It’s no straightforward feat to be as fearless and uncompromising as Villano Antillano. But for considered one of Latin rap’s first transgender artists, it’s a necessity.
Villano has been carving out a path for herself and different queer artists in Latin rap, making music that brings her difficult, uncooked, unfiltered experiences to the forefront in a time when queer folks nonetheless face a lot adversity. And now, she’s additionally considered one of Spotify’s first GLOW artists.
Spotify GLOW is a brand new world music program celebrating and amplifying LGBTQIA+ artists and creators. It’s our newest initiative by way of our Creator Equity Fund to help folks of this traditionally marginalized neighborhood of voices and reassert our dedication to fairness in audio. It ensures that queer creators, and their contributions to music and tradition, are heard and honored year-round.
Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Villano generated early buzz with hard-hitting tracks corresponding to “Pajara,” “Culo,” and “Muñeca”—the final of which was recorded with non-binary rapper Ana Macho.
In 2021, Villano loved viral success with the discharge of her single “Vendetta,” and went on to be on Bizarrap’s “Bzrp Music Session, Vol. 51.” This previous December, she was a featured artist for Spotify RADAR US, and on the 2022 Latin American Music Conference, Villano was named considered one of its 2022 Wonder Women of Latin Music. She closed final 12 months with the discharge of her debut album, La Sustancia X, a venture that embodies the wonder and horror of rising up queer within the Caribbean.
For the Record sat down with Villano to speak about her music, her life as a trans lady, and what makes her GLOW.
Can you inform us just a little about your journey into music?
It’s been a protracted improvement. As a trans lady and a queer particular person, I didn’t actually have entry to this world till I paved my approach into it. I used to be simply within the trenches for the longest time, so I really feel like my probabilities for alternatives have been possibly decrease than they might have been for those who aren’t queer as a result of we’re simply shunned out of all these locations. So, now I really feel like I can truly get issues like folks on demand, or a workforce and assets, and I’m simply getting freaky with it now as a result of I’m way more snug. But it took me some time.
Growing up, did you may have any queer artists who influenced you?
No, as a result of they didn’t exist within the public lens. We now know the story of Cristina “La Veneno,” who undoubtedly modified the trajectory of my life when I discovered her on YouTube. But in any other case, I’ve very, very foggy reminiscences of some barely well-known trans ladies who have been public figures as a result of they have been so sexed up. I keep in mind studying about them within the newspaper typically, however it was by no means handled with respect and dignity. There was no approach they may have simply been something however a mockery on tv and radio over right here.
I might say, nonetheless, there have been cis-het females who went above and past as a result of they actually f*cked with the queer neighborhood and the queer public. Those two could be artists like Iris Chacon, who was the pillar of every part aesthetic and considered one of my greatest references. I really feel like she’s considered one of Puerto Rico’s greatest artists. And Ivy Queen, in fact, as a result of I really feel like she actually took it upon herself to present the neighborhood area inside her crowd and her music.
How is music used to empower queer communities?
I really feel that artwork is a mirror of society. Since the arrival of civilization, music has all the time been current, and it’s tied to the artwork of storytelling and the way tradition is saved alive by way of custom. So, I really feel like these issues are of very elementary significance to humanity.
Music can also be a mirror of our personal experiences. I make music that makes me and different queer folks really feel empowered, and I created that feeling for myself as a result of I wanted it. I really feel like we [the queer community] are a really empowered collective globally proper now and we’re rising. Regardless of no matter is occurring, we’re forcing folks to take us under consideration. We’re right here and also you’re going to should cope with it. I’m glad we’re shifting so far-off from the patriarchy as a result of it was about time!
What makes you GLOW?
Wow. Loads of issues. You know, I really feel like I take pleasure and discover magnificence within the little, abnormal issues and in being at some extent in my life the place I can take a step again. Before I had entry to this life and earlier than I used to be a cemented and totally realized determine, I used to be only a poor lady from Bayamón attempting to remain alive. I didn’t even have entry to the minimal and restricted assets now we have right here. So the ability for me to acquire these items makes me GLOW. My neighborhood makes me GLOW, my pals make me GLOW, and the truth that I can provide them a life that we by no means thought we might obtain earlier than makes me GLOW.
If you had one factor you’d need listeners to remove out of your music, what wouldn’t it be?
Fearlessness. I’m very into sci-fi and am studying the Dune novels, and I actually simply come again to that “fear is the mind killer” line. Because concern is the thoughts killer, and no one ought to have the ability to make me really feel concern as a result of no one holds absolute energy over me, you realize? And I really feel like I talk that fearlessness into my music.
I really feel just like the life expectancy for trans folks, particularly trans ladies in keeping with the examine, is round 35 years previous. I’m 27. How, or why, would I let that restrict me? It’s a truth none of us can escape, so I really feel like, in a approach, it’s what you do with that data. And what I’m going to do just isn’t purchase into this concept or narrative that there’s one thing unsuitable with me or that I’m f*cked up or inaccurate.
I really feel like as a trans one who has medically and socially transitioned, nothing has gotten me nearer to my consciousness than the truth that I’ve truly needed to really feel my existence from all spectrums doable. And that’s no small feat; that solely provides you energy. The indisputable fact that I did that and I do know precisely what I appeared like when my physique was stuffed with testosterone and I do know what it appears to be like like now, three years into estrogen . . . every part I’m seeing, feeling . . . every part modifications.
You can’t inform me that’s not energy.
Listen to Villano on our flagship GLOW playlist: