Elba

One of my major influences as a singer/songwriter is the inspiration I receive when reading the Bible. I love to learn new things each day, and I love when the Lord speaks to me through his word. I usually have a Spanish and English Bible in front of me when I study the word, so that I can get fed in both languages. Spanish translations tend to minister to me differently than English translations do. This is one of the major reasons why I write a lot of Spanish Christian songs.

Another influence has to be my upbringing in the Puerto Rican culture. My father, who plays guitar beautifully, and my uncle, who plays "the cuatro" extraordinarily, used to form bands when I was a child. They often played uptempo folkloric music from Puerto Rico and harmonized accordingly. I was never allowed to disturb them, but I would run to my room along with my sisters to try to emulate their harmonies and their sounds. As I matured, singing "aguinaldos" and spanish songs became a fun way to hang-out with my dad. He taught me a few songs and I taught myself others. Together we entertain our family and try to get them to join in with us whenever there are family gatherings.

I am also a teacher by trade, and I love to practice the art of writing music with my students. I've helped produce a couple of cds for the school I currently work for, and I've begun a number of songwriting projects and music programs. This has helped me become a better singer/songwriter and has encouraged me to continue learning. I am currently a Music Production student at the University of New Haven in Connecticut, and I would love to master the art of producing songs, so that I can continue
to create more meaningful music- my ultimate endeavor.