Gina Chavez – She Persisted

By starrymag | April 16, 2020

By: Courtney Groom

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) Pure mashup. [laughs] I like to call it “Latin soul-pop,” but we’ve got something for everyone.

 

Q) What was the inspiration behind your song “She Persisted?”

 

A) I wrote this song two days after Mitch McConnell silenced Elizabeth Warren on the Senate floor. By then “Nevertheless, She Persisted” had become a worldwide hashtag because, well, it’s exactly what women do. We persist.

 

Q) The song is very catchy even after one listen. Was that your intention from the start when writing and creating this song?

 

A) Hell yeah! I’ve been to a lot of rallies at the Texas capitol and, let’s be real, the songs they sing are golden oldies. They’re great, but outdated. We need new anthems, new rallying cries that people young and old can get behind, whether it’s in a nightclub or marching in the streets.

 

Q) How does this single show how you have grown as an artist?

 

A) “She Persisted” is one of the first co-writes I’ve done. There’s an organization here in Austin called The House of Songs that connects local musicians with those from other countries. I was paired with Jens Thörnevall, an awesome songwriter from Sweden, and pitched him the idea for “She Persisted.” Together, we brought it to life. A film crew caught our creation process on camera if you wanna see it in action!

 

Q) What is your creative process like?

 

A) I love rhythms. Typically, my songs start with a sound, a groove, a vibe and then that informs the lyrics. Often, I sing in gibberish until actual words take form. But on occasion I’ll start with a lyrical idea, a melody or a topic. Mostly it’s just me, a guitar and my laptop spending lots of time together!

 

Q) What were any challenges you faced when writing and recording the track?

 

A) “Nevertheless, she persisted” is a pretty odd phrase. It’s not particularly musical or catchy, so trying to turn it into a musical anthem was the first hurdle. I continued to mess with the lyrics for months after our co-writing session and then the song continued to morph and grow as we got it ready for live performance and the studio. I’m so glad to finally have it out for people to jam, especially in this time when our world needs hope and change!

 

Q) What is your favorite line/lyric from “She Persisted” and why in particular does that line stand out for you the most?

 

A) “Dress up the devil in red, white and blue.” I may have written that line with a particular person in mind (wink wink), but I think the best lyrics paint a powerful picture while leaving space for the listener to fill in their own experience.

 

Q) What do you want your fans and listeners to take away when listening to “She Persisted?”

 

A) I want this to be an anthem for women everywhere. It’s our song! History has told us to sit down, shut up and do what’s asked of us. But even when women’s voices are silenced, we find ways to build each other up, to raise entire nations AND fight for more, for better. The louder we get, the better the world. We are persistent!

 

Q) How important is it for you as an artist to have released a female empowerment song, especially in today’s world when we have things such as the #MeToo movement happening?

 

A) Representation is indeed everything. We NEED more songs about women, for women, by women. Just as we need more songs that celebrate love in all its forms. Our world is beautiful because of its diversity and music is an incredible way to celebrate that. My next single, “Ella,” is the Spanish language sister song to “She Persisted.” It honors the Latina experience of persistence in machista societies and that same need to get loud.

 

Q) The music industry has changed a lot over the years – with now online streaming services. Would you say it makes it easier or harder for you to get your music out there for people from around the world to listen to since you began your career?

 

A) Technology definitely makes it easier to connect with people all across the globe. That said, we are now experiencing a time where everyone is online in unprecedented ways, which makes it even harder to rise above the noise and stand out. The great thing is that we all have a unique story and a unique sphere of influence. Just like songwriting, no one can write the song in your head just as no one can reach the exact audience that you can. My band and I have toured the world and now have a fanbase that reaches from Texas to Connecticut, Mexico to Argentina, Jordan to Uzbekistan, Japan to Oregon and back. Amazing!

 

Q) Who are some artists you are inspired by and look up to?

 

A) Mexico’s Natalia Lafourcade is truly one of the great voices of our times. Ile and Ximena Sarinana are also killing it and I can’t get enough of Brandi Carlile. And the epic voice and legacy of Mercedes Sosa (who inspired me to start singing in Spanish when I lived in Argentina) continues to call me to action both on and off the stage.

 

Q) What else can fans expect from you for the rest of 2020?

 

A) A new album! My new record, LA QUE MANDA, drops this May! It’s the story of a woman coming into her power. Look out for the next single, “Ella,” on April 17. It’s the Spanish-language cousin to “She Persisted.”

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of you and your music?

 

A) Thank you, mi gente, for your incredible support! Your listens, shares and donations — especially at this time of quarantine when we are not able to perform for you in person — are keeping us afloat. Thank you for social distancing to keep your communities safe and HUGE THANKS to all of you on the frontlines. We could not do this without you!