We caught up with Estani and her extraordinary project, ‘Tú de Mí Te Acordarás‘, which pays homage to her grandmother.
How did this tribute to your grandmother begin?
It started during the pandemic when I found four of my grandmother’s old 45s. Later, I found four more through the La Frontera archive. Hearing those recordings sparked something in me. My grandmother, Rosita Lopez, was singing conjunto and boleros in San Antonio in the ’60s and ’70s, and I wanted people to hear that part of her life again. I initially asked if she would record the songs herself, but she wasn’t interested. She gave me her blessing to do them, though, and that’s how this whole journey began.
Why was it important to bring her music back?
Because these recordings are part of our family’s history, but they’re also part of a much longer musical history. There are so many women who contributed to conjunto music whose names people don’t know. I wanted to celebrate my grandmother while she’s still here to experience it and help make sure her contribution is remembered. These songs deserve to keep being heard.
What was it like recording ‘Tú de Mí Te Acordarás’?
There’s something very special about singing a song that was written for your grandmother. You’re bringing your own voice and experiences to it, but you’re also thinking about her singing those same words years before. I wanted to honor that connection while giving the song my own interpretation. With the cumbia version, I also wanted people to move, dance, and enjoy it. It’s a beautiful way to introduce the song to another generation.
How did your grandmother’s music influence you?
My grandmother is such an important connection to my Mexican heritage. I’ve always loved different styles of music, and my own career reflects that, but this project brought me closer to the conjunto and bolero part of my roots. Growing up dancing folklórico and flamenco, I already had that connection to culture through movement. Revisiting her music allowed me to explore it more deeply through my voice, too.
What did you enjoy about working with Beto Martinez?
Beto brings so much musical experience to the table, and I appreciated having him involved in recording and mixing this project. These songs carry a lot of history, so the sound really mattered to me. I wanted the recordings to feel alive and have a connection to where the music came from. It was exciting to hear everything come together and to work with someone whose own musical background is so rich.
What does ‘Déjame En Paz’ mean to you?
To me, there’s strength in those words. Sometimes you reach a point where you have to say, “Enough. Let me have my peace.” I love being able to bring that feeling into a performance. Within an album that’s so connected to my grandmother, it also reminds me that these songs hold emotions we still relate to today. The recordings may come from another time, but the feelings are very familiar.
What was the most emotional part of making the videos?
Seeing the family story take shape visually. When you’re recording, you’re focused on the music and getting the performance right. Bringing images into it gives you another way to sit with what the songs represent. For me, that’s my grandmother, our history, and this connection between her life and mine. It makes you think about time passing and how much you want to preserve. To see
so many of our family photos come to life was something absolutely surreal and mind-blowing. For that reason, I was completely on board with AI.
What do you hope people take from the album and documentary?
I hope they fall in love with the music and become curious about the people behind it. The album gives people a way into my grandmother’s story, and the documentary opens that up to the larger history of conjunto, such as the families, communities, and especially the women who helped shape it. Through the interviews, I’ve learned how much there is to tell. I want people to come away wanting to listen more and ask questions about their own family histories, too.
8. Anything else you’d like to share before we wrap up?
I’m still creating, learning, and pursuing things I’ve wanted to do for years. Making my first documentary has been a huge undertaking, especially while balancing music, work, and everyday life, but this story means so much to me. I’m grateful to everyone who has listened, come to a show, or supported the project. I hope sharing this journey encourages someone else to keep going with something they love. There’s still so much we can do.
You can watch the music video for ‘Tú de Mí Te Acordarás’ below, and let us know what you think. Find out more about Estani and her music online on her official website, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, and YouTube.
