Eli del Puerto is one with music.
As a child, she found herself singing in the church.
“Then I moved to making up my own songs,” she says. “I was in band when I was in junior high where I played tuba and clarinet. That’s my younger life of being exposed to music.”
The Albuquerque resident’s journey to now has been full of ups and downs.
At 19, she was in an accident that took away her ability to walk for a long time.
“This is when I started dabbling with percussion,” she says. “And writing my own music.”
Del Puerto is known for belting out originals and covers in both Spanish and English.
She is a world traveling songbird educator that arrives to ports around the world singing and dancing.
Her artist name, Eli del Puerto, was born while living in the port city Veracruz, México.
“I lived in Mexico for about six years,” she says. “I wanted to learn Spanish and I wanted to keep teaching. In Veracruz is where I started to take voice lessons.”
And the rest is history.
Del Puerto’s bandmates are accomplished musicians referred to as “Los Encantos” – her dear ones.
Los Encantos add rhythmic world flare bringing both the music and the audience to life and she works with award-winning producer Shaun Hettinger from Albuquerque-based Neon Moon Studios.
“Go Go Get It Girl” from her album, “Encounters,” won best adult contemporary pop song from the New Mexico Music Awards in 2021. She also produced two music videos while in Mexico for two songs from her new album. “Hey Mami” was filmed in Veracruz.
Del Puerto has found a balance to her life. It includes proper rest, eating healthy and staying hydrated.
“Also, not allowing work to consume me,” she says. “Finding that nice balance while keeping optimal health is great.”
While she feels at peace, there are moments where she plateaus with her art.
“In February, I got a bass for my birthday,” she says. “I’ve been learning to play all the standard rhythms and it’s inspiring my new music. The new instrument is a conduit.”
She’s also grown into herself as an artist.
“I’m doing what I want to do and not concerned with who’s watching or how I look,” she says. “Music has become very spiritual for me. It’s been a journey.”
Though she was born in Georgia, she considers New Mexico home. Here are a few things you didn’t know at her:
1 “I am a master curriculum designer, using the arts to teach any subject bilingually for all ages. Licensed New Mexican teacher grades 6 through 12 for languages and history. I teach private lessons and facilitate group workshops.”
2 “I lived in India for 6 months to become a certified yoga teacher and had my first painting exhibit there too!”
3 “As white as I may appear my heart is Mexican and have spent the last 20 years living and traveling to Mexico.”
4 “Glitz and glamour are temporary and short lived. I am secretly a hermit that spends a lot of time in nature and in silence. My spiritual practices are the vital juices that fuel me to exist on this planet.”
5 “I am a visual artist that has created a ‘spirit animal’ product line of shirts and stickers. I design logos for businesses. Check out my lobo!! It is a 10×12 ink on paper.”
