At just 20 years of age, Los Angeles artist QUIÑ has already carved out her own genre of music; something that she calls “Fantasy Soul.” It’s a sound that she first introduced to the world with her debut EP Galactica, which was released in the Fall of last year. She’s been touring ever since with a stint at SXSW, playing a run of stages including the infamous FADER Fort.
Her upcoming sophomore project – Dream Girl – is dropping tomorrow and is sure to push the bombshell singer into the buzzworthy category. In anticipation of the album release, she was kind enough to answer a few questions for us. We talked about when her relationship with music first began, to where she finds inspiration for her songs, to what her dream collaboration would be.
Can you talk a little bit about your relationship with music and the moment you knew you wanted to devote your life to it?
I devoted my life to music the moment I was born and remembered again when I was 19 years old. There was a lot going on and I separated myself from school and everyone who was around me. I spent a lot of time alone and my spirit let me know what the mission was. Once everything else was quiet, I gave myself a chance to listen to myself.
You mentioned in other interviews that your dad and your choir teacher pushed you to sing, but was there a moment that you knew you had something special?
My dad never pushed me to sing. I pretty much told him what I was going to do. My choir teacher, Mr. Douglas, always pushed me to do as much as I could in High School but I was so shy, it was hard to put my all into anything at the time. I always knew I was good at it but I just liked to keep it to myself. My gifts were like my diary with a giant lock on it.
You describe your sound as “Fantasy Soul.” Can you talk a little about that?
My imagination lies in a fantasy world, my soul sucks up all the inspiration from it and then the music is born. You’re getting ready to release your new EP entitled Dreamgirl.
Any pressure from it because of the dreaded sophomore album slump?
Nah I don’t believe in all that. A story is a story, and this is chapter 2. It’s my truth; no pressure.
You seem most at ease with concept albums. Can you talk a little about where you draw inspiration from when coming up with those?
I live my life and write songs along the way. I start to realize what the songs are really trying to say, how each era of life is its own flavor, and that’s when I start putting them in order. I haven’t made a project with the intent of making a project yet, they put themselves together so far, and I just listen.
Can you tell us about your songwriting process? How does it all happen?
Most of the time I hear the music and I freestyle the melodies. With the melodies, come the syllables, and in that lies all the clues I need to understand what my soul’s trying to say. Then I just plug in real words, or sometimes I just leave it the way it is.
What are you most excited for people to hear on this new release?
I’m most excited for them to catch a new flavor of mine.
Many of our readers may know you through your collaborations, particularly with G-Eazy. What was it like working with him?
He’s sweet, a good friend and the easiest to work with.
If you could collaborate with any musician in the world (dead or alive), who would you pick and why?
I’d say Prince and his guitar because it’s a must.
What’s one thing that most people would be surprised to find out about you?
My full name is Bianca Leonor Quiñones and it means the white light.
