Mireya Ramos , Musician & Entrepreneur | Made in America
The following is the transcript of an interview between Sergio Muñoz and Mireya Ramos
Sergio: How do you identify?
Powerful, Innovative, Creative Afro-Latina
Sergio: Please describe your childhood home…
I was born in Montclair, California. I moved at 2 years old to San Juan, Puerto Rico. I lived in many places in San Juan. My childhood home was structured as a two floor, divided into five apartments. It is a blue house on a corner a block away from a main street. It was a basic local area. It is two blocks away from the beach in Ocean Park. I lived there with my mom, dad, brother, grandmother, great aunt, aunt and cousin. Family on my maternal side.
Sergio: Did you understand your socio-economics in relation to your friend groups?
We were middle class. My parents owned a Mexican restaurant which did well but the restaurant was 24/7 of their lives and I would spend most of my time there. If I wasn’t there, I was at a musical school. We didnt have luxuries. I didnt have my own room. I didnt get what I wanted always for Christmas. But we always had meals and all that we needed but the restaurant caused my parents to work their asses off. It was a beautiful stage of my life. I felt happy, loved, supported and I remember everything being very musical. Guitars, harmonies, my cousin and I would help out in the restaurant. I worked the cash register, cleaning, serving and singing.
Sergio: When does music enter your life?
I started performing music at 7 in the Coro de Niños de San Juan. It was an intense conservatory. You had to audtion. Three hours, three times per week. I got to travel all over the world with them. I loved music growing up. When I graduated from high school, I decided that I wanted to be an actress and I enrolled to learn at the theater but last minute went to New York with my mom because she had some health issues and I ended up staying and becoming a musician in New York. I play the violin, most stringed instruments, compose and I am a vocalist.
Sergio: Please describe your house present day….
During the pandemic, I had to give up my apartment in New Jersey because I was stuck on tour in New Zealand for a year and a half. I had to do this remotely. Really, I was a nomad for over four years. When I was finally able to come back, my aunt allowed me to stay in her townhouse in Queens. She converted the basement and since she is never in New York, this is my home base. It is a busy intersection in Queens with the 7 Train above us, it is lively, there is a cute tree in front, near Flushing Meadows Park, near the museum…. It is mostly Central American, Mexican and some Chinese families. It’s super cool. Chinatown is the next stop.
Sergio: Your musical career begins to take off in 2008 but when do you begin to treat it like a business by incorporating?
In 2008, I started a band called Flor de Toloache which is the first all female mariachi band in New York and the tri state area. We broke in the New York Times and the NY Daily News. We were getting bigger contracts. My cofounder suggested that I incorporate the band in 2013. I focused on the business side of the band but it is not my thing at all. I’m still uncomfortable with the business side of my music.
Sergio: Aren’t you also a solo artist?
Yes, I have released three albums. I make guest appearances on albums by The Black Keys, Adrian Quesada, hip hop artists.
Sergio: On the business side, who helps you negotiate your contracts with these big artists?
I have relationships with the artists. I have a great entertainment lawyer who has been very supportive. I am so grateful to her. I did have management for seven years and I don’t have a label. After the pandemic, my finances were a total mess. My mom helped me too but at this point, she can’t help me that much. I’m managing too many things with very limited budgets to push my music. It’s very draining.
Sergio: Who did you look up to when you were 16?
La India, Linda Ronstadt, Selena, Whitney Houston but they didn’t seem like me in terms of identity but really, I think that I wanted to be most like Mariah Carey. I was obsessed with her. Big hair like mine … I dreamt of being a singer like her.
Sergio: But between Mariah Carey and Adrian Quesada, whose career would you want to emulate?
Definitely Adrian Quesada and the independent approach. I love my creative freedom to release my music on my own timeframe.
Sergio: Do you want to be a homeowner?
Yes, if I had the money, I would buy our home in San Juan and our house in Queens. I am talking to you right now from Costa Rica and I have fallen in love with this place. It’s such an amazing country. They live so well and comfortable and they have socialized medicine. They are very relaxed. I would invest here. I would love to build a family if I had the abundance of money to do so. If I had the funds, I’d buy an apartment in Brooklyn or Manhattan but to be honest, its not that important. I love all NYC really but Brooklyn was my first home in NYC so it has a special place in my 💙.
#Intelatin #Music #Media #WealthReporting #USHBC #FlordeToloache #MireyaRamos
Details for Mireya:
Sergio’s Long Form Interview | www.mireyaramos.com | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify
Sergio C. Muñoz is a Mexican banker writing on Latina/o Prosperity. His work has been featured in the US Hispanic Business Council; Caló, the Los Angeles Times, the OC Register, PBS, NPR, WNYC, Revista - Harvard Review of Latin America, Studio 360, Latino Leaders Magazine, Poder Hispanic, Animal Político & ¿México Cómo Vamos?
To support my work, please consider purchasing a sample of salt from our sponsor, Santa Prisca & Co: https://bit.ly/Intelatin - Many years ago, I studied the salt exchange with Jing Tio at Le Sanctuaire. I have also done special projects with the artisans cultivating in the Sea of Cortez and the Pangasinan region. This year, after a tasting menu with the CEO of Santa Prisca, hand harvested by salineros in Cuyutlán, Colima, Mexico, I am using this salt exclusively for all my high profile culinary tasting events.
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