It was a Thursday evening and there was a slight chilly breeze flowing through the air. The sun pierced the horizon of the mountains in the west creating a magnificent, powerful, and bright sunset that filled the sky with swirling colors of orange, yellow and red. The smell of green chili and freshly made tortillas filled the Frontier restaurant, conveniently
located right across the street from hundreds of ravenous students at the University of New Mexico. I was in line waiting to order and within minutes I heard the chime of the bell on the door ring and I turned around to meet eyes with Luella Jaramillo, a local singer and songwriter that I had the pleasure of interviewing.
She wore a black dress with a large scarf wrapped around her neck to keep her self warm from the snapping cold that lingered inches
from the recently opened door. She elegantly walked towards me with confidence, determination, and strength all riding beneath every step she took. The next thing I knew, she was a couple of feet away from me and as quick as lightning her hand was extended and out of her full-lipped mouth the words, “Hi, I’m Luella,” were said.“On stage, I’m truly able to just let go. Let go of my ego, my fears, my nervousness, and my thoughts. I’m able to connect my feelings with the audience and experience something that really is magical,” Luella Jaramillo said. Jaramillo is a former full time teacher and local resident in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She left her teaching position last May in 2016, to devote all her time to her musical career. Before she left her position, she worked during the day and practiced her music during the night. “If a person works hard they can do anything,” Jaramillo said confidently.
She considered her musical interest a side project and her teaching position a financial cushion. However, ever since she left her teaching position, her life now revolves completely around her music.
We took a brief pause because we heard our order number being read over the intercom and I got up to go retrieve our food and eating utensils. On my short walk back with the food balanced on my hands, I saw Luella’s dark hair, gleam ever so softly against the light that pierced the windows. I placed the food on top of the table took my seat across from her. After I took a few bites of my large green chili burrito I moved onto the next topic. I brought up her childhood and when I did, I saw her eyes look down towards the table and a small smile started to grow upon her face.
Jaramillo along with her siblings, mother and grandmother were all born and raised in New Mexico. She was first introduced to the piano when she was six years old and from that moment onward she began to develop a passion for music.
While she was growing up, she played the piano for her church and other various singing groups. She explained that she attempted to sing with other people but it was difficult for her to stay in tune.
“I knew singing was in my heart, but I wasn’t really good at it. I decided to keep it there and instead I just played the piano,” Jaramillo said.
It wasn’t until she was older that she started to sing again. However, during that time she would only sing by herself in the privacy of her own home.
Jaramillo wrote her own piano music and once she started singing again she also began to add lyrics to her musical compositions. However, she didn’t perform her compositions for years.
I noticed that during the moments when we talked about her stage fright, she would tense up and tightly grip her spoon. However, the more we talked about her fear, the more she began to become comfortable with it. It was as though she was adapting to the conversation itself and soon became comfortable with an uncomfortable subject.
Jaramillo said that the biggest recurring obstacle she has faced has been her stage fright. However, she has been gradually conquering her fear for the past three years by continuing to perform publicly and by increasing her vocal performance for longer than two hours.
Her first public performance venues were at open mic nights throughout Albuquerque. Her first live open mic night performance was at, Winning Coffee Co., located on Harvard Drive SE.
“Only because of the support I received from everyone, it propelled me to move forward,” Jaramillo said.
She explained that through the support and feedback she received from her audience, it encouraged her to continue to perform. She clarified that there was a two-way connection between her audience and her music.
She described that she uses her music to communicate emotions that she can’t necessarily communicate through regular conversation. She said her desire for her music is to elicit a feeling that’s strong and beautiful.
“People would call my music jazzy or folkish,” Jaramillo said.
Whenever she talked about her music it felt like her passion radiated from her. I could feel the strength of her love for her music as she talked but not only from her words but also by her facial expressions. She would raise her hands and move them around her space as if punctuating her excitement for her music.
She pointed out that the themes of her early drafted music revolved around love and heartbreak. As she gained more experience she began to broaden her approach.
“I explore my mind and the world around me,” Jaramillo said energetically.
Currently, her music touches on controversial topics such as war and peace, standing up against oppression, and prayer vs violence.
After performing at open mic nights for a while, she recorded a couple of songs and submitted them to the management at Java Joe’s located at Park Avenue SW. Following the submission, they decided to give her a two hour performance slot every Friday. She explained that Java Joe’s was one of the biggest things that helped her get started in her career.
“Java Joe’s lit a fire under me to put a set together, to make sure I was solid for two hours, and to be there consistently performing for people,” Jaramillo said. “That got me going.”
She has been currently performing at different places in Albuquerque but has been mainly focusing on writing new music and preparing to get an album created. She said that she wants to hopefully create the album, and have a little tour throughout the states within the next year.
“I want to be booking shows, where I travel and perform at different locations,” Jaramillo said with a smile. “That is the dream of my whole life.”
She stated that she was very eager and open to the idea of performing with other musicians too.
She defines New Mexico not only as her home but as the best of everything. She explained how there is a big Hispanic and Native American cultural influence within New Mexico. She said the colors, religion and all the traditions are ingrained in her.
Throughout her musical career, she said that New Mexico has not only affected her personally but has also influenced her music. She said that New Mexico has influenced many of the older and alternative sounds in her music.
“There is no way that I could exist, without coming through and representing New Mexico… It’s me. It’s who I am,” Jaramillo said cheerfully.
Jaramillo uses a Yamaha full sized keyboard when she performs. She said that sometimes she doesn’t use a mic but when she does, the business where she is performing provides it for her.
She wanted to give this message to her audience, “Thank you for listening. I’m grateful for anybody taking their time to listen to me.”
As she finished eating her soup she looked at her watch only to be stunned how quickly time had passed. She quickly left her seat and bid me a farewell. I watched as she swiftly walked to the door and with the same chime of the bell she disappeared through the door.
