences in music?

MV: My biggest influences in music are The Beatles, The Eagles, CCR, Carole King, Dolly Parton, The Carpenters, and of course Johnny Cash. When I was a kid I was surrounded by music. My family is very musically inclined and they are huge classic rock fans.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ZBgGxHUWd/

My mother is a fan of all the singer-songwriter stuff of the ’70s, which is how I built an ear for songwriting at such a young age. I also grew up singing in the church, so gospel music was a huge influence and I think country music and gospel go hand in hand.

CTD: The Latin flavor in your style certainly sets you apart from traditional country music. What can you say about that?

MV: I grew up in a small town called El Centro, California which is on the outskirts of San Diego but also borders Mexico. We had the small town country vibe but since we were so close to the border we had the traditional Mexican influence as well.

I love adding bits of Latin flavor to my songs wherever I can, while still staying true to the country music genre. I recently released a bilingual cover video of Folsom Prison Blues, and it received over sixteen thousand views overnight on Facebook alone.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B19Bk2nnLka/

We were so surprised, but I think what people liked about it is that we are doing something different within the country genre. I just wrote two new songs called “Beso” and “Dos Equis,” which have the same sort of feel as the Johnny Cash cover. They will be released early next year.

CTD: Can you talk a little bit about your process? How do you come up with new songs?

MV: It’s always a different process. Most of the time I’m inspired by love which I think is the strongest human emotion. Sometimes I’m inspired by other people’s stories, nature, books or even television.

For example, one of the hosts of the TV show The Real, Jeannie Mai, went through a terrible divorce and after hearing her story I was inspired to finish the bridge for my song “When A Woman’s Mind is Made Up.”

CTD: Congratulations on releasing your album, by the way! Can you talk a little bit about it?

MV: My album is called Bitter Pill and it’s available on all music platforms. I recently went through a terrible breakup myself and was inspired to write the most honest and raw material I’ve ever written in my career. I had a lot to say and a lot of emotions to get out. Music has always been my therapy and I couldn’t be more proud of what we accomplished. I say we because it takes a village.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1MX5xpBw6i/

It was produced by Steve Ornest at Total Access Recording Studios in Redondo Beach. Some of my favorite bands recorded there– such as No Doubt, Sublime, and Guns N Roses. I was also very lucky to have some of LA’s top session players: Matt Lucich on drums, Matt Denis on bass, Skip Edwards on piano, B3 and Pedal Steel and Steve Ornest on guitar.

We started recording these songs as a passion project and had no idea it would end up getting the attention it did. The lead single “Me and Maybelline” is now in rotation on several FM radio stations throughout California and has been reviewed by some legendary music magazines including Music Connection.

Latest Stories

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together in a bar setting for their duet “A Song to Sing.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton’s “A Song to Sing” Duet Feels Like an Instant Classic

Sometimes country music gives you a line so pure it feels like it’s been here forever, and that’s exactly what Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton just pulled off with “A ...

Blake Shelton and Noah Cyrus standing side by side with microphones, performing their new country duet together.

Noah Cyrus Teams Up With Blake Shelton for New Country Duet and Fans Are Loving It

Sometimes country music needs a little shot of something wild, and Noah Cyrus just poured it straight into Blake Shelton’s glass. It’s not every day you see the Voice coach ...

George Strait performing on stage with his guitar and cowboy hat, pictured at a previous event not related to the upcoming Strait From the Heart benefit concert.

George Strait Will Play “Strait to the Heart” Benefit Concert to Raise Money for Flood Victims

Some kings wear crowns, some kings wear boots, and show up when the water’s rising. George Strait, the King of Country himself, is stepping up once again for the people ...

Blake Shelton smiles on stage with guitar and mic during Vegas show, putting his own spin on George Strait’s classic.

Blake Shelton Nails George Strait Classic With His Own Spin on “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”

Sometimes you don’t mess with a George Strait classic, unless you’re Blake Shelton standing under the Vegas lights with a grin that says you’re about to pay tribute and stir ...

Dolly Parton smiles during Khloé podcast interview, sitting by mic and lamp as she shares why she won't stop sharing faith.

Dolly Parton Says People Tell Her To Stop Talking About Her Faith But She Won’t Listen

If there’s one thing you can count on Dolly Parton for, it’s that she’ll say exactly what’s on her heart and not give a single rhinestone what anyone thinks. In ...

Little Mississippi boy in plaid shirt smiles at mic during preschool graduation where he recited New Testament books and sang a George Strait classic.

4-Year-Old Boy Recites New Testament Books Then Belts Out ‘All My Ex’s Live in Texas’

If there’s ever been a preschool graduation that screams “God bless the South,” this is it. Somewhere in Mississippi, a four-year-old kid just made the entire congregation beam with pride ...

Young George Strait smiling on stage playing guitar in 1987 when “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” hit No. 1 and proved he ran country.

On This Day in 1987, George Strait Hit No. 1 with ‘All My Ex’s Live in Texas’ and Proved He Ran Country

Sometimes a song just cements your throne forever, and for George Strait, it was a little tongue-in-cheek love letter that made every Texan proud to claim him as their king. ...

Scotty McCreery with his wife and both grandmothers, who he revealed passed away hours apart in a heartbreaking double loss.

Scotty McCreery Reveals Both His Grandmothers Died Hours Apart in Heartbreaking Double Loss

You just don’t see some country heartbreaks coming, and this one hit Scotty McCreery straight in the soul. This week, the North Carolina native and Opry favorite shared the gut-wrenching ...

Brooks & Dunn performing on stage together, fitting their story about admitting they struggled to get along for years.

Brooks and Dunn Admit They Struggled to Get Along for Years and Tried to Blow It Real Hard

Country music’s greatest duo was basically a bar fight waiting to happen. When Brooks & Dunn stormed out of the gate with “Brand New Man” in 1991, it looked like ...

LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian smiling outdoors, not taken when she spoke about feeling hated after their affair scandal.

LeAnn Rimes Says So Many Women Hated Her After Affair With Eddie Cibrian and She Felt Like a Target

Ain’t every country ballad pretty, and LeAnn Rimes knows her verse is messy as hell. View this post on Instagram A post shared by leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes) Back in ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.