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

Hi Luciri, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
The answer is simple—God. When your faith is strong, the knowing comes naturally. But for me, that isn’t always the case. There are times I doubt, feel lost, and question if I’m on the right path. Yet every time I turn to God, He reminds me why I started.

We are capable of achieving anything we set our hearts on. With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). If He placed a vision in your heart, trust that He will see it through. You don’t stop until God tells you to. If something is truly meant for you, the doors will open, the harvest will come, and success will follow—in His perfect timing.

My own journey is proof of that. As a double major graduate in Political Science and Management Information Systems, I never planned on pursuing an artistic career. But God had a different plan. He placed music in my heart, bestowed upon me undeniable signs, and provided the resources I needed to walk this path. And that’s how I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My music is a fusion of Spanglish and multiple genres, drawing heavily from jazz and Latino Urbano influences, all rooted in my Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage. What sets me apart is my versatility to do anything from rap to lounge jazz, intertwining Spanish and English to create something uniquely my own. I like to sing, dance, rap, dance, and play my instruments on stage.

One of my proudest moments so far has been performing at SXSW this year (2025)—not just once, but nine times! It’s been the start of something bigger. Over the past year, I’ve been blessed to achieve incredible things, including releasing our single Lo Que Quiera with Anastasia Hera and Evita, hearing my music played on the radio for the first time, and filming my very first music video. I also had the honor of performing at the Austin Hip-Hop Awards this past February (2025). Each of these experiences has pushed me to grow as an artist and trust the path God has laid out for me.

Music and the arts have been a part of me for as long as I can remember. My journey began with dance at the age of five, starting with ballet and gymnastics. I later fell in love with the piano in third grade and, after years of private lessons, I deepened my passion in high school. I was part of the dance team, marching band, and jazz band, excelling on the alto saxophone and piano. In college, I continued studying music and played alto saxophone with the Baylor Golden Wave Marching Band.

This journey hasn’t been easy, but I’ve learned to trust God and stay consistent. It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but that’s not what life is about. Everyone moves at their own pace, and your journey is uniquely yours. You reap what you sow. From being homeless in LA to becoming a college graduate and artist, I’ve seen firsthand that anything is possible. If there’s one thing I want the world to take from my story, it’s this: With God, anything is possible. If I can do it, so can you. Keep dreaming until it becomes your reality!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Day 1:
Zilker Park: A chill first day, enjoying a picnic and taking in the city skyline. Maybe rent a couple of scooters and explore the city.
360 Bridge Overlook: For the evening, we’d hike up 360 bridge to watch the sunset and get a glimpse of the city reflecting the vibrant sun.

Day 2:
Barton Springs: Start the day with a refreshing dip in Austin’s famous natural spring pool. It’s pet friendly so Mango (my dog) will be joining us. We’d rent a canoe and/or paddle board to go explore the river with the view of the city.
Hidden Tree House: This one’s a secret gem! A multi-story treehouse with a zipline over a creek. Perfect for a nerf gun battle or just relaxing in nature. I can’t and won’t reveal the location (I’m not sorry!!) It can’t be secret if everyone knows about it.

Day 3:
Blue Hole, Georgetown: Go for a swim in the San Gabriel River mid morning and get some breakfast in downtown Georgetown. Afterwards, we can hike down the river and explore trails.
Cliff Jumping: After breakfast, we can head to Georgetown Lake. If the water depths are right, we can cliff jump and have a day packed with adrenaline.

Day 4:
360 Bridge Trail Exploration: Again, we’d visit 365 Bridge and this time, after enjoying the breathtaking view of the city, we’d go off the trail and explore abandoned buildings along the way. Make sure to take tennis shoes to climb and jump on walls.
Blanton Museum of Art: We can visit and explore one of the largest university art museums in the U.S., featuring an amazing collection of modern, contemporary, and Latin American art.

Day 5:
360 Boat Ramp: Rent a boat or a jet-ski at the 360 Boat Ramp.
Floppy Disk Co: A speakeasy hidden in plain sight with a secret code entry. Code is constantly changing. To end the night, we can eat tacos at a local truck on North Lamar.

Day 6:
Lake Travis: We can visit the Lake Travis dam to get a good view, and then go to a nearby access so that we can swim in the lake. For lunch or dinner, we can eat at The Oasis, which has a clear and beautiful view of the sunset and the lake itself from up above.
Mala Vida: Once nighttime roles around, we’ll go to Mala Vida on 6th Street for some reggaeton, salsa, and bachata.

Day 7:
Morning church service with the church group of friends.
Brunch: at Snooze or Kerbey Lane. Maybe take a little hike by a creek in the evening.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that there are so many people who deserve a shoutout. I’m blessed with an amazing community that has poured into my cup over the years, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them and God.

Mi Familia (Mamá, Papá y Hermana) – Gracias por apoyarme en todos mis sueños y carreras. Sé que han sacrificado mucho por mí, y les agradezco profundamente todo el esfuerzo. Los quiero muchísimo y, gracias a ustedes, sé que todo es posible en esta vida. Mis padres siempre han sido un pilar de apoyo en este camino, y me siento sumamente bendecida de tenerlos a mi lado. Te amo, mamá y papá. I love you, sister <3

Anastasia Hera – Thank you for taking me under your wing and guiding me through this journey. Being part of “Lo Que Quiera” and working alongside you has been an incredible experience. I’m so proud of what we have created together, from the song to the music video. As a new artist, your mentorship has meant the world to me, and I’m excited to see where this path takes us next.

Vanessa Lively – I am so thankful for you, Vanessa! As an established folk artist, you took me under your wing and showed me the way. You gave me my first official gig and even collaborated with me on “Mi Grito”, a song that’s coming out soon. Thank you for helping me take my first real steps as an artist—I’m forever grateful.

Henry J. Castillo and Roberto R. Garza — Thank you for believing in me. Mr.Castillo, as the saxophone & Jazz Band Director you saw a spark in me that I did not know I carried myself. You guys gave me the space to grow and challenged me to become better each year. Becoming the first IB drum major my senior year was an honor, and I wouldn’t have achieved that without you both. Mr. Castillo, Thank you for teaching me how to play my saxophone and thank you for teaching me jazz. Mr. Garza, as the Head Band Director, you fueled my drive. Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Márquez will always hold a special place in my heart — it’s still my favorite piece to this day. Thank you for giving me the sheet music; I still have it. More than anything, thank you for your dedication — not just to music but to your students. Both of you have impacted my life tremendously, giving me the confidence to push forward. For that, I am forever grateful.

My community — A special shoutout to Lilly, Ella, Addison, Cooper, and Keira! You guys are some of my biggest supporters, and even though I’m not an international pop star (yet), you guys sure make me feel like one. Your excitement means the world to me! Thank you guys for loving me just the way I am. And don’t forget, if I can do it, you guys can too!!! Thank you Evita for supporting me too! Thank you to Karla, Shailla, Cris, Eva, Noah, Jasmine, Dio, and Ethan. Thank you guys for coming out to my events and following me along with my music journey. I appreciate you more than you know. Also, thank you Evver The Thinker for recommending me. You ROCK!!! Everyone go check out his music & everyone else’s too!!

Website: http://lucirinazario.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucirimaryeri

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciri-nazario

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lucirimaryeri

Image Credits
Hakeem Vance | IG: @keemportfolio
Ryan K Barrett | IG: @ryankbarrett

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