Ela Taubert is ushering in a new wave of Latine pop with plenty of heart. The rising Colombian star has one of this year’s biggest hits with her breakthrough single “¿Cómo Pasó?,” and she’s not slowing down with the follow-up “¿Para Qué?” and a performance at the upcoming 2024 Premios Juventud. In an interview with Remezcla, Taubert talks about her inspirations, the stories behind her songs, and meeting Karol G.
“Right now, I’m focused on being able to share from the most honest part of my heart all the stories I’ve experienced and been inspired by,” she says. “It’s been a beautiful journey. I hope to keep sharing these stories through pop.”
Taubert is a lifelong pop music fan. The Bogotá native grew up on the music of Miley Cyrus’ Disney alter ego. “When I was a little girl, I wanted to be Hannah Montana,” she says with a laugh. “I used to put on her wigs and loved dressing up.” She still cites Cyrus as a current inspiration, as well as Taylor Swift. On the Latine side, it’s Karol G, Jesse y Joy, and Reik.
Back in April, Taubert had a full-circle moment with La Bichota. The Colombian superstar handpicked Taubert as the opening act for her Mañana Será Bonito Tour stop in Bogotá. After performing at the Estadio El Campín in her hometown, she met with Karol G backstage.
“What happened with Karol was a dream come true,” she recalls. “When I saw her, I felt like I wanted to cry. I was so excited. I was on the verge of tears, and she told me, ‘You can’t cry because your mascara will run. Us girls can’t let that happen.’ I loved it because it was very empowering. Being with her that night was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.”
Now, Taubert is riding high with her heartbreak anthem “¿Cómo Pasó?” The song has over 74 million streams on Spotify while nearing nearly one million video creations on TikTok. On July 25, Taubert will perform her hit live at Premios Juventud in Puerto Rico. She has also been nominated for the New Generation – Female Artist category.
When I saw [Karol G], I felt like I wanted to cry. I was so excited. I was on the verge of tears, and she told me, ‘You can’t cry because your mascara will run. Us girls can’t let that happen.’ I loved it because it was very empowering.
“That song is based on my first time falling in love and having my heart broken,” she says. “There are so many people feeling how I felt at that time, and it’s a blessing to see them make that song their own. It has completely changed my life.”
For her follow-up, Taubert blends elements of country music into her new single “¿Para Qué?,” which she calls a sequel to “¿Cómo Pasó?” “It’s about when your ex comes back and you don’t want them anymore because you’re doing well,” Taubert says. She is determined to keep the momentum going. “What’s most important to me is to continue growing la familia [her fanbase] and to be able to touch thousands of hearts with my songs,” Taubert says.
