iTemas - Stefani Vara
There’s a good chance you have already witnessed the beauty of Stefani Vara. Modeling everything from Azzure denim to showcasing Southpole, the Mexican-American beauty is no stranger to the glossy pages of most popular magazines. Now, the Houston, Texas native is ready to stun you with her vocals. The ambitious “Latina with a southern swagger”, moved to New York City as a teenager to pursue her dream of singing. Determined to succeed, in a city that can easily break you before it makes you, Stefani’s big break came after meeting with Chauncy Jackson, CEO of Siri Music. Shortly thereafter, the songbird became a member of the Siri team and has been honing her skills while recording her debut album, Storybook Diaries. From her humble hometown to the bright lights of the Big Apple, Stefani Vara is ready for the world to see that she’s not just another pretty face!
As a little girl, was singing something you wanted to pursue
as a career?
I’ve always been singing, but actually I was a
gymnast for half of my life and I started that at a very early age.
I really wanted to be an Olympic gymnast, and this was one of
my passions, but music has of course always been a big part of
my life. My family is really musical, so I’ve been singing all my
life. I sang in the church choir, I’d perform at school for Cinco
de Mayo and other events, and of course at family functions.
You were just a teenager when you moved to NYC, what
catapulted you to making this decision?
Well, I knew that
New York was the “Mecca” of entertainment. I had visited before
and I knew that if I wanted to make it, I had to be in NY
where the opportunities were. I could’ve made it work in Texas
or anywhere really, but I knew that NY would open a path for
me to fulfill what I wanted to do.
Being from Texas, did genres of Texano, Ranchero, or
Country music influence you much?
Yes, of course…my
most favorite genre of music is Texano and Country. I grew up
singing to Selena, and her music was the first I ever performed.
I also grew up singing a lot of Mariachi music.
What other genres influence you?
I love rock, R&B too because
my father used to play a lot of old-school stuff like Marvin
Gaye and Diana Ross. Also, I love Pop. Mariah Carey, Whitney
Houston, and Alicia Keys. Everything has influenced me; I have
an eclectic taste in music.
If you could collaborate with absolutely anyone, who would
you love to work with one day?
Santana! I’d love to do a duet
with Santana. Of course, I’m open to working with anyone. I
want to experience all types of genres.
How involved were you in the creative process of your
debut, Storybook Diaries?
Everything was co-written. The
title comes from a diary that I have been writing since living
in NY. Mostly, about my life and love experiences, so, I’ve had
much input in all of the writing.
So you’ve done some modeling, now you’re singing, can
we expect acting or Broadway in the future?
I’d love to keep
the modeling going. I think musical theater would be a great
thing to do. I love the fact that ULM’s last issue was about In
the Heights and Latinos on Broadway! I’d love to be a part of
[Broadway] one day, but right now I’m just really focused on
my music.
What do you want your listeners to remember from your
debut album?
I want them to love the lyrics and the music.
I want them to get a bit of who I am and what I can bring to
music. I just want them to enjoy it and ultimately walk away
with a piece of me.
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