Elena Rose has entered a new chapter in her career as a singer-songwriter with the release of her debut album, Bendito Verano (Holy Summer).
“I've always had this dream of having, writing and working on an album, almost to the point where it became a bit of a nightmare because I had a lot of expectations,” the 30-year-old Venezuelan singer-songwriter told TODAY.com. “I put a lot of pressure on myself and it wasn't the right time for it, but I kept telling myself, 'It's going to happen and it's going to be amazing.'
“I just had no idea it was going to be,” she adds of realizing her dream with “Bendito Verano.”
An acclaimed Grammy and multiple Latin Grammy nominee, Elena Rose, whose real name is Andrea Elena Mangiamarchi, has written hits for artists such as Bad Bunny, even received a Grammy Award for her work on the song “Un Verano Sin Ti”, which became first Spanish-language album nominated for album of the year.
There's also a credit to “Mamiii” by Becky G featuring Kaol G, Jennifer Lopez and Maluma's “Pa' of”, “De Vueta La Vueta” by Daddy Yankee and Marc Anthony, and conversations with Celean Gomez, Rowandro and Ryandroan Gomez. Among others.
When it came to her own album, Elena Rose was inspired by her love of summer, the “heavenly” playlist, Italian holidays and, most importantly, trusting her intuition.
The result is a deeply personal, genre-blending 12-track album that Elena Rose says made her “feel proud” – and “transcended the music.”
“The first name that came to mind” for her creation was “Holy Summer,” which she translated into Spanish.
“Summer is my favorite time of year,” she says. “When I think of summer, I think of the sunset, I think of the beach, I think of the breeze, I think of happiness. I think of dancing and just a lot of moments where you think, 'Wow, this place is beautiful.' Wow. I love the people I live with. Thank you God for my life. Thank you for the gift.”
Collaborations with Eladio Carrion, Beto Montenegro, Young Miko and Justin Quiles, as well as the dreamy, angelic music videos for each track, have only expanded her vision.
Below, Elena Rose talks about “Bendito Verano,” the inspiration for opening track “Mantra,” her upcoming tour and more.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Why was now the perfect time for Bendito Verano and what inspired it?
I think after (my 2024 song) “Me Lo Merezco” (“I Deserve It”) was born, I thought, “This is where I feel the best,” because it went beyond the music and became more about the message and what it does in people's lives.
It was this feeling of, “Look what we had to go through and we did it. We're here on the beach, let's just have fun and dance.” Mixing this sense of what summer means to me and then asking the question, “If it was summer in heaven, what playlist would they play?”
That's why we have the saxophone and trumpets, because I imagine angels performing in heaven. (I wanted this album to help us remember the things that really matter… and it would be about love.
We have elements like the afro that make me feel free, allow me to feel peace, joy and be in the present. When I listen to the bass line or the drum parts, there are a lot of root feelings that come up that remind me that I come from amazing people who did amazing things for me to be here.
But I have my own message that I really step in and add my little grain of salt to. I'm talking about mental health, mindfulness, emotional responsibility and true and unconditional love.
Tell me about recording the album and putting it together?
We went to Italy to record all the visual effects. Every song has a visual. The first time I went to Italy was right after I started my relationship with my father. We didn't speak for about five years, and my father is half Chilean, half Italian, but grew up in Venezuela.
My last name is Italian and I have always wanted to go to Italy and I am grateful that it happened right after we hugged. Visually, the woman I saw in Italy was a woman who embraced everything about where she came from and who she was. (Someone) who has never lost her essence but has truly worked towards the woman she wants to be and who she wants to be for the world, her industry and her craft. I'm glad to see it visually. I needed to see this. And in a place like Italy, on Lake Como, the first thing I thought was: “If God wakes up in the morning and opens his bedroom window, this is the view.”
And then we recorded everything in Italy, aesthetically with this woman, where you see vulnerability and innocence, but then you also see her strength and her resilience.
You open the album with the song “Mantra”. What is the history of the track?
The album opens with a mantra I wrote with my life coach that repeats, “I am, I am.” It's just one minute. I want people to start their days this way. This is how I start my days.
There's also “SpreadLof – Andrea's Interlude” in the middle.
Interlude was my best friend. I asked him, “If you could describe a warrior of light, how would you describe her?”
And the song that I wrote to my inner child ends. It all starts with the singing of my mother and grandmother. So it's very, very intentional, just a big bundle of love.
Which song would you say is the most vulnerable or the one that fans want to hear?
I think every song has something like “Luna de Miel” (with Ravayan), for me it's the wedding song of the album. “La de Dios” is a moment to connect with the purest part of your heart, your inner child, and also to connect with God. This is a reminder in a world that is currently in chaos.
“Hallelujah!” tells you: love without fear. “Alma” is telling you: Look at all you've been through. You've always had everything, and if you lose everything you have, you won't lose anything.
“Amen Bebe”, you have a partner and you build something together: a best friend, a boyfriend, a dog, celebrating life. There's a little bit of everything. I'm just grateful that I have an album that I think you can listen to from start to finish and it will be an unforgettable experience.
At the end of November you will go on tour. What can fans expect?
I'm excited, happy. This is my first US tour. We are going to present the album. We're doing a very intimate show and I love it. I hope it goes on too long and people tell me, “You guys need to leave.” And we will all say: “No!”
I am glad to see my warriors of light. They are everything to me. We feed each other and exchange energy. We lift each other up and now I'm bringing the work that I put my heart and soul into and I can't wait for you guys to listen to it.
