Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Estani Frizzell

What is your earliest memory connected to music? 

My earliest memory had to be attending one of my grandmother’s shows at a club called La Sirena. I must’ve been about 2 years old from what my mom tells me. I clearly remember wearing my favorite polka dot dress with ruffles and dancing (spinning) from one side of the dance floor to the other. 

How did your passion for creating music begin? 

I’ve always been a writer as well as being heavily involved in performance arts. I began dancing Ballet Folklorico at 7 yrs old, and I remember the feeling of seeing the live mariachi accompanying us with their singers. I always thought the sound and passion within that style of music was so captivating. Then, when LInda Ronstadt’s album Canciones de mi Padre came out, I knew I wanted to create music. 

What’s the story behind your current music project? 

My latest album, Tú De Mi Te Acordarás, pays homage to my grandmother, who was a Bolero/Conjunto singer in the 60’s and 70’s. I found two 45’s upon moving back to TX and then found more of her music on an archived website. I decided to rerecord her music with her blessing and reimagine her sound and Conjunto music. 

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before? 

My sound is an eclectic array of Latin Genres spanning from Tejano and Salsa to cumbia and latin jazz. I embrace it all. 

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music? There are no rules and there is never only “one” lane to stay in when making music. 

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process? A piano, pen, paper and voice memos! I am definitely a top liner when I create my 

music. 

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now? 

I am really loving Lianne La Havas again, especially her song Midnight. 

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision? I grew up in the arts, attending Folklorico and Flamenco dance classes almost everyday 

for years as a child well into my late teens as well as performing in various school musicals. That really shaped me unknowingly. As I got older, writing became a major outlet for me. I excelled in English in school and, because I loved writing stories, the next step seemed natural to try my hand at combining music, performance, and writing.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work? My biggest hope is for listeners to feel what I’m saying and understand the emotions 

behind the words. There are messages of hope, resilience, quiet fortitude and strength in my songs. I’m always hoping someone is inspired by those msgs and feels there is a person out there that relates and can articulate, through song, exactly what they’ve been feeling to provide comfort and/or strength. 

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far? 

The music business is not for the faint of heart. Music is a passion that is deep within your soul. No matter how many highs or significant lows, despite all the inconsistency, all the work, struggle, and heartbreak for your passion, you can’t imagine your life without it. If you don’t feel like that for music, then it’s going to make you jaded, bitter, and resentful because it is a very difficult road, but one that is sooo rewarding when the wins do find you. Moreso, you have to find the wins within the creation and the way you make others feel with what you put out there. Even if it’s one person, you have to feel the difference and keep going. 

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at? 

I saw Eva Ayllon, a very well known Peruvian singer, perform at Royce Hall in Los Angeles many years ago. It had a deep effect on me. After seeing her performance at that venue, that is one of my dream venues (as well as Royal Albert Hall). 

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why? My dream collaboration would be with Los Panchos, a famous 60’s trio group from 

Mexico. They wrote and recorded some of the most beautiful songs and their work is timeless. You don’t have to speak Spanish to feel their words or their sound. 

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links) My handle is Estani Frizzell across all social media platforms and Estani on digital music 

platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, etc… 

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey? 

My dream for the next chapter is to have completed my documentary with a scored soundtrack. I am so excited for what’s to come with this documentary and I can’t wait to share the music behind it. It’s in the works right now! 

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way? I hope that listeners will recognize that, even though I write and record in different 

genres (primarily Latin), that the throughline remains obvious…me. Everything I write

and record, regardless of the genre, I feel an authentic connection with and I can only hope that emanates through my music.