Advertisement

Forged by pressure, Chiquis lets her artistry flourish on ‘Diamantes’

Los Angeles, CA - December 01: Chiquis performs at the Wiltern. (Ringo Chiu / For De Los)
(Ringo Chiu/For de Los)

Under the Wiltern’s center-stage spotlight, a bedazzled tejana slowly rises into the audience’s view. As the concealed hydraulic platform peaks on the stage’s second level, Chiquis appears, sparkling in an all-white rhinestoned outfit. Her surrounding 13-piece band plays the energetic opening notes of “Porque Soy Abeja Reina,” a single off her 2022 album “Abeja Reina,” and the Wiltern’s crowd roars. The multi-hyphenate talent born as Janney Marin Rivera descends from the staircase, and the only thing going through her mind is that all her hard work is finally paying off.

Over the past decade, Chiquis has fought what she calls an uphill battle to make music she’s proud of. In the face of harsh comparisons to her late mother, the música Mexicana legend Jenni Rivera, and expectations to carry on the family legacy, the three-time Latin Grammy winner stands firm in her corner of contemporary banda music. Unafraid to bring “new school influences” to the traditional genre, the 39-year-old brings a reignited sense of confidence to her latest album, “Diamantes.”

“I was actually crying right before the show. You know, it’s the end of the year and my mom passed away in December. This season usually makes me feel more sensitive,” said Chiquis. “I started thinking, ‘Are people going be able to tell? Are they going see?’ But then I reminded myself, that’s what my music’s all about. If I need to cry, I’m going to cry. I’m going to talk about it. This is my space to be myself.”

As the singer took the Wiltern’s stage that night for what she considers to be a hometown concert, with an extravagant stage design and a full production crew, she says putting on a show of such a large scale reminds her of how much things have changed — she began her musical career by performing at places like the Grove and small nightclubs. Now she sips Don Julio 70 from a diamond-shaped flask and unapologetically belts her lyrics of resilience to a packed theater.

Advertisement
Tequila in hand, Chiquis sings to the Wiltern's crowd.
(Ringo Chiu/For The Times)

A few days after her show, I catch Chiquis at a boutique cafe in the heart of Beverly Hills. Wearing a full-length trench coat and a matching beige L.A. baseball cap, the fresh-faced singer recounts the musical breakthrough she experienced with her fourth album “Abeja Reina.”

Bringing touches of R&B to banda and experimenting with a corrido style for the first time, Chiquis says she finally discovered how to be authentic in her artistry. While making this album, she let go of imposter syndrome and stopped seeking others’ approval in her sound.

“If I’m true to myself, people are going to feel that. And the people that I’m going to attract are the people I want to listen to my music,“ she said. “There’s always going be someone that doesn’t like me, and I’m okay with that now. I am who I am. I cuss. I love God. I’m a little bit of everything.”

She also began to fall in love with her voice. Due to her mother’s wide vocal range and the public’s constant comparison, Chiquis admits she has always been insecure about her vocals. After years of not listening to her own music, she hired a vocal coach and set out to improve.

Because of her inherited sense of fame, her music career originally started as a supplement to her already popular reality TV presence. In the early 2010s, she starred on “Jenni Rivera Presents: Chiquis y Raq-C,” continued to appear on her mother’s show “I Love Jenni” and starred in her own spin-off “Chiquis ‘n Control.” Much like the Kardashian clan, Chiquis was famous for the sake of being famous.

Advertisement

To this day, she maintains a whole other life outside her music career — with her continued pursuits in reality TV (“Chiquis Sin Filtro” and “Foodie on the Go”), podcasting (“Chiquis and Chill”), writing books (“The Girl Who Sings to Bees,” “Forgiveness” and “Unstoppable”) and appearing as a judge on Mexico’s “La Academia.”

As she juggles these passion projects, her music is where she strives to outdo herself. With each new release, she says she will always be her own biggest competitor.

Wearing tejanas and matching botas, the crowd showed up ready to hear Chiquis' spin on música Mexicana.
(Ringo Chiu/For The Times)

If her 2022 album “Abeja Reina” was the catalyst in making Chiquis who she is today and giving her what she calls her “crazy a— confidence,” her May 2024 release “Diamantes” is the culmination of that artistic growth.

“‘Abeja Reina’ was more rough around the edges. I knew I wanted my next project to be more refined,” said Chiquis. “I’ve had a lot of pressure in my life from being the daughter of Jenni Rivera and all the BS that has happened after that. The idea of ‘Diamantes,’ and being a diamond made it all come together.

“There’s not one diamond that’s perfect. And I feel like we all have that. Life polishes us and it makes us shine. You can never break a diamond. They represent resilience in a lot of ways,” said Chiquis. “I’m a diamond and we all are. We are still here no matter what we do. This album speaks a lot of words of affirmation. For me, it’s like a note to self.”

Advertisement
Bedazzled mic in hand, Chiquis captures the crowd's attention.
(Ringo Chiu/For The Times)

Ulises Lozano, a longtime collaborator and main producer on the album, first came to know Chiquis when he was asked to help make a theme song for one of her reality TV show. Over the years, he says her essence has always remained the same, but as they move from one project to the next, he sees her trust her abilities more and more.

“When she’s singing she taps into her emotion, especially when she performs. For me, as a producer, that’s what makes the difference from one artist to another. It’s about their ability to express the song,” said Lozano. “Because it’s not about who’s a better singer or songwriter. It’s about how you present your emotions through that piece of music. And that’s how Chiquis does it.”

Resilience is something that has always characterized the singer’s life. Throughout our conversation, she doesn’t shy away from explaining her life’s adversities. Mentioning the unprecedented death of her mother and its aftermath, the pressure of keeping the Rivera family united and her recent miscarriage while on the Diamantes tour, she comes across as an open and earnest book. She assures me that no matter what’s happening in her life, she will always come out the other end for the people who love her the most – her fans.

At her L.A. tour stop, the venue was filled with a sea of sparkly botas, glittery beards, denim jackets embossed with Jenni Rivera’s face and tattoo sleeves dedicated to Chiquis. Longtime fan Dora Bartolo, 29, has been following Chiquis since 2013. As we stand in the Wiltern’s historic lobby, the Compton native recalls buying tickets to see Chiquis for $25 at her first few performances. Attending the Diamantes tour six different times, Bartolo says she’s proud to have witnessed Chiquis’ evolution.

Chiquis dances on stage at her December show.
(Ringo Chiu/For The Times)
Advertisement

“I will be completely honest with you — in the very beginning [of her music career] her sound was a work in progress. It wasn’t her industry yet. It felt like she was just thrown in,” said Bartolo. “I knew we had to give her some time because she doesn’t give up. It’s in her blood. And when she gets on stage you really can see her strength and her growth.”

As much as the singer has shied away from comparisons to her late mother, their careers seem to reflect each other. Both acts have left a mark in the male-dominated subgenre of banda and expand their reach beyond music, all while trying to get out from under the shadow of the previous generation — Pedro Rivera, Chiquis’ grandfather, is also a música Mexicana artist.

As the new year kicks off, Chiquis says she isn’t entirely certain what her next step will be. Reflecting on her recent marriage to photographer Emilio Sánchez, she said she hopes to write more about a happy kind of love, instead of a tumultuous one, and explore how música Mexicana can lend itself to meditation music.

“I’m always going to move forward. But I feel like I need to take a step to the side to kind reconnect in a different way with my music. I need a breather. I want to get inspired again,” said Chiquis. “There’s a shift coming.”

Advertisement
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top