Isabel Valencia shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Isabel , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Playing and writing music. When I get in the zone, hours disappear; it’s like slipping into a state of meditation. Creating forces me to dig deep, to listen to what my heart is trying to say, and to trust it completely. That’s where I lose track of time… and where I always find myself again.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Isabel Valencia, a Colombian artist, producer, and the lead behind WONDERFOX, an indie rock project based in Los Angeles. WONDERFOX was born from a need to turn all my existential questions into sound. songs that explore awareness, emotion, and the ways we heal and connect through music. Over the years, it’s evolved into a space where vulnerability meets strength.
I recently released “De la nostalgia y otros placeres” (translated as “Of Nostalgia and other pleasures”), the third album, which is a sonic journal about learning to embrace what hurts, what moves us, and everything in between. I’m hoping each song feels like a place to be understood, to accompany whoever listens to it, or like a hug.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I think a part of my childhood broke at some point, and when I thought I could do it all, I suddenly became overwhelmed with insecurities. They’ve stayed with me for too many years, but I’ve been working to plant a new belief; that I can do what I set my mind to, that I deserve success, and that I am enough.
Those insecurities once served me by pushing me to work harder, to stay disciplined, and to keep going despite fear. But now, I’m ready to release them and live fully; with the awareness that the door to those darker places will always exist behind me, reminding me that the work of healing is continuous.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been many times when I thought about giving up, but the hardest one was around 2014. I fell into a deep depression and decided to quit music to take care of myself, but it only made things worse. It was like stopping the water to a plant; I started to wither. I truly felt like a part of me was dying.
Then one day, I picked up my guitar again, and songs just started pouring out. Those songs became my first album, “Como entrar y salir de un laberinto” (“How to Enter and Exit a Labyrinth”). That album reminded me why I need music—not for the likes, the numbers, or the streams, but because it gives me purpose, because I love music.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie in the music industry is believing that online numbers always translate into a real audience. Streams and followers can be inflated by bots or bad practices, and many artists don’t even realize how they got there. It creates a bubble where people start to think an act is bigger than it actually is, losing touch with what really matters; connection, authenticity, and the live experience.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I know I’ve given my best, with whatever I had, wherever I was. There’s a quiet kind of freedom in knowing you showed up fully, even if things weren’t perfect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wonderfoxmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wonderfoxmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wonderfoxmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7sFshR11rkncDooXb07MEg
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/wonderfoxmusic
Image Credits
Daniel Felipe Puerta
