Check Out Itzel Maritza Jauregui’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Itzel Maritza Jauregui.

Hi Itzel Maritza, 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?
In terms of my current pursuits in theatre, music performance, songwriting, and astrological services, I would say that all my interests are a culmination of childhood and adolescent passions that I’ve been pouring more time and effort into in my adulthood in order to feel more like myself overall. I grew up around live performing arts since my family has mainly been employed through IATSE (local 33) and for me, it was an instant love. I vividly remember my dad picking me up after-school as young as first grade to take me to the Pantages, and I’d rush to finish my homework so I could sneak into the house and watch tech runs and dress rehearsals for the season’s offerings. I didn’t know how, but all I knew was that I wanted that to be my life someday. My family had me in dance companies, choirs, and colorguard/marching band my entire childhood, keeping my love for performing alive and well while I pursued my studies. While my strong suits were always Math and Science (with a Bachelor’s in Chemistry to prove it) I also would find myself gravitating towards behavioral science and human studies of behavior, I think thats what initially sparked my interest in astrological interpretation as a teenager, just wanting to understand any possible influences and rationalization for how people behaved differently. I started offering professional natal chart and transit interpretations using western astrology practices once I finished college and even spent almost 2 years as a reader and astrological advisor for a metaphysical shop in Uptown Whittier. Sadly the business didn’t hold up so I now mainly take private 1:1 clientele and parties by request. Finishing school and closing off various connections and previous chapters of my life also gave me the will and freedom to pour myself back into music. I had initially built a band my senior year of high school which was unfortunately short lived when a close friend who was a part of the group took his own life, and I struggled with my own hospitalization. It took a lot for me to feel the courage and push to go back into music after that, 5 years to be exact. But once I did, I dove in headfirst becoming front man for a local alternative/punk group as well as a collaborative songwriter, key player, bass player, and vocalist for a different alternative funk group which later dissolved due to creative differences. It was these stepping stones that led to one of the endeavors I hold closest to my heart, Silhouettes of Scarlet, meeting Chris, and being one of the principal members of the SOS team and Orchestra. I was originally brought on to simply be a bass player, but as most individuals in grassroots productions do, I had no problem wearing multiple hats and doing everything in my power to ensure our success for our first run, and now we are about to head into our 4th run in collaboration with the Los Angeles Theater Company and Latino Theatre Company, with myself as the Musical Director, one of the songwriters, Producer, and Co-Creative Director. And for the little baby in me that gazed starry eyed from the hidden aisles at various cast and crews, praying that one day this would be my life, being at this point in my career means everything.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As with most artists, I definitely feel that alot of my struggles have been internally. Growing up in a world that questions my role and intentions for simply existing as a queer femme of color descended from Immigrants will do that to you I suppose. Alot of my internal struggles were mainly with perception. On a closer scale, with my family it was the struggle of showing up when I just wanted to escape into myself, the struggle of presenting as little problems as possible so that you don’t inconvenience your family too much (can you tell I’m the oldest), and making sure your family’s hard work pays off through you as much as possible. On a larger scale, its moreso trying to connect with communities when its hard for me to feel like I truly am deserving of belonging. I also struggle with Hashimoto’s that is a chronic illness that drastically affects hormonal balances and energy/bodily discomfort amongst a bunch of other things, so physically I’m usually perpetually uncomfortable. As I mentioned earlier I have dealt with ideation and hospitalization, after that in adulthood I still struggled to understand my own emotional and mental fluctuations while trying to show grace to people who probably didn’t deserve it. I am also a survivor of DV from a relationship during the initial COVID lockdown in 2020 (while I was finishing my Bachelor’s degree), and SA through an ex partner who ended up dating the person I confided in about it! So you can say the road getting here emotionally has been pretty rough, lots of learning to just let my emotions have their space, even if it makes me uneasy. I will say though, I do feel as if alot of the inconvenience and struggle I’ve endured in my life have aided me in helping others and guiding/mediating friends and family and community, so as weird as it is, I view those events as having purpose for those reasons.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Currently I’m serving as Musical Director, Producer, and Co-Creative Director for Silhouettes of Scarlet and we are preparing for our 4th run this time at LATC on December 11th, 2025. I also play under the alias HZEL (hazel) for my solo project where I play with a band. We just performed at the Robert Vargas day event in Boyle Heights and have an upcoming day of the dead show that I’ll have more information on soon! For my music I would say that what I’m always complimented on and praised for are my vocals, particularly my tone. My favorite was an older gentleman at a show telling me that I reminded him of when he went to see Janis Joplin in his youth! I’m probably the most proud of my vocal performances, I do my best to sing with great depth and emotion so that the crowd can feel with me and we can all just be in that collective bubble of emotion. I also do session and gig as a bass player though for other independent artists in the LA area like Isha Salkahar. For my astrological and intuitive services I specialize in natal charts and progressions aka telling my clients what to expect in their alloted time period ahead based upon astrological transits. I also specialize in cleanses in combination with divination or astrological interpretation. I really enjoy catering a service for a clients need/personality!

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
My biggest lessons have definitely been around self preservation and detachment. As somebody who has worked in various environments professionally and creatively, the best rule of thumb in any business is to NOT take any criticism or feedback personally. These are opportunities to grow NOT judgements of character! And on the other end of that conversation, if people are not willing to meet you where you’re at, they are not meant for your path and that’s completely okay! Chris Siders (creator of Silhouettes of Scarlet) is one of my closest friends and mentors and something I remember learning from him was how his artist’s journey has included amazing parts but also parts that are extremely difficult and can lead to internalization and doubt of your own capabilities. And how the best way to get past it is by remembering WHY. Remember WHY you are showing up for yourself, remember WHY you love what you’re pouring into, and remembering WHY you stay the course.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itzajaguar
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Yc8bvFD5s0nG7Uzev7D9I