AINHOA GG TALKS SAN DIEGO

Behind the Coastline

You are reading an independently published interview-series published and carefully curated by Swedish pop-culture journalist Daniel John. Ever since its start in 2015, the core curiosity remains the same, surfing the creative currents of music, film, fashion and everything else on the pop-radar, catching the waves of

Culture Coast TalksDaniel John

As beautiful as the San Diego sky perhaps might be, being from Barcelona, you are not exactly short on nice weather. So why did you really write a song about San Diego?

Well, 'San Diego' is actually about being scared to let yourself fall for someone. It's about realizing you've been holding yourself back emotionally, and then meeting someone who makes you want to take that risk because they're worth it. The title comes from a very personal place. The person who inspired the song grew up in San Diego, and we visited the city together, naming the song 'San Diego' felt like a subtle way of hinting at who it's about without ever saying it directly. Bringing it to life was really special because I got to relive those emotions while also turning them into something other people could hopefully relate to. Even though the story is personal I think everyone knows what it is like to be afraid of opening your heart.

You were seemingly on stage holding the guitar very early on. Was the draw to be up there playing and singing something you felt from a young age?

Absolutely. Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started singing when I was very young, and I honestly never stopped. Music has always been my way of connecting with people, processing my emotions, and expressing things I sometimes can't put into words otherwise. Performing has always felt natural to me and I genuinely can't imagine my life without music in it.

Connecting to different places, you've always sung in both Spanish and English. Does expressing yourself in one versus the other feel different?

In some ways, yes. I was very lucky to learn English from a young age, so speaking and singing in English feels very natural to me. I grew up listening to music, watching movies, and consuming so much media in English that it became a huge part of how I experience music. That said, Spanish is my first language. It's the language I speak at home with my family, the language I think in, and the language I naturally process my emotions in. Because of that, writing in Spanish often feels a little more instinctive and emotionally raw. I also grew up surrounded by incredible Spanish-language music, so both languages are deeply connected to who I am as an artist. I feel comfortable writing and singing in both, and I love having the freedom to express myself in either one depending on the song.

Where does a song usually start for you. Does life turn into melodies, or does music find a way to tell you something about life you hadn’t consciously set out to express when you started writing?

That's a really good question because my writing process is never exactly the same. Since my main instrument is my voice, songs often begin with a melody. I'll start with a melody line or some humming, and little by little the words begin to appear naturally. Other times, it's a chord progression that sparks an idea, or a writing session with other people where we bounce ideas off each other until something clicks. Sometimes I sit down knowing exactly what I want to write about because I'm trying to process a specific feeling or experience. Other times, I only have a vague idea, and the meaning reveals itself as I'm writing. I think that's one of the things I love most about songwriting, it often teaches me something about myself that I didn't even realize I was feeling.

Writing from a personal space, how important is it that your songs also connect with others?

Authenticity is always my starting point. I want every song to come from a real place because I think people can tell when you're being honest. At the same time, I absolutely hope my music connects with others. The goal is to write about my own experiences in a way that allows someone else to see themselves in them. I think that's the magic of songwriting, something incredibly personal can become something universal. So for me, both things are equally important, staying true to myself while creating music that makes other people feel seen.

A perfect summer chill-out song, what songs are like that for you that catch the summer vibe perfectly?

I love summer music! Right now I'd say 'Superestrella' by Aitana is one of my favorites because it's so fun and youthful and makes me want to dance. 'Inglés En Miami' by Rawayana has that tropical, laid-back energy that instantly feels like summer. And I've also been listening nonstop to 'What's Wrong With Me?' by Olivia Rodrigo featuring Robert Smith. It just came out and I honestly can't get enough of it, that whole album is incredibly well-made and the songwriting and production are amazing.

How is your current skyline looking. Which side of the ocean are you spending summer on?

Right now, I'm finishing my studies at Berklee College of Music. I'm enrolled in the summer semester, so I'm spending the season in Boston on the East Coast of the U.S., right by the Atlantic Ocean. It's a pretty exciting time because I'm balancing finishing school with releasing new music.

This being your first release of the year, what does it leave the door open to for what's next?

I am already writing a lot of new music and I'm hoping to get back into the studio very soon. My dream is for 'San Diego' to be the lead single for what will hopefully become my debut EP, which is still in the works. I'm really excited about what's coming next because I feel like I'm finally starting to define who I am as an artist, and this release is the first step in that direction.