Ángela Aguilar is a tangible presence, even over Zoom. It’s mid-February and the 21-year-old singer is beaming, almost entranced, as she joins our call from Mexico City, where she is hard at work in a studio on her upcoming album. “You probably didn’t recognize me because I’m a new me,” she says, referencing her shoulder-length hair in a soft chocolate brown, which has replaced her signature short bob. “I miss being [The Incredibles character] Edna ‘E’ Mode,” she adds with a smile, “but I’m enjoying this new stage.”
That “new me, new stage” goes beyond just a new hairstyle. Ángela, the youngest of the Aguilar dynasty – her father is Mexican music icon Pepe Aguilar, her grandparents are legendary Mexican artists Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre – got married last July to fellow regional Mexican music superstar Christian Nodal in an intimate ceremony in Mexico (a topic she prefers to keep private and not discuss during our interview). For the first time, she is producing her own music.
“I doubted myself a lot because I had never [produced] before, but I’m discovering how I want my sound to be,” says Ángela, whose father produced all of her previous albums, including her most recent, Bolero, which was nominated for the Latin Grammy Album of the Year in 2024. “At first, I was scared, but now I know that this album is mine. It’s also scary to think that if it does well, it’s thanks to me, but if it doesn’t, it’s also my fault.”
“This is the first time I’m doing everything on my own,” she continues. “I’m taking care of the arrangements, choosing the songs, directing myself vocally.” And for this project, she is especially focused on supporting female talent. “Most of the songs on the album are written by Mexican women. It’s a completely mariachi album, but it’s a little different; it has a modern touch, some subgenres within mariachi that no one would expect me to sing.”
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While it’s her first time working alone, the Billboard Women in Music 2025 Breakthrough Award honoree has been in a process of self-discovery behind the scenes for some time, carefully planning how to navigate within a genre historically dominated by men. “It’s been a process of trial and error,” she says. “I’m still figuring out who I want to be and what I want to say.”
Her father has constantly encouraged that self-discovery, allowing her to find her own voice and style within the genre. “He has always given me the freedom to experiment and find my own path,” she says. “He has been my biggest supporter and has always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.”
As she continues to carve out her own path in the music industry, Ángela is determined to use her platform to uplift and empower other women. “I want to be a voice for women in regional Mexican music,” she says. “I want to show that we can be just as successful and talented as men in this genre. I want to inspire other women to follow their dreams and break barriers.”
With her upcoming album, Ángela is poised to do just that. She is taking control of her own narrative and showcasing her talent and creativity in a way that is uniquely her own. As she continues to evolve and grow as an artist, there is no doubt that she will continue to make a powerful impact in the music industry and beyond.