- Born
- Birth nameZayra Alvarez
- Nicknames
- Z
- Nena Catalina
- Indie Rock Goddess
- Creativity and independence have characterized the career of this stunning Puerto Rican musician. Zayra was born on December 11, 1974 in Guayama and raised in Arroyo, Puerto Rico as Zayra Álvarez. Her parents are Luis Álvarez Cruz and Ana Dones Torres. A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez with a BA in Industrial Engineering she worked for a time at Boeing and later Nokia. She was discovered in Dallas, Texas and became an active participant in the local music scene. She recorded the original version of her album Ruleta in 2004 which was later reissued in 2006 following her participation on Rock Star: Supernova. She is best known for this era, where her unique stage presence and interpretation of songs got her noticed by many. Zayra presented her album Baby Likes to Bang in 2010 with indie label Brando Records. Not content to be just a singer, she is also a lyricist, composer, guitarist, dancer, and producer. A true indie artist; Zayra has also worked as an actress, director, illustrator, jewelry designer, video writer, makeup artist, interior designer and as the photographer for Blue October. Aiming to shatter the stereotypes of a Latina, she has recorded in both English and Spanish with a repertoire that includes Latin Alternative (Digo No), pop (Por Siempre), and EDM (Liquid D). One of her biggest musical inspirations is her fellow Puerto Rican rock musician Draco Rosa. She is married to Paul Nugent. They have one child.
After releasing a concept album 50/50 under the name Nena Catalina in 2022, Zayra is returning to her original name. On October 11, 2023 her new single Memorias y Silencio will mark the start of another artistic era.- IMDb Mini Biography By: burtsbeesfan
- SpousePaul Nugent(? - present) (1 child)
- Eclectic use of genres and looks with a rock edge
- Fluid dancing
- Empathetic interpretation of songs
- Before becoming a professional singer, she graduated from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez with a degree in Industrial Engineering and worked for Boeing.
- Singer-songwriter, guitarist, illustrator, jewelry designer and entrepreneur.
- According to an interview she gave to TV Guide, "Zy-EER-a" is the correct pronunciation of her name.
- Performed guest vocal performances on two Blue October albums; "Come In Closer" off of 2003's "History For Sale" and on "Into the Ocean," a platinum plus single.
- Apart from her career as a musician she has also worked as a music producer, video writer, stylist, makeup artist, photographer, Creative Consultant and Video Producer at Rainmaker Artists - Brando Records and Creative Director at Z+V.
- There are amazing rock bands in South America who are very cool and very modern. They never have a chance to shine in the U.S. because of all the stereotypes. People here think that all Latinos can do is play salsa and merengue.
- [on the inspiration for V.I.P.] The idea of people being born into fame and celebrity, it's just all over our environment. And nowadays, that's what the kids want to be. I don't like the idea of it, people feeling that they can't achieve what they want based on where they were born or who their fathers are. It's amazing how unlucky I was in the environment I was born into, and to have that dream and look around and think, "Man, I'm screwed." But I'm excited that I wasn't left out of the American dream. So I wanted to write a song and tell people that you can create your future, and you don't have to be born into it.
- I just want to share my passion and talent. I love doing everything. I play. I sing. I write. I do everything. The bar is a lot higher now. You have to be able to do a lot more than sing and be pretty. People are demanding. Hopefully people will be inspired to find their own talent, whatever it is, and follow through with it.
- I believe only greatness comes from the biggest leaps.
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