"We're doing what we want to do more than anything in the world, and we're doing it together," says Soluna's Jessica Castellanos. "We share this incredible dynamic: We're friends first, and all the hard work and success of this past year has made us even stronger as a group. We're in it for the long haul."
To be sure, the four young women of Soluna have shared some thrilling experiences since the release of their debut album, For All Time (DreamWorks Records), in May of 2002. The title track off the album rose to the Top 20 of Billboard's Top 40 Mainstream chart and hit the Top 30 of the Adult Contemporary list as well. ("For All Time" was released in English and Spanish - "Por La Eternidad" - as was the video, with both versions directed by Bille Woodruff).
"Monday Mi Amor" serves as the disc's second radio offering. "That song has a really great Spanish vibe to it," notes Aurora Rodriguez, who along with T Lopez and America Olivo rounds out the vocal quartet. "It was remixed by Ozomatli, who have an inherent talent for combining dance music with salsa rhythms. We love mixing cultures together and having fun - that's what Soluna is all about!"
Perhaps even more exciting than landing on the charts, however, was touring the U.S. with the likes of Marc Anthony and Enrique Iglesias (sharing the stages of tremendous venues like Madison Square Garden) and appearing at such vaunted events as the NAACP Image Awards and Sir Elton John's 10th annual Oscar gala.
And as if that weren't enough, in November of 2002, Soluna announced that they would be developing their own sitcom. The UPN series will be based loosely on their adventures in the music industry, with plenty of performances peppering the show's episodes.
Even with stars in their eyes, however, the girls of Soluna like nothing better than to roll up their sleeves and get down to the business of promoting their music.
"Our days begin at dawn and go very late," confirms America (pronounced Ah-mah-REE-kuh). When pressed for details, she says: "On our recent trip to Puerto Rico, we did 54 interviews in five days - TV, radio, press conferences - and photo shoots. We would literally run from one interview to another. One time Aurora didn't quite make it into a TV studio in time and they had to film her with a separate camera outside! But by the time we left, it seemed like everyone on the island knew who we were and welcomed us. It was phenomenal."
"Our schedule isn't much less hectic here," T admits. "There's sound check and press and traveling. Somewhere in there we find time to do our makeup and do photos and juggle the phone interviews. At the end of the day, we have a show and then it starts all over again!"
Jessica, T, America and Aurora have played soccer in dresses and high heels, tackled rock climbing despite a fear of heights and gladly burst into a cappella song at the barest request, all in the name of supporting their work. It's their ability to break into airtight, four-part harmony at the drop of a hat that ultimately sets them apart from most of their peers. To those who've heard them do this, it's no surprise that while recording For All Time, Soluna did not need to rely on any of the high-tech equipment used today to enhance and correct singers' vocals.
"When the four of us are singing and we're totally locked in harmony, the experience is a high in itself," says America. "It's a great feeling to be wrapped in harmony like that." T recalls: "When I first joined the group, I would be singing with the girls and holding the notes, but I really just wanted to stop and listen. Their voices are so beautiful, and I'd never heard more than two people harmonize live like that - right in front of me."
The singers' prodigious skills have been witnessed in the leanest and meanest settings, with no accompaniment or amplification whatsoever: in conference rooms, hotel lobbies, elevators, ladies rooms, living rooms, restaurants, hallways and "on speaker" during many a casual phone call. But Soluna have also sung The National Anthem at NBA Playoff games and at NASCAR's Winston Cup - with 120,000 people in attendance and 20 million televised viewers watching at home. Still, whether for an audience of one or a million and one, it's all in a day's work for the four performers.
Part of their determination comes from supportive families. All find strength in their close-knit clans, who've encouraged them in their goals since they were children. But it's no secret how much the members of Soluna love what they do and how much that sustains them. "We feel lucky to call this our job," Aurora affirms. "Every day is an adventure for us. It's a dream come true." (Asked how they keep their energy level up in the face of near-constant sleep deprivation, America quips: "Starbucks!")
Indeed, Soluna are living out the American Dream as envisioned by their parents and countless others who left their homelands to seek opportunity in the U.S.
"We were all born and raised in the United States," Jessica explains, "but in addition to being American, we are Chilean, Colombian, Mexican and Puerto Rican, among other things. When you put all that culture together in music and mix it up, you get a very special sound."
Says Aurora: "We're just like the millions of other people in the U.S. who want to celebrate their ethnic cultures - even though they're Americans and they celebrate that culture, too. Remembering where you come from is a powerful thing, and both American and Latin audiences have embraced our biculturalism. We hope we're contributing to some broken boundaries!"
As they are united in this outlook, so, too, are the singers bound by a life steeped in music. Each enjoyed a musical childhood, then followed her own particular path to becoming an artist.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Aurora studied voice at The California Institute Of The Arts (CalArts), later transferring to UCLA to pursue a degree in musicology. She met America, a native of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, in the CalArts Latin jazz ensemble.
After two years at CalArts, America left California for New York, where she trained in opera and musical theater and graduated from The Juilliard School. She and Aurora nonetheless remained close across the miles.
A mutual friend introduced America and Aurora to Jessica, who grew up in Garden Grove, Calif., listening raptly to her father's Colombian cumbias, as well as Aretha Franklin, Madonna and The Carpenters.
The trio of personalities and voices gelled immediately. "Doors were opening almost magically," attests America, "but we all felt we needed a fourth member. It was kismet, because as soon as we started to look, we found T."
T tells the story: "My dad was managing an auto body shop. One day this producer stopped in to get some work done. He saw my picture on my dad's desk and my dad told him I sang, so the producer said I should give him a call. I called him, and I sang 'Amazing Grace' over the phone. When I was done, he gave me Jessica's number and that was that!"
T (who was raised in Ontario, Calif.) turned out to be a natural fit. Jessica says her "airy, mysterious" voice was a perfect complement to the group's sonic identity. "I grew up singing gospel in church with my mom and Mariachi at home with my grandpa," Lopez says of her background.
Their lineup thus completed, Soluna began working on For All Time. The process enabled them to extend their creativity to songwriting: Five cuts on the disc were co-written and co-arranged by the group.
For All Time showcases the girls' vocal and emotional range with tender ballads ("For All Time," "I'll Be Waiting," "Luna Mia," "Spanish Lullaby") and percolating dance songs ("Monday Mi Amor," "Bring It To Me," "Don't Want To Live My Life," "Hey You").
In addition to Ozomatli's contributions on "Monday Mi Amor" and "Luna Mia," For All Time was produced by Steve Morales (Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Jon Secada); Tim & Bob (Sisqo, TLC, 112); Josh & Brian (Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys); Thunderpuss 2000 (Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Whitney Houston) and Tim Miner (Al Green, Steve Perry, Paula Abdul).
As soon as the record was finished, the foursome hit the ground running, and their always-on-the-go efforts to promote it have created countless Soluna devotees.
"Anywhere we go in the world there's always a group of fans waiting for us!" America marvels. "It's so cool, and it makes us so proud. On the Enrique tour, they were there at every single stop with signs and gifts. Some fans even helped us play a prank on Enrique." The girls gleefully recall how they festooned Iglesias' dressing room with oversized underwear, balloons, streamers and shaving cream. They couldn't believe it when he was spotted wearing the underwear onstage at the subsequent show.
Soluna also forged a deep bond with Marc Anthony, who presented them with diamond necklaces upon the conclusion of their tour together. "We were so happy to be a part of his family on the road," T says. "And the necklaces were such an incredible and generous surprise - we were, like, 'No way!' when he gave them to us, just in a state of shock. Both Marc and Enrique are the nicest people, and we learned so much from them."
This sort of attention could easily turn a girl's head. But, says Jessica: "We keep our feet on the ground. We make sure not to spend all our time with people in the business - that's our reality check. And we're very close to our families and God and to our communities. We want to give back to people."
The group has already demonstrated their commitment to community by performing on behalf of Holiday Of The Heart (benefiting Heart Of Los Angeles Youth), RADD (Recording Artists, Actors & Athletes Against Drunk Driving), The MacLaren Children's Foundation, Streetstock (proceeds from which combat hunger and homelessness) and the Expedition-Inspiration Take-A-Hike Breast Cancer Foundation. (Elton John's yearly Academy Awards shindig helps fund The Elton John AIDS Foundation.)
The members of Soluna give themselves to these events as wholeheartedly as they do their music, their families, their fans and each other. It adds up to a crazy life that keeps them away from home more than they'd like. But they wouldn't have it any other way.
"The harder you work, the bigger the payoff," America says. "I wouldn't trade it for a second, or take anything less. Sometimes I feel like we're fans who got backstage passes by accident - and someday someone's going to realize it and take them back!"
.:: From the Offical Website: Solunagirls.com ::.
