Today we’d like to introduce you to Lupita Huizar.
Hi Lupita, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hello! My name is Lupita, but you can call me Pita for short. I’ve been singing pretty much all of my life. It’s been my outlet and escapes when some days start looking grim. My whole upbringing, my family has always struggled financially but we always did the best we could with what we had. My parents, both immigrants from Mexico, migrated to the U.S. when they were very young. My father was a musician and had dreams of performing in the limelight, but sacrifices had to be made in order for our family to survive. My parents were never given handouts in this life and worked hard to build the life and family that we have. I knew from a very young age that I needed to work hard in order to make my family proud. I desperately wanted to achieve as many opportunities as I could, whatever crossed my path. From school choirs, plays and acting, to local singing contests, I tried my best to keep busy.
However, once I reached my senior year of high school, tragedy struck and my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. I knew I had to make the sacrifice and stay close after graduation. So I opted out of a university and instead, attended a local community college nearby. To my surprise, this would end up being a blessing in disguise. Thanks to the educators and colleges that came across my path, I wouldn’t have known of the opportunities that lie within the music industry. From there, I would begin gigging professionally as a freelance vocalist, performing all across Southern California. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to not only travel but to perform and work with some of the most amazingly talented, well-known musicians and bands in LA. All the while continuing to work for school districts and becoming involved in the education system in my community. I began to form a love for not only performing and singing but for teaching, engaging and inspiring kids into the arts. However, once the pandemic had hit I had a huge personal revelation. I felt this need to fulfill an incomplete goal I’d put off for so long… to complete my education.
From there, I applied and was accepted into Cal Poly Pomona majoring in the Music Industry Studies program. Since then, I’ve learned so much about the music industry and have had the lucky chance to intern for some amazing publishing, copyright, A&R and management companies and individuals. My life is finally coming together to how I’ve always wanted and aspired it to be. It took a lot of perseverance, patience, tears, life lessons, grief, learning, setbacks, and challenges. There were so many times where I felt at the lowest I could ever possibly be, but I didn’t want to give up. I still absolutely refuse to give up and let life win me, let the obstacles and situations win me. For anyone reading this who feels they’ve hit rock bottom, just know the only way to go now is up! Don’t give up the fight, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to and you have the power to create the life you want to live.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been anything BUT a smooth road! For this interview, I wanted to be super transparent with my readers because often times social media can be deceiving. The reality is, there were many moments in my life where I’ve felt like I had hit rock bottom and it was nearly impossible to crawl out of the hole and give up. I always joke with my friends that It often times feels like I’m being observed of a sort, in a ‘Truman Show’ type of way, because I genuinely feel like there have been constant events in my life of utter disaster for the audience’s sheer entertainment. However, I’ve always held on to this hope that my ancestors and guardians would never leave me to fail. One of the biggest struggles I learned early on in life was dealing with loss. My older sister, Marlene, passed away when I was eight years old. She was born disabled so our whole life revolved around her and her care. So when she passed, it left us in utter shock and it was extremely difficult to move forward.
Though many years have passed, I still see her face vividly in my head and I try my best to honor her memory. I constantly dream about her whenever I’m in anguish or confused of a situation. There have been times of intense financial strain growing up where Christmas gifts and dinner were provided by a food bank. Other moments where both my parents, my brother and I had to share the tiniest 15 foot shack with bunk beds facing the kitchen stove and calling it a home. And some very frightening moments spent visiting hospitals months on end where my family and I were terrified of losing my mother due to illness. These defining moments in my life have made me the person I am today. The road I’ve been traveling on has been bumpy, curvy, with plenty of obstacles blocking the way. But that’s what makes the journey beautiful and worthwhile, I feel I wouldn’t appreciate where I’m at today if it wasn’t for the struggle. Something I’m really trying to take into account this year is the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. The truth is, where you’re now standing is where you once dreamed of being. Trying to be appreciative of where I am and what I have in any situation or any place in life. Ultimately, I thank God for blessing me with my family, my friends, and the strength to get me to this point. Despite what happens do not give up, keep going. Just like the sun, keep moving forward. Avanzando con el sol. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a freelance vocalist, vocal arranger, and voice/piano teacher from the San Gabriel Valley. With 15+ years of teaching/performing under my belt. I also have an extensive knowledge of the music industry in publishing, copyright, management, A&R, with experience in creative and social media management. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to tour throughout Southern California, as well as select states within the U.S. performing alongside multiple cover bands and new emerging artists throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
I’m is currently lead vocals for a Selena tribute band named ‘Selenamos’ playing alongside Gabriel Villa of Chicano Batman. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to also perform alongside many other band such as the likes of Allen G. Orchestra, Nightowl Productions, The Band Smooth Touch, Son Deux, Like Vinyl, Cal Poly Pomona’s Jazz Band, Shaman Cult, and more. Through these experiences, I’ve mastered singing in multiple genres such as Jazz, Top 40, Pop, R&B, Latin Pop, Mariachi, Cumbia, some voiceover experience, and more. I do my absolute best to express exceptional professionalism, talent, and high energy in both lead and background vocal performance every chance I get. I think what defines me from others is my experience in both the performance and business realm.
In the music industry, I have the perspective of the performer, but with the knowledge and education of the business and theoretical aspects. I view my relationship with music as that, a relationship. When you’re in love with someone or something, you’d want to know absolutely everything there is to know about them. That is how I feel about music since I was a child. I not only wanted to know the creative aspect but the notational, business, engineering, marking, licensing, absolutely everything about music. I have a passion for music that continues to burn no matter how many years go by.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory happens to be my earliest childhood memory. I was in the backyard of my old childhood home around the age of 3 or 4. My older brother Ruben was teaching me how to do a front flip (kinda like a summersault) on some old broken plastic playground slide laying in the dirt. Couldn’t have been safe now that I think about it, but that’s what growing up in the 90’s was like. Kids actually being kids, up to no good, getting dirty in the grass. I had the messiest hair, the bottoms of my feet were black because I absolutely refused to wear shoes. A much simpler and innocent time in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pitacanta.squarespace.com
- Instagram: @Pita_Canta
- Linkedin: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/pitacanta
- Youtube: YouTube.com/@pitacanta
Image Credits
Eric Mendoza, @Yurnttt Joey Barretta, @Barrettavisuals
