Elia Esparza is a rising pop artist from El Paso, Texas, now based in Nashville, whose journey from La Voz Mexico and American Idol to her new EP highlights her evolving musical story and growing presence in the scene. Her fusion of pop beats and soulful vocals reflects her Latin roots, making her a compelling artist worth exploring.
Elia Esparza and her Musical Beginning
Music has always been a part of Esparza’s life, and her diverse background in acting and singing fuels her story. Her love of legendary artists with big, amazing voices and her experience in theatre and TV inspire admiration and curiosity about her journey. The singer noted, “I grew up loving Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, and Aretha Franklin. Both my parents sang as well, and they loved a good range of music. So, I grew up doing theatre and performing. I have always known I wanted to be in the entertainment industry. I took choir, voice, and piano lessons. Those experiences led me to move to New York City. There, I attended the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, an acting school specializing in TV, film, and theatre.“
While in New York, Elia Esparza continued to refine her craft as both a singer and songwriter. The El Paso native said, “I spent six years in New York, and during my time there, I was introduced to many different studios and people needing demo singers. So, I was acting, doing demo sessions, and starting to get into writing sessions. Of course, I have always loved singing and performing, but creating your own art from nothing is truly amazing. You go into the studio with some ideas and come out with a whole song. Slowly, I was doing a mix of acting, auditioning, and music. In 2016, I got an opportunity to be on The Voice, and I took it. The Voice changed many things and significantly impacted the trajectory of my career.
Why Nashville?
After her appearance on The Voice, Esparza was poised to take the next step in her career. While that next step wasn’t what you might have expected, it turned out to be great for Elia. Esparza explained, “After The Voice, I moved back to Texas. I decided to move back home to be closer to my family for a while, as I had been away for a long time. This choice changed my life because I was able to do music full-time. I was gigging full-time while also working on new music. Having the opportunities to perform and open for other artists was great. However, I always thought I wanted to return to New York or Los Angeles.
On the other hand, I had visited Nashville once and really liked it there. It has the hustle and bustle of a city, but it also has calming areas and nature. I grew up in Texas and San Diego, but in Texas, there’s so much space. I missed that, but I like the energy of a city. My boyfriend and I moved to Nashville three years ago. He is a guitar player and touring musician as well, so Nashville really made sense for us so that we can collaborate with other songwriters, artists, and musicians.
Elia Esparza Stands Out in a Sea of Country Music
If you are not deeply immersed in the Nashville music scene, you may think it is just country music here. But there are pop, rock, folk, bluegrass, Americana, hip-hop, and R&B artists here, too. Doing something other than country music may help you be noticed more easily. Esparza talked about finding her place in Music City. She explained, “I like country, and I respect the art of country music, especially the songwriting. Writing with country artists or songwriters has also upped my game. When I first got here, I struggled to find my place since I didn’t know anyone or the scene yet. But as I immersed myself in the music scene in Nashville, I was able to take part in many shows, mainly featuring country music. When you are performing in an acoustic show, the audience may not know whether it is country, so people are reacting to a good song rather than a genre. But as a pop artist surrounded by country artists, I stand out. Nashville has been amazing so far because of the collaboration, and that was one of the reasons I moved here. Also, you never know who is in the crowd watching, and I have received several opportunities just from playing songwriters rounds and meeting people.
The Challenge of Finding Your Sound
For some singer/songwriters and recording artists, finding their sound can be a struggle. For some, they may go for what they think will sell but end up not feeling true to themselves. Others try to piece together all their musical influences for an eclectic sound. Whatever the process, believing in and feeling the music you are performing is vital. Elia Esparza has a presence on stage, and her sound feels authentic. Elia described the challenges she faced as she began her music career. The singer/songwriter said, “In the beginning, it was challenging to figure out what my sound was or what direction I wanted to go, because I have an eclectic taste in music. One day, I am listening to R&B, and the next, it’s musical theater. But I also love listening to pop music. So, at first, I didn’t know where to start.
Esparza continued discussing the process of finding who she is as an artist. Elia said, “All I knew was I loved to sing, but what was I trying to say. What was my sound? It has been a lot of trial and error, but when I go back through my catalog, I can sense a theme: you broke my heart, but it’s fine. The sound has gotten better, and over time I’ve become clearer about what I’m trying to say and how I want the listener to feel. The progression I have gone through has led me to my music today and the EP.
Elia Esparza Releases “Not to Be Dramatic” EP
On October 3rd, Elia Esparza released her first EP, called “Not to Be Dramatic.” The EP consists of five songs: three previously released singles and two new ones. The release follows her 2024 single, “Love Story,” which was the first song Esparza released since moving to Nashville. Esparza is excited about this collection of songs produced by Brent McCullough. The singer/songwriter said, “The first song I released this year was ‘You’re Ruining My Life,’ followed by ‘La Toxica.” I am bringing my Latin roots into my music because I am proud of my Mexican heritage. But I have always loved pop music. I love the upbeat, groovy things you can do. I grew up listening to Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, and Dua Lipa. Now I love Chappel Roan, Sabrina, and Ariana Grande. I love pop production and all you can do with it vocally.
Planning an EP or album release takes time and careful consideration to select the songs to include. Is it going to have a theme, be a concept album, or just a collection of unrelated songs? Esparza explained how and why the EP came together. Elia noted, “It was last summer when I decided I would release a new project, since it had been a while since my last one. Recently, I was doing the singles game, which is how it works now. But I wanted to release a cohesive-sounding project. While I was still releasing singles, I was excited to put something together that represents me now. This EP is a new chapter in my career, because I feel my confidence in songwriting and vocal ability has gone to another level since moving to Nashville. So, I wanted to release a group of songs that represented that growth.”
What makes this EP cohesive? Esparza explained, “The sound is cohesive. I wrote all these songs in the same span of time, and while it is not a theme, the songs tell a story. There are oh my gosh, I love you and we met songs. But also, you’re ruining my life, so I don’t need any more. So, all the phases of a relationship are here.
Coming Up for Elia Esparza
Are you ready for more music from Elia Esparza? She is prepared to share it with you. Esparza talked about her future goals. The singer/songwriter said, “This EP is already turning into an album because I already have a few other songs that will be released next year. My goal is to have a full-length album by the end of 2026. My focus is to grow my catalog and become an artist of longevity. Touring outside of Nashville is also important to me. I love being on stage with the band; the energy is tremendous. But the dream is to do music, create records, and be creative until the end of time.”
My Thoughts
Elia Esparza is one of my favorite discoveries of 2025. Her music makes you feel good, but her lyrics have substance. One of my favorite songs on her new EP is “You’re Ruining My Life.” You can hear the influence of those artists from Elia’s childhood, and it fits perfectly with today’s music. The best part is that you can dance to it. The same holds for “La Toxica.” “Right on Time” feels like a ’90s R&B classic. While I am enjoying her latest release, I am already looking forward to more music coming from Elia Esparza in 2026.
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