Meet Jimena Caballero | Songwriter, Composer, Singer, Pianist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jimena Caballero and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jimena, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Deciding to pursue a career in music was a big risk – I left my country, my family and everything to start a brand new life. Not only that, but music is a path that is not set or straightforward, where every step I’ve taken has felt like a make it or break it type of situation. But when thinking about risk, there are three things that have helped me get through:

First, I have to keep the best and worst possible outcomes in mind. If the worst-case scenario happened, would I be able to handle it? Can I prepare and be ready in case that happens? It’s not about being negative, but realistic. And the best-case scenario is what will inspire and motivate me to take that risk. If I have the whole spectrum of possibilities in mind, I will be able to make a conscious decision and face it in the best way.

Second, I love taking risks because I look at them as a learning opportunity. When I say yes to something even if I don’t quite know how to make it happen, I’m committed so I have to deliver (as long as I have access to the tools to learn and make it happen of course). This makes me learn quickly and grow a lot. Most importantly, for this to work I have to be willing to ask for help, and learn from others. Even if I fail when taking a risk, it’s an invaluable lesson – so is it really failing?

Lastly, take risks about what’s worth it. I’m passionate about music, and visualizing my career makes me incredibly happy. So to me, it’s worth taking these risks. If I didn’t take them, I would not be doing what I love most, and that in itself, is a risk I would NOT be willing to take.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My artistry is a combination of my heritage, experiences and the people who’ve been a part of my life. I grew up in a family of music lovers, where every genre and decade was welcome, so I was able to explore music freely and in my own way. Simultaneously, I was growing up in Mexico, a beautiful country with a rich culture and warm people. Its colorful melodies and rhythms impacted my artistry.

Up until I was around 14 years old I was singing for fun, writing some songs and playing classical piano. But then I entered a piano competition for the opportunity to play alongside Lang Lang and Herbie Hancock in Berlin with other young pianists from all over the world – and won! That experience was life-changing, and I realized two things: That I wanted to do music for the rest of my life, and that classical piano performance wasn’t quite it. I discovered that I was happiest when writing, composing and creating. I loved performing my own songs, that’s when I felt most like myself. From there, I went through middle school and high school with composition lessons, writing and performing. My family’s support was always there throughout, and when it was time to go to College, I got a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music.

While at Berklee, I got the opportunity to interact with writers, artists and musicians from all over the world who constantly inspired me. I was fascinated by all the different rhythms, sonic textures, instruments, history, and stories that I encountered through them. Performing, writing and sharing music with someone else is a unique experience, where our individual stories combine, and create new ones. Being immersed in this environment made me a better writer and artist.

Being there and making the decision to study Songwriting, I faced a challenging obstacle: That English is not my first language. During my first semester, someone told me that my English lyrics sounded like they were being translated from Spanish, they didn’t sound natural. I took this on as a challenge, and honed in on all the tools I needed to write English like a native speaker. I wrote all the time, learned from others, and took all the levels of Lyric Writing that were possible. At the time, I would see English and Spanish as two separate beasts. But then I realized how much more I could convey when combining my roots with all that I was learning from English. I feel a strong responsibility to be an ambassador for Mexico through my work – to tell the stories of those who haven’t been heard and advocate for its future, which has tremendous potential. Being able to write in two different languages has given me the ability to build a bridge, where I can create empathy between different realities and to share my own story for it to resonate with more people.

During my last year, my now writing partner Emma Cordray reached out to collaborate, which was a life-changing experience that I never would’ve imagined. We originally met at Interlochen in high school, and though we hadn’t kept in touch, when we met again on Zoom last summer we instantly connected. She asked to team up to adapt a children’s novel into a musical, and although I thought musical theater was not quite for me, I took on the project. From there we made each other better, and gave each other the confidence to write more. Working together made me realize my passion for writing musical theater, which is now one of the main focuses.

I graduated from Berklee in May and moved to LA over the Summer, which has been wonderful. I’ve really connected with the city, and found a group of incredible people with whom I get to be creative and write many songs. I’m currently working in the two areas of music that I’m passionate about: creativity and business. As I develop my career, I’ve promised myself that I always have to do both. Creatively, I’m writing songs for myself, a musical and for other projects, always collaborating. In the business side, I’m working at an agency and assisting a producer on some projects, which are both fulfilling and amazing learning experiences.

I’m so very grateful for my journey; the experiences and people that music has brought to my life is as beautiful as music itself. It is essential for me to keep learning and exploring. I never want to stop being curious or connecting to how I can become a better writer and musician. I use my artistry to bring positivity to others’ lives, to create empathy. Every single dream I’ve had I’ve worked to make true, and I hope to continue to do this, and that my music may help and inspire others to do the same.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m fairly new to the city, but have already discovered really magical places. One of them is the Getty Center, where one gets to experience art, history, architecture, gardens and a stunning view of the city to a whole new level. Speaking about the arts, going to concerts at the Hollywood Bowl was one of the highlights of my Summer. The roster was amazing and the LA Philharmonic never ceases to amaze me. The Griffith Observatory is also a fun trip, and if you like walking, hiking up there is really fun. At night if you like Jazz, the Baked Potato is a really fun spot and has great music.

In terms of food, there are really amazing places. For breakfast, “Sweet Butter” is great. It’s in Ventura Boulevard, which is a must, and the food is wonderful, with great variety on the menu. For lunch, my favorite place is the “Santa Monica Seafood Market”. You could just go and buy seafood to take home, but it also has tables in the corner as a restaurant where you can eat. The food is fresh and really amazing! Dinner was hard to choose, but I really enjoyed going to “All Time” in Los Feliz one time, and the patio was really beautiful.

There are so many places to enjoy, these are just a few where I’ve created great memories in!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family’s support is invaluable, and it keeps me going. They’ve never doubted me for a second, and they inspire me. I’ve also been fortunate to have mentors who I admire and look up to; people who have taken the time to share their talent and knowledge with me, it’s priceless. Finally, my friends, peers and writing partner, because we get to experience life side by side and grow together, helping each other out and making each other better.

Instagram: @mena.musica – https://www.instagram.com/mena.musica/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicmena

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqWGUuEYxyDb9jPKvvMuujg

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/25igj6q9LORtqUclWxacKd?si=ODSLXsXWQsqC9ti4nCR8Cw

Image Credits
Mishele Arciniega (1, 4, 5, 6 & main picture)