Q&A: Andrea Bejar on Her Latest Single “Despierto,” A Breathingtaking Ode to Life and Love
MELODIC AND MESMERIZING — Andrea Bejar’s latest single, “Despierto,” is a profound homage to traditional Mexican folk, merged with the cool, blissful sound of alternative pop. The song was inspired by the concept of unconditional love, a feeling that — like so many of us — Bejar finds difficult to encompass outside of her own sacred exposure and experiences. And yet they overwhelmingly and dreamily emulate the tranquility, warmth, and deep connection associated with love. One that perhaps can only truly be expressed outside of the fleeting yet memorable moments we carry with us, in Bejar’s case within a melodic ode that is truly breathtaking.
Considering “Despierto” is coined by Bejar as her first song dedicated to this deep and indescribable sense of love, the track certainly has that sense of an everlasting melody, reminiscent of a cherished memory that continuously awakens the soul and restores a sense of peace within our hearts.
Read below to learn more about Bejar’s “Despierto” and her upcoming plans for the year ahead.
LUNA: Hey Andrea! Huge congrats on the upcoming release of “Despierto.” One of the elements I instantly fell in love with was the mesmerizing acoustic element, which seems to gently carry us as listeners throughout the song. What inspired this instrumental aspect of this song in particular?
BEJAR: Hi! Thank you for listening to the song and doing this Q&A! The guitars are also one of my favorite parts of the song. The producer of this track, Diàgo, came up with the beautiful guitar chords. When I heard him play it during one of our sessions, I immediately recorded it on my voice memos and began writing to it. The lyrics and melody for the song came so naturally after that we had the song fully done in just about four days, even while being in different cities.
LUNA: Touching upon your Mexican heritage, how important do you think it is to uphold this heritage within your music while merging the traditional Mexican genre with that of alternative pop?
BEJAR: Blending traditional Mexican folk into my music is one of the most important aspects of the process for me. Finding chords, sounds, and melodies that remind me of home with my grandma in Mexico is so beautiful and meaningful, [and] I want that love to translate into the music I make.
LUNA: What kind of music inspired you? What are some elements from your upbringing that you would like to explore within your music, both thematically and sonically?
BEJAR: Growing up, my parents played a lot of ’80s rock, like Queen and The Beatles, as well as Latin pop, like Julieta Venegas, Juanes, and Luis Miguel. When I started developing my own music taste, Billie Eilish was one of my biggest influences and I take a lot of inspiration from her voice while, musically, Natalia Lafourcade and Ed Maverick were and still are my biggest influences. I would love to explore with more traditional Mexican folk sounds in the future, paying homage to my family in Mexico and [the] culture.
LUNA: You have various motifs within “Despierto” that relate to the natural world in which we live. For example, you refer to the focal point of the song — the person you love — as your “sunshine” (“eres mi sol”). What kind of importance do themes such as nature have in inspiring the song?
BEJAR: I feel like creating a setting within the lyrics makes the listener immerse themselves deeper into the song. I’ve always admired how Natalia Lafourcade did this in her lyrics, making the song a lot more personal and helping me as a listener connect with it more.
LUNA: What thoughts and feelings would you like to be evoked for the listener upon hearing songs such as “Despierto”? Were there any specific feelings or experiences that you can recall personally that are emulated within the song?
BEJAR: “Despierto” is the first song I wrote about loving someone so comfortably they feel like your home. I’ve always had a very deep connection to my grandmother, and whenever we’re together I feel a sense of tranquility and warmth in myself. These are the feelings I want the song to convey to the listener. Although it seems like it’s dedicated to someone, I wrote this song to try and capture what unconditional love feels like. Whether you have this connection with your significant other, parents, grandparents, or friends, I hope this song evokes a feeling of love or reminds you of someone you share a special connection with.
LUNA: Regarding the visual element of the song, “Despierto” is to be filmed near your childhood home in Miami. What do you hope to encapsulate with these visual elements, and what was the creative process behind this visual aspect of the song?
BEJAR: The video was filmed at the beach I grew up going to with family and friends. When I first started thinking of a cover photo and visualizer, I knew I wanted it to feel personal … kind of like inviting the listener into a little part of my world. The video was shot by me and Diàgo, and I hope the visualizer captures a similar feeling as the song of comfort and tranquility.
LUNA: “Despierto” will ultimately be one of your first — but certainly not your last — big hit for 2023. Are there any other upcoming projects you would like to touch upon?
BEJAR: I am so excited for the next couple of projects I’ve been working on. I’ve finally been able to write lyrics that are more personal, but at the same time that a lot of people can still relate to. My next project is much more upbeat, which I feel like many people will love!
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