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

Hi Nina, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Growing up, I didn’t always know I wanted to be an artist. I loved writing music and playing instruments, but it was more of a hobby than a career goal. That changed in high school when my show choir traveled out of state for nationals. There, I was offered a scholarship to attend a two week intensive in New York for Young Recording Artists. At the time, I thought of it as just a fun opportunity… a side quest if you will.

But that experience turned out to be a turning point. For the first time, I had access to professional resources, mentors, and a creative community. I learned how to record in a real studio, structure songs with intention, and connect with audiences in a meaningful way. From that moment on, music stopped being just a hobby, it became a path I wanted to follow seriously.

After high school, I applied to Berklee College of Music to deepen my knowledge and create connections with like-minded peers. When the pandemic hit in 2020, I was faced with a tough decision: pay for Zoom classes I couldn’t afford, or take a leap and move to Nashville. Of course, I chose the latter, and I don’t regret it one bit.

Since then, I’ve been fully committed to a life of music. The creative process challenges and fulfills me in a way nothing else does. That’s why I continue to choose this path, because it’s where I feel most alive, most purposeful, and most myself.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I originally just wanted to be a songwriter for other artists, and for film and TV. But when I released my first single, “Manejaré Sola”, a piano ballad that became a “crying in the club” anthem, I realized how much I loved creating the full experience around a song.

Writing a great song is one thing, but building a visual identity around it is another. For me, the most important thing is staying true to the core of who I am. I’m drawn to dreamy, hazy textures in sound and visuals, because they reflect the way I see the world…through emotion, memory, and movement.

I grew up in New Mexico, in a Mexican-American household. I was constantly in a bilingual environment, so incorporating that into my music was very important to me. I know there are many others like me who want to hear their own experiences reflected in music, and I hope to help fill that space.

I certainly have my work cut out for me. My debut EP that was just released, “Angel”, is a pivotal moment for me in my career. For the first time, I feel like I am being completely honest about who I am and what my artistry looks like. As an independent artist, the challenges are real. I book my own shows, fund my music videos and production, and stay on top of social media. The list is long. But every day, I remind myself that it will all be worth it. I just have to keep pushing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m actually new to the DFW as well! But here are some recommendations that have been given to me that I have loved.

Sundown Granada on Mondays for their open mic- This is the first open mic I went to in Dallas. Such a welcoming vibe and talented people.

La Victoria- The absolute best breakfast burritos in Dallas. Hands down. I am a hard breakfast burrito critic and this one blows me away every single time.

BCD Tofu in Carrollton- This is a chain actually, I call it my piece of LA in Dallas.

Black Swan Saloon- It was hard for me to add this, I won’t lie I kind of wanted to gatekeep LOL. My favorite quiet bar for talking with friends and having a good craft bevy.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, my mom. She’s been my biggest supporter and a guiding light in both life and career decisions. My high school choir director, who unknowingly pushed me to perform with more passion and purpose. And Devon and Andrew, the mentors I met in New York, who gave me tools and confidence I didn’t know I needed. There are so many others… this journey really has taken a village.

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550527551260&mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr

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

Other: Tiktok- https://www.tiktok.com/@ninaestradamusic?_t=ZT-8zEfTPF6QU1&_r=1

Image Credits
Maiartmedia, Robert List, Hector Mendoza

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.