Maria Estrella is an American vocalist, lyricist, and composer.
Born on an island and raised in the concrete jungle, Maria took up piano and guitar as a youngster and began writing her own songs. The youngest of seven children, she was raised in a musical household. Her father often enjoyed listening to bolero music in the late afternoons to unwind. She was later introduced to classic rock by her brothers. Her mother, gifted with a beautiful soprano voice, sang throughout the house.
Maria's musical tastes expanded by constantly listening to music on the radio. She appreciated the "Great American Songbook" and electronic dance music with the same enthusiasm. While attending university, she'd travel to New York City for auditions and subsequently perform with repertory theater companies throughout Manhattan. As a member of her university choir ensemble, she performed John Rutter's "Magnificat" onstage at Carnegie Hall with the British composer on hand to conduct.
Maria continued intensive vocal study where she trained with teachers in the world of cabaret, musical theater, and opera. "Studying with different teachers trained me to be versatile and be attentive to vocal expression regardless of what style I was singing." She has performed with bands and various performance groups in venues such as Webster Hall, Irving Plaza, Vineyard Theater, Mercury Lounge, Alice Tully Hall, and The Town Hall. "I'd have shows in Manhattan then trek to rehearse or perform with my band or some other project in Brooklyn or Queens on days off. You had to be self-sufficient and put the effort in to get the work done."
After years of performing other people’s material, she decided she’d rather write and sing her own words and melodies. "The best lesson I learned being in the rat race was that I had to be my own unique self and to never mold myself to become someone else's version of me." In the competitive world of music, she prefers to defy the norm of needing to sound mainstream. "I would like to create music that people can connect with. That is my greatest intention."
She took a break from the music scene to travel the world for a bit. Her travel experiences were a huge inspiration and ignited a creative spark.
Maria has released music on several labels and collaborated with music producers around the world in the genres of neo-classical, electro-pop, ambient, deep house, electronica, and alt-country. She was spotlighted in KNPR's feature of Nevada's singer-songwriters. Her works with German ambient artist Morgen Wurde have been included on two editions of Kompakt Records Pop Ambient Series. Her alt-country project Valleverde self-released their two albums. She has released numerous tracks with frequent collaborator Barcelona's Medsound. Their latest independent release is the "Soundtrack" album.
Born on an island and raised in the concrete jungle, Maria took up piano and guitar as a youngster and began writing her own songs. The youngest of seven children, she was raised in a musical household. Her father often enjoyed listening to bolero music in the late afternoons to unwind. She was later introduced to classic rock by her brothers. Her mother, gifted with a beautiful soprano voice, sang throughout the house.
Maria's musical tastes expanded by constantly listening to music on the radio. She appreciated the "Great American Songbook" and electronic dance music with the same enthusiasm. While attending university, she'd travel to New York City for auditions and subsequently perform with repertory theater companies throughout Manhattan. As a member of her university choir ensemble, she performed John Rutter's "Magnificat" onstage at Carnegie Hall with the British composer on hand to conduct.
Maria continued intensive vocal study where she trained with teachers in the world of cabaret, musical theater, and opera. "Studying with different teachers trained me to be versatile and be attentive to vocal expression regardless of what style I was singing." She has performed with bands and various performance groups in venues such as Webster Hall, Irving Plaza, Vineyard Theater, Mercury Lounge, Alice Tully Hall, and The Town Hall. "I'd have shows in Manhattan then trek to rehearse or perform with my band or some other project in Brooklyn or Queens on days off. You had to be self-sufficient and put the effort in to get the work done."
After years of performing other people’s material, she decided she’d rather write and sing her own words and melodies. "The best lesson I learned being in the rat race was that I had to be my own unique self and to never mold myself to become someone else's version of me." In the competitive world of music, she prefers to defy the norm of needing to sound mainstream. "I would like to create music that people can connect with. That is my greatest intention."
She took a break from the music scene to travel the world for a bit. Her travel experiences were a huge inspiration and ignited a creative spark.
Maria has released music on several labels and collaborated with music producers around the world in the genres of neo-classical, electro-pop, ambient, deep house, electronica, and alt-country. She was spotlighted in KNPR's feature of Nevada's singer-songwriters. Her works with German ambient artist Morgen Wurde have been included on two editions of Kompakt Records Pop Ambient Series. Her alt-country project Valleverde self-released their two albums. She has released numerous tracks with frequent collaborator Barcelona's Medsound. Their latest independent release is the "Soundtrack" album.
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