In a world where times change but legends remain, Ana Bárbara has positioned herself as an unforgettable icon in local Mexican music and Latin pop.
Celebrating three decades of a spectacular career, the artist has excelled as the defining female voice of the grupero genre, with a mix of beats that has captivated millions. Over the years, the native of San Luis Potosí has not only won hearts – with an extensive discography that includes 11 studio albums and 18 compilations – she has also shaped the local musical style.
From the time she debuted with a self-titled album in 1994 to becoming La Reina Grupera, Altagracia Ugalde Motta (her real name) has released a string of hits that resonate with a unique energy. Two decades ago, she delivered one of her biggest and most transcendent songs, 'Lo Busqué'. “She was the first to do a crossover between pop and country,” says Ana Bárbara — and, as she can proudly claim, started a trend that now influences artists like Carín León, Chiquis and others.
Throughout her career, she has worked with legends such as Vicente Fernández, Bronco and Paquita la del Barrio, and has been a key factor in the rise of superstars such as Christian Nodal and (more recently) Majo Aguilar and Adriana Ríos . Her career not only reflects her mastery of the stage, but the stage as well Advertising sign diagrams. Hits like “Me Asusta Pero Me Gusta”, “La Trampa”, “Ya No Te Creo Nada” and “No Lloraré” reached the top 10 of Hot Latin Songs and albums like Ay Amor (1996) and Yo Soy La Mujer (2014) established her as a mainstay on Regional Mexican Albums.
Ana Bárbara will be recognized with the Music Lifetime Achievement Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024. In this intimate conversation, the Queen of Grupera opens the doors to her world, revealing more about her achievements, challenges and passion that continues fueled by an impressive musical heritage.
This year you complete 30 years of musical career and you will soon celebrate it with the La Reina Grupera tour.
Cómo han pasado los años (how the years passed), like the song [by Rocío Dúrcal] he says — and it was incredible. With so many things going on in life, being alive is a miracle. It's a blessing to celebrate with music and tour! It is a triple blessing. The tour is a wave of nostalgia, history, emotions, emotional ups and downs. Because in 30 years how many stories could have been written? How many were part of my songs? I can't express enough thanks for the gratitude that my heart feels, without a doubt.
You sing, compose, dance. Is there an area that you enjoy most about being the superstar Ana Barbara, be it recording, composing or performing live?
Everyone has their magic. But the song part is very exciting. It's like, “Oh my god, I thought of that! Where does it come from? Which part of the universe? Where was my soul?' When I start producing it, I see if I want a guitar here or a trumpet there. The creative process is like an adrenaline rush. Also, you know a feeling has crystallized, if you can call it that. A feeling that took shape. Just talking about it excites me. I'm finishing up right now [a song that I’m] it drives me crazy and listening to it makes me think, “How did I come up with that?” I know, it's really cool. This is an indescribable feeling.
I was listening to your latest track, “Así bailé”. You have a very entertaining way of telling stories that make you smile.
If you heard it and said, “I laughed, I smiled, it put me in a good mood,” then I've done my job. This song was to talk about the joke when you meet someone and it doesn't matter how old you are. You can be 17, 18, 40, 50 or 60 years old, be single and feel butterflies in your stomach again. Why not? That's what I love about this song.
You use norteño elements like the accordion, but it also sounds a little country. How do you approach incorporating different styles into your music?
This is something organic — that word is in style. “Lo Busqué” will be 20 years old and I was lucky enough to be with Carín León at StageCoach [festival on April 27], where he told the audience that for him, that song was, in fact, his first crossover between pop and country. It's a song that marked him, and marked me when I wrote it.
When I wrote it, I had a lot of trouble with the record company — because they said, “Your song is neither grouper, nor rancher, nor ballad, nor country.” And I said to them, “Do you know why it's nothing? Because it's everything.” They are songs that come naturally to me. I think it's the influence of cultures—traveling, listening to all kinds of music—that makes me write this way.
Thirty years ago, when you were starting your career, local Mexican music was even more male-dominated than it is today. What was it like to stand out and make your way as a female leader in the music scene and what challenges did you have to overcome?
The first challenge? Insecurity. It is absolutely a man's market. I still believe it. It's misogynistic, and I say that on the authority of years of being around it. [A record executive] he said, “We have five singles [to release], and Ana will be the fifth.” The first is almost always, or always, very masculine. It 's crazy! They are career challenges that deflate your mood.
But you keep going because”orgullo de mujer cuando está herido“(or “a woman's pride when she is hurt”) — says my song “Loca” (2004). Even if they [make you] let your guard down and say, “She'll probably get married or have kids” or “Oh, she won't have the body she once had.”
No! If you got married, you got married. if you had a child, you bless it and move on. I have been a victim of such comments which can discourage any man, any woman. Don't let them get you down – keep going, keep fighting. If it affects you, you need to know how to channel it. I have channeled it through my songs, through dance, concerts and it has worked very well for me.
You proved it in February during your performance at Premio Lo Nuestro, with your many hits, numerous costume changes, choreography and then you did a split! How do you prepare for this kind of fitness on stage? How is your diet and routine?
The worst thing that can happen to an artist, in my humble opinion, is that what he needs most is the discipline or routine to be fit — to get on stage, sing and dance at the same time. daily exercise. We [artists] We are always flying, traveling, going up, going down, all the time, and the only thing we don't have is a routine. However, not having constant awakening in the same place — within this disorder you must have an order.
I try to do sports at least three, four times a week. I try to make them intense — because imagine singing, dancing, performing, and changing costumes is a burden on your legs, arms, and feet. Besides, you can't become a gymnast [guru], because you don't have time. One of the limitations is looking for non-routine schedules, whether it's in the evening, another in the morning, or at dawn. Do yoga, aerobics, things that get you in shape for that kind of performance.
The logical thing to do when you're not traveling, singing, promoting, taking care of your home or family is to rest. Well no! During these breaks, the stress I put on my body is what is called positive stress. Even if I'm very tired, I try to exercise to be fit for these kinds of challenges, like award shows or tours — because for every [tour] show, you need an hour and a half or two. Imagine being on stage, up there in heels at that age. [Laughs.] Yes, it is quite a challenge, queen.
You have been a judge in competitions such as La Academia and Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento. What was that experience like being on the other side of the music industry?
You can go all over the world and you will never meet a monument like a critic. It's funny, but the reviewer can suddenly be cold and just say, “Look, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta,” right? I've been a judge, but I've been a judge — I've also been on programs as a contestant, not just once, but many times. From that sympathy, I made my comments [as judge]. I always wanted the contestant to feel good and comfortable and leave there having had a nice experience. Despite how strong [it can be], I always wanted them to have a glimmer of hope. But I tried to be realistic.
Apart from the tour, what else is next for Ana Bárbara?
I have other music projects with new artists. Maria Jose, a Mexican singer I love, just recorded a song. It's a song I wrote called “Mi Rei, Mi Santo” and the truth is, she sings it very beautifully. She invited me to sing it with her. It comes out [soon] and we are very excited.
Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024 will air exclusively on Telemundo Sunday (June 9) at 9 p.m. ET and will also be available on the Telemundo app and Peacock.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/ana-barbara-la-reina-grupera-lifetime-achievement-award-latin-women-in-music-1235701193/