When she was 15 years old, Mexican-American singer/songwriter Giselle Torres made a special tradition that she still holds dear to her heart. Releasing a song on every birthday for the past three years, Torres made it a priority to continue the sentimental moment for when she turned 18 back in May — all during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The song, appropriately titled “18,” expresses the excitement and independence that comes with turning 18, but also touches on uncertainty and oftentimes fear that accompanies this milestone into adulthood. “I wanted to make it relatable for any teen out there who’s going through the same thing,” Torres says.
Giselle sits down (virtually) with Celeb Secrets to discuss “18”, what she hopes listeners her age take away from it, and the new chapter she’s embarking on as a young adult. Read more in our full Q&A below and let us know what you think of “18” by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
You can connect with Giselle on Instagram by giving her a follow at @giselleeetorres.
Celeb Secrets: You have a new single out right now called “18.” Can you talk to us about the song, and what made you want to record/release it?
Giselle Torres: “This song is really special for me because I actually turned 18 years old this year and apart from it being my birthday, it’s also a really big one. So I wanted the lyrics and melody to reflect the idea of growing up and entering this new chapter. I’ve also made it tradition over the years to release a song on every birthday, and I’ve been doing it since I was 15.”
CS: You wrote and recorded the song during quarantine — what was that process like for you? Do you have any fun memories or moments from the creative process?
GT: “The recording process was definitely a little different than the past. I started writing the song when quarantine began and then recorded a demo of it in my bedroom and sent it over to Cory. After a bit of back and forth, I went to the studio (once it was safe to do so) to record the vocals and tweak the melody and lyrics. Most of the memories that I have are actually re-writing this song so many times. I’ve never rewritten a song as much as I did with this one. I wanna say, there’s around 5 different versions? Part of it was just wanting to get it right and making sure I had included everything I wanted to say but at the same time making it relatable for any teen out there who’s going through the same thing. During the process of writing this song, I reached out to a couple of friends who I went to school with and talked to them a little bit about how they’re feeling about turning 18. That way, I could get ideas and hear other people’s opinions as well. Most times, it just comes to me easily, but this one needed a lot of digging to get to the points and message I wanted to get across.”
CS: You also worked with Cory Rooney and producer Josh Harris on the track — can you talk to us about working with them and maybe anything you’ve learned from the experience?
GT: “This is the first record I’ve done with Cory and it truly has been an amazing experience. It’s really fulfilling to be able to collaborate with such a legend and pro and be guided along the way. I’m still young and I have so much left to learn, but each day I’m at the studio I’m growing as an artist and learning something new. I’m used to writing these songs by myself, which is great, but sometimes you need someone to share their point of view and give you feedback or notes in order to give your record that extra push.”
CS: “18” has special meaning to you because you are 18 years old and you’ve also released a new song every year in honor of your birthday. Do you relate to the song’s lyrics in any way?
GT: “Yes I definitely do. I wanted to write about all the things that come with turning 18. The excitement, the independence, but also what no one ever really talks about which is the uncertainty and how sometimes it’s okay to be afraid. One of the lines in the song says ‘It’s 3am and I’m scrolling through all these pictures of people I used to know,’ and I remember the night I wrote it, I was scrolling through Instagram seeing pictures of friends I used to go to school with, and seeing how they’re all moving away, going to college and how they all have seemed to have their lives together, and then I caught myself overthinking. But then I realized that it’s okay to feel a little lost sometimes, and that even though everyone seems like they’ve got it together online, they’re all probably feeling the same right now. And that’s what I wanted to base the song on. This upcoming part of your life that is filled with thrill but also those feelings that no one likes to admit, but can’t help but feel.”
CS: For people your age listening to “18,” what do you want them to take away from it?
GT: “I want them to feel excited and hopeful for this new chapter of their life. And that even though sometimes change may be scary, they’re not alone.”
CS: Who are some artists that you look up to/inspire your music?
GT: “I look up to Taylor Swift a lot when it comes to songwriting, I think she is an amazing songwriter and she also started in this business very young, so I admire that a lot. I also am a big fan of Ariana Grande and Lauv.”
CS: Do you have any other music or projects that we can expect from you either during or after quarantine?
GT: “I am currently working on more music right now and actually have plans on releasing my first EP this year, so I’m very excited for that. I think it’s good to always keep creating especially during this time.”
CS: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, what’s a secret about yourself that our readers wouldn’t know?
GT: “A secret about myself would probably be that I write songs about everything and everyone. If a friend of mine’s going through a breakup, I write about it. If a cute boy ever so glances at me in public, I write a song about him haha. Sometimes my family asks where I got the inspiration for certain songs, and most of the time I don’t really know what to tell them!”
