Life & Work with Calista Del Toro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Calista Del Toro.

Hi Calista, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I performed in my first talent show at four years old, I knew that performing was my passion. So growing up, I did whatever I could to be on stage- talent shows, musicals, and sang the National Anthem at city events. At 15, I started my band, Alone Together, and we were blessed to perform at several popular LA venues (The Troubadour, The Mint, Viper Room, and Whisky A GoGo). After about three years with the band, we decided to go our separate ways, and I started focusing on my solo career.

I started my solo journey in January 2019 when I released my first single, “Intoxicated”. Shortly after, I began working with a talented group of songwriters and producers, Lionchld (Rachael Kennedy, Nathalia Marshall, and Lance Shipp). They wanted to help me discover my sound, so we wrote over 40 songs together until we finally found what best represented me. We released “Nostalgia” in 2020 and since then put out six more singles. My first EP, “Losing My Mind,” comes out on December 2nd and I’m so excited for this project to be out!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When Covid hit, like many people, I struggled with my identity and self-doubt. Live music was gone and not only did I love performing, but I loved going to performances. I was afraid to live music was never coming back and I was trying to figure out who I would be without it. I didn’t know who I was because music had been my whole life. Luckily, I have amazing friends and family who constantly supported me and helped me realize I could continue doing what I love, even if it wasn’t in person for a while.

Recently, I struggled a lot with things that never bothered me before, like body image issues and how others see me. It makes it difficult to be an artist in a time when social media is the primary way to reach your audience. When you don’t really like your own image, it’s hard to constantly put out content and promote yourself. However, once I realized that I just needed to focus on the good things about me, such as my talents- singing, writing, and performing- I remembered why I do this in the first place. Music and sharing it with others brings me true joy. So now I’m just trying to find the right balance between staying true to myself and figuring out how to put that out on social media.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m so excited that my EP, “Losing My Mind”, is finally coming out. The plans for this EP changed a lot within these past couple of months, but we eventually came up with a compilation of songs that I’m very proud of. These songs show my new style of songwriting, which is much more open and honest than my previous singles. By opening up in my lyrics, I’ve been able to write about important topics that can resonate more with people. I wrote one of my songs, “Break”, for a friend who was going through a tough time. I didn’t know how to help him, but I wanted to let him know I was there for him. This song allowed me to perform at such beautiful and powerful community events, such as L.A.U.R.A. and Purple With a Purpose. All I’ve ever wanted was to help people through music and I’m so grateful and happy that I’ve had the chance to do so.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I would say just stay true to who you are and don’t be afraid to try new things. As an introvert, I know it’s not always fun going out to social gatherings, but 90% of the time it’s worth it. Push yourself to talk to others and always trust your initial gut feeling. Make sure to surround yourself with others with similar goals and who ultimately inspire you to do better.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calistadeltoro/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu1hlW6VQMzxQo56KKJrJPw

Image Credits
Cristian Lopez, Enrique De La Rosa, Erik Carmona, Selena Conner, Robert Nunez