Nydia Rojas
Nydia with her beautiful daughters
Nydia Rojas is one of mariachi music’s most talented vocalists and is arguably the most revered. She has fostered a kinship with working mariachi musicians given that Nydia began her career as a young mariachi musician herself. By age 10 she was learning directly from the late Laura Sobrino, and at 13 she was under the direction of Jose Hernandez while a member of Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles. Many have also enjoyed her performances with Mariachi Mujer 2000.
At age 15 she was signed to Arista Records and released her first major solo album the following year. She’s released a total of four albums with the third, Si Me Conocieras, having been nominated for a Latin Grammy. Nydia toured with Vicente Fernandez and Juan Gabriel and performed at the White House during the Clinton presidency. You can hear Nydia and Juan Gabriel’s duets on her album Nydia. I am so happy to be able to connect with her today and share our conversation with you all. She is one of the top vocalists in the genre as well as all the genres. I encourage you to check out her music and be taken by her just as I am. She is a phenomenal singer as well as a kind and gracious person. Below you’ll find my conversation with her. Enjoy.
What is it about mariachi music that attracted you to the genre at such a young age?
I think there are a few things that attracted me to mariachi music as a kid. First, it instilled an overall curiosity in me about my Mexican ancestry – just like many other young adults of Mexican ancestry in this country. Being born in the U.S., it offered a tangible bridge into a real discovery of, and attachment to, a cultural identity. It was a conduit for learning. Another concept I had not seen in many other genres was the mobility and accessibility mariachi musicians have. We can be everywhere and anywhere. We go places, we see people, we accompany their loved ones at funerals, or celebrations, or milestones in life and we play a soundtrack to that particular moment. We entertain, we cry, we laugh, we romanticize, we show heartbreak within a full range of emotions in the context of the music. We make people feel. And we can do that in front of thousands in theatres without missing a beat.
What were your mariachi experiences like and how did they assist in preparing you to dive into the role of solo recording artist in a male dominated genre?
I will be honest with you in saying I never felt I was in a male-dominated genre. Sure, there are more men who participate in the genre, but I had great working relationships with those I was fortunate to work with. I felt respected and considered, and if anything, men never set out to try to dominate me or my music. I probably wouldn’t have let them if they tried. ;) But on the contrary, they helped me grow. I know that perhaps there could be women in the genre that have not had that same experience and I can neither speculate or discern their personal stories and journeys which should also be heard. But to answer your question, I do not see gender. I see musicians. I have learned from both male and female and those who identify with anything in between. In terms of diving into a role of solo recording artists, I had this spirit and performed on my own before I joined any group.
Do you have a favorite album and/or songs you released and why pick those?
The standard answer for an artist is usually to say you love them all. Some do that to ensure you buy all the albums and not just the one the artist is recommending, but I am saying it because of this: there were many people who contributed their time, talent and hard work to make you shine as an artist. These are folks who perhaps are just trying to make a living, but for that moment, they are giving you the best that they have. I would be remiss to pick favorites so as not to devalue their work. These albums are not just about the artist; they are also about the people that make them happen. They are songwriters, producers, engineers, musicians, studio runners, record execs, arrangers, etc. who have invested a lot of their time and creativity for you. I can say, however, that I do enjoy seeing the evolvement of an original composition of mine into something fully arranged. That is an exhilarating feeling.
I am curious if there is anything that you learned from Laura Sobrino that you’d like to share and pass on to future generations
What I learned from Laura was discipline and how to stick to the task at hand. As much as I goofed around as a 13 year old and even up until our last moments working together, she was always a master at letting the funny moment live and re-shift her focus back to getting the job done after we’d wipe our tears from laughing so hard. She kept me in line and was also very protective of me. I miss her and I regret not spending more time with her before she left us.
Are there any female composers or artists you are particularly fond of that you recommend taking a listen to? What is it about their music that touches you so?
I am a fan of Maria Grever’s songs but if we’re talking about contemporary singers, I enjoy listening to female vocalists such Rosa Passos from Brazil, Kim Burrell, Esperanza Spalding, Lauren Desberg, Ella Fitzgerald of course, Gretchen Parlato, Yebba Smith, and many other talented unknown singers you will find nowadays on social media from all over the world. I am a fan of elevated vocal ability. That’s what gets me going. Oh, and Sade. She may be simple in her approach, but, when I feel like feeling things, I put on her music to feel those things. ☺
By Diana Olivares
I’d like to thank Nydia Rojas and all of our followers for your support. Below you’ll find our version of one of Nydia’s songs. You can find her discography on music streaming platforms and follow her on Facebook.
Enjoy our version of Nydia Rojas’s “Cuando Estoy Contigo”
Azul - Guitar
Yasmine - Violin
Diana - Lead voice
Andrea - Solo violin
Dominique - Lower voice harmony and violin