By Felecia Ford
Whether she’s performing intimate shows across the world or singing on the gargantuan Pepsi stage in CDMX, (celebrating her shared Latin Grammy 2023 nomination for “Se Nos Rompió”) one thing you know is Liah gives her A-game with heart and soul like an Olympiad. Her ability to effortlessly tell a story, while navigating the stage in platform heels as she’s jumping onto an 18-hand horse while singing “I will survive” is other worldly. Meet Liah Alonso, an athlete, fitness guru, yogi, singer, songwriter, activist, animal rescuer and fosterer. Liah is one of the most compassionate and inspired people I’ve ever met.
Felecia: I bet many of your fans, like me, had no idea you could ride a horse AND sing at the same time. Tell us how that came about.
Liah: When I was a little girl, after school I would take care of the horses on the farm. I’d clean their stalls and ride them daily. I became very close to this one horse, Murray, a rescue. I use to cuddle with him and I would sing on and off of him everyday. As a young girl, I also competed with riding, jumping and vaulting. Later, when I moved to San Miguel de Allende, I sang and performed with mariachis in a parade on top of a horse that I decorated as a Catrina. It was a dream come true that could only happen in San Miguel.
F: I hope someday to watch you in an arena riding a beautiful horse while singing your number one hit!
L: A show on horses, now that would be a dream realized to bring everything together; my love of horses and my love of music.
F: Didn’t you just release your newest single, “Chica de Antes”, where the cover art is of you riding a horse?
L: There’s a few videos where I’m riding horseback. “Light to the Universe” is one and another, “Chica de Antes” (directed by Eugenio Maillefert), has me riding with my heart held up in the air, an embroidered heart made by artist Paloma Dominguez.
F: I was so inspired after watching that and a plethora of music videos you’ve created on YouTube. Your newest release and video, “Chica de Antes”, gives all the feels. I already went on Apple Music and downloaded it. Do you pre-release your music before it hits the platforms?
L: Yes, I have a Patreon account where you can get the music before it’s released to the public and I also share demos and un-released music with my Patreons as well. It’s a private community of supporters for whom I’m so grateful. I share a lot of my journey there that you don’t necessarily see on IG or Facebook.
F: Sign me up! When is your next music release to the public?
L: September 27. It’s called, “Brand New Story” and it is a collaboration between me and a producer called 1989 (who is mysterious, nobody knows who he is.) He is who I collaborated with on “Chica de Antes” as well. We’re making awesome new music together. This next release is more synth pop which is different than most of my music but I like that, as a songwriter you are being open to possibilities of what the muses are whispering. I like the songs to tell me what kind of genre they want to be instead of me saying, “I’m a country songwriter or I’m a rock songwriter.”
F: Liah, your music will stand the test of time. You are a troubadour in that your words are the most important part of your songs. You have a message. What is the first song you ever sang?
L: I was a very little girl always singing to soothe my own soul and the people around me. The song I remember as my first song is, “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder. I use to sing it with my mom. [We both spontaneously start singing the whole entire chorus without missing a beat!]
L: I love that we sang that. We should do a version of that together!
F: We SHOULD! Liah, you have signed a new music deal recently. Can you talk about that?
L: This January I signed a distribution deal with ONE-RPM which is an international label and distribution company in Mexico City. This year they’ve really been helping me stay on track with my release schedule and helping me with administrative aspects of my music business. To have a team behind me to strategize my career is very helpful.
F: If you could manifest something more for this next year what do you need?
L: I would love an amazing booking agent and also a manager to help me bring my music to audiences around the world on theatre stages and beyond. I’d like to open for headlining artists to get my message out to the world.
F: What is your message?
L: My message is about empowerment, following your own inspiration, making your life into a work of art and living full on with love and intregity.
F: It was once said, “a dream doesn’t become a reality through magic, it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” You work harder than anyone I know Liah, YOU GOT THIS.
Liah Alonso Band performs October 15th at Cafe Murmullo in Instituto Allende.
And October 31st at VC & Friends
World tour TBA.
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