Teria Morada is an accomplished entertainer, professional singer and lyricist, and dancer/choreographer. She started her artistic endeavors and training at a young age and has achieved several major accomplishments throughout her journey. As Underbite Records is thrilled to announce the release of her single Bon Voyage, we are happy to share our recent interview with this talented and all-inspiring artist. Teria was kind enough to share further insight into her life, career, and current projects.
Thank you for agreeing to catch up with Occhi Magazine. For readers unfamiliar with your background, please tell us more about what drew you to a career in music and the arts.
Thank you for having me! I was dancing before I could walk, and my mother recognized that and put me in ballet at the young age of three years old. The rest is a long, rollercoaster history. Honestly, I have known my whole life that this was my calling. My life is art, creation, and sports. Singing, songwriting, dancing, choreographing, and of course gymnastics. All these tie into one another at this point in my life and I couldn’t be happier.
Who were your early industry influences?
So many! Michael and Janet Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz, Paula Abdul, Jordan Night, Prince, Luis Miguel, Alicia Keys, Jazmin Guy, Madonna, Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston.
Your first 2021 solo album “Aries” came out on your birthday and included several collaborations with TJ Habibi, Sensei Música, William Dinero, Joelle Sahar, Ben Anthony LaVoz, Juan de Sedas, SLuv, MM6eatz, El Cata. Can you recall your experiences and expectations working on the project?
There were so many unique experiences as half of the project was created during the pandemic. However, a couple that stick out was creating the songs Angels and Mediterranean 2.0.
Angels was an idea I had about paying homage to the loved ones, including my mother, that have passed. The composer of this song is a dear friend in Los Angeles, who had just lost her dad and was actually the moment that inspired me to bring the idea of co-creating this song with her. At the time, I wasn’t sure if it was the appropriate time to ask but it turned out to be something she wanted to be a part of. In just one day, she mapped out the song, and I wrote the lyrics. I even included my little cousin and niece to be a part of it as singers and musicians on the track and it turned out to be the family affair I had hoped for.
Mediterranean 2.0 was also huge for me because it brought together so many ideas I had accumulated over the years. You actually hear them come to life on the album and it was mind-blowing. This song inspired my current producer, Alonso Mendez, who I hadn’t worked with in a decade, to recreate the song with some of his own music ideas, and bam, Bon Voyage, my latest single, was born! This collab has taken almost two years but it was worth the wait. All the pieces of the puzzle are now in place.
You are a three-time Canadian Latin Music Award recipient, former two-time Jr. Canadian Rhythmic Gymnastics Champion & National Team Member, and multiple-time Latin Dance Champion. Of your many accomplishments, is there one you’re most proud of, and if so, why?
I’m super proud of all my accomplishments and awards but I think the one that stands out the most is being a Canadian Champion from the ages of 12 to 14. I won the title twice out of all of the Junior Elite Gymnasts in Canada (Elite is now called High Performance). At such a young age, to see your hard work pay off, keeps you going. I think I’m still going strong in part because of those experiences. I also learned how to thrive under pressure because of those times too. I also believe that title has inspired some of my dance/gymnastics students to aim high and reach for their goals as well.
Have there been any particular chapters in your career that have changed your appreciation of the industry? If so, what did you learn from this experience?
There have been hundreds of chapters that showed me the dark side of the industry. However, my new chapter with Underbite Records, which includes a new team (shoutout to Alonso Mendez, Rebecca Mendez and my manager Nellie Viveiros) has absolutely become and will continue to be appreciative as they have set a brighter tone that there are real and honest people in this industry as well. Honestly, it was only a matter of time before us like-minded folk would gravitate towards each other. This has restored my faith in the industry and in people, because they are not only supportive emotionally and believe in me, but they have invested so much of themselves and resources to bring this project to where it is. Hats off to them!
Tell us more about your project ‘Bon Voyage’ and your experience working with DJ Alonso Mendez and JUNO Award-winning Canadian hip-hop legend Choclair.
Of course there ups and downs in every project (especially working with a passionate Aries girl like myself!) but because of the dynamic between the three of us, it has worked out so well. We vibe off each other and get each other’s creative juices going in a natural way. I think we were meant to collaborate on this, so it’s been a true pleasure, organically.
What other projects are in the pipeline?
Another collab with Choclair of course but we also have four more songs coming that will complete my EP also entitled Bon Voyage, so look out for Baddie, Oceans, and Get up on the Floor, real soon!
Other collabs also include Chelo Som from the Dominican Republic, Beny Esguerra of New Traditions Music and the queen herself, Christie Nelson. There’s also another track we have brewing but I’ll leave the details of that one out for now.
Where can our readers find out more about you? You can visit my website at: http://www.teriamoradamusic.com/
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