{"id":409181,"date":"2026-08-17T21:10:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T21:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/409181\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T21:10:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T21:10:22","slug":"gabriella-flores-meet-lubbocks-emerging-new-voice-in-tejano-music-tejano-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/409181\/","title":{"rendered":"Gabriella Flores: Meet Lubbock\u2019s Emerging New Voice in Tejano Music \u2013 Tejano Nation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Gabriella Flores\u00a0is beginning her journey as an emerging Tejano artist with her new collaboration \u201cMe Tienes Asi\u201d with AJ Castillo. The Lubbock native recently joined Magic 106.5 FM\u2019s Magic Mornings to discuss her music, family roots and the next chapter of her career. (Courtesy photo)<\/p>\n

The Tejano industry is getting to know a new voice from West Texas.<\/p>\n

Gabriella Flores<\/a>, a 2026 Texas Tech University graduate from Lubbock, is beginning the next chapter of her musical journey with a combination of experience, family tradition and a determination to establish herself as an artist in her own right.<\/p>\n

Flores recently joined\u00a0Chismosa and Cucuy on Magic 106.5 FM\u2019s Magic Mornings\u00a0in Lubbock to introduce herself to listeners, talk about her musical upbringing, and discuss her latest release,\u00a0\u201cMe Tienes Asi,\u201d\u00a0a collaboration with AJ Castillo<\/a> that marks one of the biggest steps yet in her emerging career.<\/p>\n

\"\"Magic Mornings with Chismosa & Cucuy<\/p>\n

Gabriella Flores on Magic 106.5 FM (08.14.26)<\/p>\n

For Flores, however, the journey toward becoming a recording artist began long before the new single.<\/p>\n

A Musician From the Beginning<\/p>\n

Born and raised in Lubbock, Flores grew up surrounded by music. Her father, Armando \u201cSonny\u201d Flores, is a longtime musician and vocalist, and his influence became one of the primary reasons she developed a passion for Tejano music.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always looked up to his music, and I loved his music and his demos,\u201d Flores told Magic Mornings. \u201cAnd that\u2019s honestly why I wanted to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her musical education began at just six years old when she started taking singing lessons through Caldwell Kids Entertainment. What began as childhood lessons eventually became a major part of her life. After turning 18, Flores returned to Caldwell Kids Entertainment as an instructor, passing along some of what she had learned to another generation of young performers.<\/p>\n

She credits those years with helping her become more confident as a vocalist.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think having more confidence with my singing,\u201d Flores said when asked what she took away from the experience.<\/p>\n

The lessons were not always easy. Flores recalled being hard on herself when she struggled, but eventually recognized that the challenges were helping her become a better singer.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter that, I was like, it was worth it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

That mindset continues to shape her approach to music.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can always better yourself,\u201d Flores said. \u201cI continue to want to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Mariachi Mi Tierra to the Tejano Stage<\/p>\n

Flores has already spent several years building valuable performance experience. Since 2022, she has been performing with\u00a0Mariachi Mi Tierra, becoming familiar to audiences throughout Lubbock and West Texas. That experience has also helped introduce Flores to people who may not have otherwise known her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be somewhere random, and somebody will know me from the mariachi, or they know that I sing,\u201d she said. \u201cSo, it\u2019s kind of crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her work with Mariachi Mi Tierra has given her a strong foundation in live performance while also connecting her to the musical traditions she grew up around. But now, Flores is beginning to step beyond the mariachi ensemble and establish her own identity as a recording artist.<\/p>\n

AJ Castillo Hears Something Special<\/p>\n

That transition took a major step forward with\u00a0\u201cMe Tienes Asi,\u201d\u00a0her new collaboration with AJ Castillo<\/a>. The pairing began after Flores and Castillo met at an after-party the previous year. They connected, Castillo followed her on Instagram, and eventually heard videos of Flores singing.<\/p>\n

\"\"AJ Castillo teams up with rising Lubbock vocalist Gabriella Flores on the original Tejano ranchera \u201cMe Tienes As\u00ed,\u201d now streaming on all digital platforms. (Courtesy Photo)<\/p>\n

One performance in particular caught his attention: her cover of Bruno Mars\u2018 \u201cRisk It All.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe really liked the sound of my voice,\u201d Flores explained.<\/p>\n

Castillo eventually contacted her about appearing on an upcoming single. Flores was still attending Texas Tech at the time, which meant balancing school and music. But shortly after graduating, she traveled to San Marcos to record the collaboration at Castillo\u2019s Redwood Sound Studios. The studio experience introduced her to another side of performing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really love the putting it together process,\u201d she said. \u201cUsually in the studio, it\u2019s completely different from live singing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rather than approaching the recording as simply another performance, Flores embraced the opportunity to learn from Castillo and the production team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like to be pushed a little bit,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to hear their vision.\u201d<\/p>\n

That willingness to be challenged became an important part of the recording process.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody needs to be pushed,\u201d Flores added.<\/p>\n

For an emerging artist, the collaboration with Castillo provides more than a new song\u2014it gives Flores an opportunity to introduce her voice to listeners outside her established mariachi audience.<\/p>\n

Building Her Own Musical Identity<\/p>\n

\u201cMe Tienes Asi\u201d is not Flores\u2019 first recording experience.<\/p>\n

She also appears on\u00a0\u201cFue Un Placer Conocerte\u201d\u00a0with El Gallo Dez, a collaboration that came together after Flores performed a cover of the Shelly Lares<\/a> song \u201cTe Felicito\u201d at the Cactus Theater. Her mother posted the performance, and the recording caught the attention of Lares, who invited Flores to participate in the debut project for El Gallo Dez. The collaboration also featured Mariachi Mi Tierra, allowing Flores to bring together her work as a mariachi performer and emerging recording artist.<\/p>\n

Flores has also released the pop song\u00a0\u201cBurn Me With Your Love,\u201d\u00a0giving audiences another glimpse into the range of styles she is exploring as she develops her sound.<\/p>\n

Rather than immediately locking herself into one musical lane, Flores is using these early releases to discover what feels authentic to her. \u201cWe\u2019re kind of seeing what I want to do with my career,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Inspired by Selena, Rooted in Family<\/p>\n

Flores\u2019 musical influences reach across generations. She remembers singing \u201cLas Ma\u00f1anitas\u201d as one of her earliest songs, while\u00a0Selena<\/a>\u2018s \u201cBidi Bidi Bom Bom\u201d\u00a0was the first song she performed at a recital. Selena remained an important inspiration throughout her childhood, and Flores still performs \u201cBidi Bidi Bom Bom\u201d today.<\/p>\n

But when it comes to her decision to pursue Tejano music, she points back to her father. Her upbringing gave her a direct connection to the genre, while her experiences with mariachi and other musical styles have allowed her to develop a broader perspective. That family connection is also evident when she performs alongside her father. Flores and Sonny have performed\u00a0\u201cSangre Mi Cuerpo,\u201d\u00a0an emotional father-daughter song that has become a special moment in their live performances.<\/p>\n

Asked about watching his daughter begin her own musical journey, Sonny Flores offered a simple but powerful response. \u201cI\u2019m just so proud of her,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m just very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

A New Artist With a Degree in Marketing<\/p>\n

Flores\u2019 decision to pursue music comes at an interesting moment in her life. She recently graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in\u00a0Marketing, giving her an education that could become an important tool as she develops her career. The transition from college to the professional world can be uncertain, but Flores said she felt fortunate that opportunities began arriving around the same time she graduated.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was very blessed with the timing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Her marketing education also gives her an advantage as an independent artist navigating an industry where musicians increasingly have to understand branding, promotion, and social media. Flores said she knew she could use her degree to promote herself, work with other artists or remain involved in the music business in another capacity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love music. And so, that\u2019s what I wanted to do,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Now, she is putting that education to work on her own career.<\/p>\n

West Texas Has a New Voice to Watch<\/p>\n

Flores\u2019 emergence also highlights the depth of talent coming out of Lubbock and West Texas. During the Magic 106.5 interview, Chismosa and Cucuy pointed out that the region is home to talented musicians across Tejano, mariachi, and Texas country.<\/p>\n

Flores represents a new generation of artists who are growing their careers from outside the traditional Texas music centers while using digital platforms, social media, and collaborations to reach new audiences. Her hometown support has already been significant, and her appearance on Magic Mornings provided an opportunity to introduce Flores beyond those who have seen her perform with Mariachi Mi Tierra.<\/p>\n

More Music Is Coming<\/p>\n

Flores isn\u2019t stopping with \u201cMe Tienes Asi.\u201d During the interview, she revealed that another\u00a0original song is scheduled for release in September. She wasn\u2019t ready to reveal the title, keeping the details under wraps while promising that more information would come later.<\/p>\n

For now, \u201cMe Tienes Asi\u201d serves as an introduction to an artist who is still discovering exactly where her music will take her. But the foundation is already there: years of vocal training, live experience, mariachi roots, a strong family musical tradition, a marketing degree, and a willingness to learn from every opportunity. Flores understands that she is only beginning.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank everybody for really supporting this song,\u201d she said. \u201cThis has meant the world to me, and the support is overwhelming, and I\u2019m so blessed.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the support of her family, her hometown. and an expanding circle of established artists,\u00a0Gabriella Flores is ready for the Tejano industry to learn her name.<\/p>\n

Her story is just beginning\u2014and \u201cMe Tienes Asi\u201d is the latest chapter.<\/p>\n

Follow\u00a0Tejano Nation\u00a0on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0X<\/a> (formerly Twitter)<\/a>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>, and subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube channel<\/a>\u00a0to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our\u00a0Spotify<\/a>\u00a0playlists\u00a0and\u00a0iHeartRadio<\/a>\u00a0podcast.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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