From a virtually unknown mariachi singer, Deira Barrera Surprising Spanish voice opens Kendrick Lamar’s restaurant and makes international headlines GNX album. “I felt you here/last night/and we started crying,” She sings soulfully at the beginning of “Wacced Out Murals” and appears again in the middle of the song.
Her penetrating, powerful voice resonates on two other songs: “Reincarnated,” a tribute to the late Tupac Shakur, and the closing track, “Gloria,” a collaboration with SZA. The record has spent the past three weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Albums, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and All Genres Billboard 200 charts.
“I didn’t expect this to happen because I didn’t know what to expect,” Barrera said spanish advertising billboard Her appearance on the album has already been reported: In late October, she was invited to sing at Dodger Stadium in tribute to her late friend, Mexican baseball player Fernando Valenzuela. Lamar—”or his team,” she’s not sure—heard her, and they contacted her a few days later.
Everything happened quickly, and interest in the artist grew in ways she could not have imagined before, but Deyra Barrera was no newcomer. Originally from the town of Juárez in the Mexican state of Sonora, the singer came to Los Angeles at the age of 17 and has spent most of her life in the United States. boundary.
“I was the first to enter [the singing competition] college 2010 in Mexico City. diva On Univision,” she shared. “I’m back too voice of mexico Mexico City, 2021, during the pandemic. It’s tough. Like I told you, I’ve been knocking on doors for years.
“It’s a very difficult profession, but, it’s what I love to do. I’ve been making a living from music since I’ve lived here,” she added, detailing the various Mexican locations she has joined Girl bands including Las Adelitas and Mariachi Divas. More than ten years ago, she formed the Corazón de México Quartet, later reduced to the current Trio Corazón, composed of her sister Verónica and Cynthia Reifler Flores. “We party a lot,” Barrera said.
Now that she’s the talk of the town – well beyond Mexican or Latin music – she credits everything she’s experiencing at the moment to her good friend Valenzuela.
“I always joked with him and told him, ‘Oh, take me to sing with the Dodgers,’ and finally when they retired his number in August 2023, he took me,” she explained. “Thanks to that, they called me later [he died] Singing at the memorial service with my friend Julian Torres, another Ranchera music singer who I really admired and the one who always sang in the stadium.
Barrera admits spanish advertising billboard She’s not focusing on rap music so far, and talks about her newfound appreciation for Lamar and his work, her gratitude for the cultural bridges he built by inviting her to his projects, and her own future Plans and prospects.
First of all, how do you feel when you press play and the first thing you hear is your voice on a Kendrick Lamar album?
I got goosebumps. This was a surprise to me. I didn’t expect it because I didn’t know what to expect. Then I got a call rolling stones Magazine, that’s how I discovered it.
And you don’t just sing one song, you sing three songs! What do you know when you record your parts?
I’m not allowed to talk much. The only thing that everyone knew was that I was at a baseball game and they asked me to sing a tribute to Fernando Valenzuela. he [Lamar] There, or his team. Then they contacted me. I went to record it, but I didn’t expect it to be such a big deal. I didn’t expect that.
Did you meet Kendrick in the studio?
Yes, he leaves just as quickly as he came. But it was something magical, like a dream.
Have you spoken to him since his album came out?
No.
Have you ever thought that he might take you with him on his next tour?
Well, I’ve done all my praying. I had it pictured clearly in my mind; whatever happened to me next, just let it be. I spent years looking for opportunities in this music career, throwing in the towel, and picking it up again. So God’s timing is perfect. This is a moment in my life that I never expected – always wanting to work with an artist in my own genre, I never thought I’d be working with the number one American rapper in the world. I mean, rap music! It would take me to do such big things.
Have you listened to rap music before or followed Kendrick Lamar’s career?
No, I don’t listen to much rap music to be honest. Obviously, I knew who he was, he had a lot of hits. Yes, I love music…but I’m 100% Mexican. I always listened to mariachi music, regional Mexican music.
Are you hearing more of Kendrick’s records through this collaboration?
Yes of course. I’ve seen everything he’s done and wow, he’s so great. Everything he’s done – I understand why on this new album, he’s put his stamp of genius on it, like adding my voice as an intro to three of the songs.
Why do you think he did this?
From what I’ve read, he likes to surprise people. But the most important thing is the culture of unity, which is what I appreciate the most. I’m so happy that he loves our music and wants to combine our culture, our music with his.
Did he tell you something about Mexican music?
No, I didn’t speak [about that] Be with him. Just “Hello, thank you, goodbye.” That’s all. But I thank him for that and for bringing us together. I never thought I would have so many fans of rap music now. I mean, I sang a little bit and they told me so many beautiful things and they just flattered me. They said, “What a beautiful sound.” It’s great that we can unite our culture.
It’s exciting to see a female vocalist of Mexican regional music being spotlighted in this way because you’re in the minority in a genre that’s traditionally been dominated by men.
Yes, believe me, I am also very excited to also carry the names of so many women and raise the Mexican flag to represent the many women in our mariachi music. There is so much talent here, so many beautiful voices, and I feel so lucky to have been chosen to be here at this moment.
What did your Trio Corazón bandmates say when they found out?
They couldn’t believe it. I can’t say anything until it comes out. Wow, they are so proud. Now I have to work hard to make the most of this moment and let people know who Deyra Barrera is.
What doors has this experience opened for you so far? Have any record labels contacted you?
We’re working on that, yes. But imagine it was the Anglo-Saxon people, the American people, everyone talking! Sometimes I listen to my own voice in the car [on the radio] They are still talking about it. And then I see reaction videos from people who listen to pure rap music and they’re like, “What? What is this? Yeah, I feel like a lot of doors have opened and that’s why I want to keep working and fighting for my dreams. Whatever life has given me now, what I have been asking God for, He has given to me.
What are your hopes for 2025?
I want to record it.
Do you write your own music?
Unfortunately, this didn’t happen to me. Although the parts I sang for Kendrick were written by me. I have registered the song. why not!
If Kendrick Lamar were in front of you today, what would you say to him?
Thanks. Thank you for respecting our music. for listening. Invite me to listen to this new album. May God bless him and may we be more united. Music is universal. Music unites everything, it unites cultures.
