The Real Jenni From The Block

Jenni Rivera, the diva of banda, started out about five years ago when a birthday gift for her father, a master recording, eventually led to a full-time singing career. She took a chance and left her successful career as a real estate agent, and she hasn’t looked back since.

How fitting that she’s now acquiring real estate in the pop world these days, too. Her new single, “Amiga Si Lo Ves,” shows us that a strong outspoken woman can and does feel and love like the rest of us. And Rivera is proving not only to be a very talented artist, but an entrepreneur as well (watch for her new Divina cosmetics line). We caught up to the very busy Rivera, who was just wrapping up the video for the second single off of Simplemente Lo Mejor.

So you’ve just wrapped on the video shoot for “Amiga Si Lo Ves.” How was it?
It was a wonderful experience working with great people such as Jessy Terrero, who is very dominant in hip-hop and R&B on the English side, and Risa Machuca, who has also worked with artists such as 50 Cent, G-Unit, Snoop Dogg, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys. Just to be able to work with people like this, who have a great vision, was an awesome experience.

What’s the concept of the video?
“Amiga Si Lo Ves” is a song where a person, a female in this case [actually in the video it relates to male and female], is expressing the need for seeing someone. You’ve broken up with someone and you’re telling a friend, if you see him tell him … let him know I’m not doing well. Another vignette in the video is a young man who has lost his daughter and he’s looking through the whole city trying to find her, asking everybody if they’ve seen her. Another one is a mother who has lost her son in the war in Iraq. She asks La Virgen, if you see him let him know that I miss him. So it’s different vignettes to show the different aspects of the love you might have for someone.

You’re known for being outspoken in your music, is this your chance to show your softer side?
That’s the whole point and I’m glad you see it like that. A lot of people take it in a negative way and think, “Oh Jenni’s changing,” and this or that, but I think that I need to be able to — as I do as a woman — show that I’m strong but also soft. I feel, I’m tender, and that’s the way it is artistically; you have to able to show your versatility.

Do you think you’ll shy away from the corridos?
You know what, I don’t think I can move away from that because if I do, who else is going do it? If I leave, my crowd would kill me. They want somebody to represent them and that’s me, so if I can stay with them and give them what they want — yet still be able to conquer a new market — then that’s the ideal thing for me.

Why do your fans identify with you and your music?
I’m just like them. I think they’re tired of seeing these fabricated artists who, yeah, they’re fine, they’re beautiful, but how many of our fans look like that, you know what I’m saying? Not only in the looks, but they can identify with me because I came from the ’hood, I came from the ghetto — that’s who buys my music, it’s the humble people. I know what they’re all about because I’ve been there. And you know, they want to be represented by somebody that’s reachable and not on cloud nine somewhere, in their own little world.

Do you see yourself as a role model to young women?
I think I’ve had to [be]. I didn’t want to consider myself that, but that’s what I’ve become. … I’ve gotten to where I am because I’m different, because I’m daring, because I represent my people. I love them. And because I’m real, so they figure, Wow! Jenni has been through this, just like I was, and Jenni has done this, just like I did. I’ve been through all kinds of things, just like my fans have. Sin querer, I became a role model and now I love it. It makes me more aware, makes me more careful as to what I’m going to do.

You started recording about five years ago, is that right?
I actually began recording 10 years ago, but five of those years were just as a hobby. My dad had a record label. He always wanted me to record and one day for his birthday, I decided to prepare a master and say, “Here dad, happy birthday! Here’s what you’ve always wanted!” And I went ahead and did my real estate and lived my life.

Well every year, he wanted another album … and there I was. He planted a picture on it and [it] sold 15 units a year. But it wasn’t until 1999, when I was happy being me ... I had studied business administration and I was doing real estate, I was doing well, when a radio station — while I was driving my clients to see a house — started playing my music! And the next half hour, people were like, “Can we hear that song again from that one girl?” Sooner or later nightclub owners and promoters were calling me to perform … When they talked about paying me for this, I said, “Hey I can do this for a little while and I can come back to real estate later.” From 1999 on, that’s when I took my career seriously.

Is your new line of cosmetics for your fanbase or Latinas in general?
It’s not only for my fanbase, but it’s also for a lot of other people who know who Jenni Rivera is, and they don’t necessarily support her music because my music is so banda, it’s so regional — like maybe the Cuban ladies, or the people in Miami, or other people, who are not fond of my music. I completely understand and respect that. But everybody is fond of being beautiful, of having nice skin, of having great quality products. Everybody loves that, we all want to look good, and we all want to take care of ourselves, and we all want be divine, Nos queremos ver divinas; that’s the name of the line, Divina, and it will be directed toward Latin women

What’s your personal definition of style?
My own personal style is very mixed. I love dressing in many different ways, and when I’m on stage, a lot of people don’t understand that; people at my label don’t understand that — they want me to dress, you know, like the regional Mexican artist, with vaquero pants and the leather hanging everywhere and the sombrero hat. That’s not me! That’s not who my fans are going to identify with.

They want to know Jenni can wear some nice high boots with a mini-skirt and be in style at the same time, just like we can. So when I’m casual and I’m by myself and I don’t have interviews and nobody’s looking, I like to wear sweats and a lot of hip-hop clothing — Adidas, Nike suits; I’m very in to that, I have so many tennis shoes. I love to dress in business outfits because that’s how I started. So that’s what I love to do. And when I go out I’ll wear a mini-skirt with some high heels and just look all hoochified for all the guys at the club [she laughs].


				*La Diva de la Banda* *The Real Jenni From The Block*



	Home


		http://www.batanga.com



		She’s a little bit banda and a little bit pop, but she’s still... By Nahum Madrid The Real Jenni From The Block March 3, 2005 Jenni Rivera, the diva of banda, started out about five years ago when a birthday gift for her father, a master recording, eventually led to a full-time singing career. She took a chance and left her successful career as a real estate agent, and she hasn’t looked back since. How fitting that she’s now acquiring real estate in the pop world these days, too. Her new single, “Amiga Si Lo Ves,” shows us that a strong outspoken woman can and does feel and love like the rest of us. And Rivera is proving not only to be a very talented artist, but an entrepreneur as well (watch for her new Divina cosmetics line). We caught up to the very busy Rivera, who was just wrapping up the video for the second single off of Simplemente Lo Mejor. So you’ve just wrapped on the video shoot for “Amiga Si Lo Ves.” How was it? It was a wonderful experience working with great people such as Jessy Terrero, who is very dominant in hip-hop and R&B on the English side, and Risa Machuca, who has also worked with artists such as 50 Cent, G-Unit, Snoop Dogg, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys. Just to be able to work with people like this, who have a great vision, was an awesome experience. What’s the concept of the video? “Amiga Si Lo Ves” is a song where a person, a female in this case [actually in the video it relates to male and female], is expressing the need for seeing someone. You’ve broken up with someone and you’re telling a friend, if you see him tell him … let him know I’m not doing well. Another vignette in the video is a young man who has lost his daughter and he’s looking through the whole city trying to find her, asking everybody if they’ve seen her. Another one is a mother who has lost her son in the war in Iraq. She asks La Virgen, if you see him let him know that I miss him. So it’s different vignettes to show the different aspects of the love you might have for someone. You’re known for being outspoken in your music, is this your chance to show your softer side? That’s the whole point and I’m glad you see it like that. A lot of people take it in a negative way and think, “Oh Jenni’s changing,” and this or that, but I think that I need to be able to — as I do as a woman — show that I’m strong but also soft. I feel, I’m tender, and that’s the way it is artistically; you have to able to show your versatility. Do you think you’ll shy away from the corridos? You know what, I don’t think I can move away from that because if I do, who else is going do it? If I leave, my crowd would kill me. They want somebody to represent them and that’s me, so if I can stay with them and give them what they want — yet still be able to conquer a new market — then that’s the ideal thing for me. Why do your fans identify with you and your music? I’m just like them. I think they’re tired of seeing these fabricated artists who, yeah, they’re fine, they’re beautiful, but how many of our fans look like that, you know what I’m saying? Not only in the looks, but they can identify with me because I came from the ’hood, I came from the ghetto — that’s who buys my music, it’s the humble people. I know what they’re all about because I’ve been there. And you know, they want to be represented by somebody that’s reachable and not on cloud nine somewhere, in their own little world. Do you see yourself as a role model to young women? I think I’ve had to [be]. I didn’t want to consider myself that, but that’s what I’ve become. … I’ve gotten to where I am because I’m different, because I’m daring, because I represent my people. I love them. And because I’m real, so they figure, Wow! Jenni has been through this, just like I was, and Jenni has done this, just like I did. I’ve been through all kinds of things, just like my fans have. Sin querer, I became a role model and now I love it. It makes me more aware, makes me more careful as to what I’m going to do. You started recording about five years ago, is that right? I actually began recording 10 years ago, but five of those years were just as a hobby. My dad had a record label. He always wanted me to record and one day for his birthday, I decided to prepare a master and say, “Here dad, happy birthday! Here’s what you’ve always wanted!” And I went ahead and did my real estate and lived my life. Well every year, he wanted another album … and there I was. He planted a picture on it and [it] sold 15 units a year. But it wasn’t until 1999, when I was happy being me ... I had studied business administration and I was doing real estate, I was doing well, when a radio station — while I was driving my clients to see a house — started playing my music! And the next half hour, people were like, “Can we hear that song again from that one girl?” Sooner or later nightclub owners and promoters were calling me to perform … When they talked about paying me for this, I said, “Hey I can do this for a little while and I can come back to real estate later.” From 1999 on, that’s when I took my career seriously. Is your new line of cosmetics for your fanbase or Latinas in general? It’s not only for my fanbase, but it’s also for a lot of other people who know who Jenni Rivera is, and they don’t necessarily support her music because my music is so banda, it’s so regional — like maybe the Cuban ladies, or the people in Miami, or other people, who are not fond of my music. I completely understand and respect that. But everybody is fond of being beautiful, of having nice skin, of having great quality products. Everybody loves that, we all want to look good, and we all want to take care of ourselves, and we all want be divine, Nos queremos ver divinas; that’s the name of the line, Divina, and it will be directed toward Latin women What’s your personal definition of style? My own personal style is very mixed. I love dressing in many different ways, and when I’m on stage, a lot of people don’t understand that; people at my label don’t understand that — they want me to dress, you know, like the regional Mexican artist, with vaquero pants and the leather hanging everywhere and the sombrero hat. That’s not me! That’s not who my fans are going to identify with. They want to know Jenni can wear some nice high boots with a mini-skirt and be in style at the same time, just like we can. So when I’m casual and I’m by myself and I don’t have interviews and nobody’s looking, I like to wear sweats and a lot of hip-hop clothing — Adidas, Nike suits; I’m very in to that, I have so many tennis shoes. I love to dress in business outfits because that’s how I started. So that’s what I love to do. And when I go out I’ll wear a mini-skirt with some high heels and just look all hoochified for all the guys at the club [she laughs].



		Regresar A ~Articles/Articulos~