Zayra Alvarez

Genre: Latin Rock Hometown: Dallas TX
www.zayraalvarez.com

Wednesday, March 15   10:00 p.m.
Opal Divine's Freehouse   (700 W 6th St)

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ZAYRA ALVAREZ
RULETA

Sincere, kind, and humble are some of the words used to describe Zayra Alvarez. But you can also add incredible songwriter, amazing voice, and beautiful in every way. Her music goes from light to dark, from driving rock tracks, epic love songs, to island flavored rhythms that push and pull you. There’s not a wasted moment.

Zayra Alvarez was born in Puerto Rico to Luis Alvarez Cruz and Ana Dones Torres and grew up in the scenic town of Arroyo, along with her older sister Liza.

As a child she took part in talent shows and school plays and at age 14, she joined a local rock group and began her singing career. She played in a few bands looking for self-discovery. After a few years she gave up on her musical aspirations because she like the rest of us, didn’t know where to start. She decided to move to Dallas, Texas for an adventure with her homeland best friend, little did she know that it would be there where her passion for music would be rekindled.

“I moved to Dallas with my best friend. I found such an eclectic music scene that it pushed me to want to be more than a vocalist. It was then that I knew I could write my own songs without having to depend on anyone,” states the singer.

Zayra picked up a guitar and a few months later she was performing solo acoustic in the Dallas’ Deep Ellum club district. She became a regular at the Liquid Lounge wowing the room with her powerful voice every week. It was there where she landed a recording contract with Brando Records. She recorded her first album- EP Breaking Up Grey Skies, an acoustic album. A simple snap shot of where she was at that moment…very raw and pure.

Although she considered the album to be one of the most significant events in her life, she was ready to plug it in with a band and explore her Latin Rock roots and make a real musical statement with her next record. She went back in the studio with Brando Records and crafted Ruleta.

Every song on the album contains its own unique sound conceived by the young singer’s exceptional talent. Zayra worked with 3 different producers – With the combined production efforts of Radio Activ, David Castell, and Rob Hill Ruleta found it’s unique sound. It was recorded in California and Texas.
The eleven songs written by the young singer include: “Hoy,” “Cuando,” “Aire” “Cada Momento,” “Solo,” “Amigo Mio,” “ Digo No,” “Lluvia de Mar” and “Alma Boricua.” Along with Por Siempre (co-written with Paco Estrada from SouthFM)” and Entiendeme (co-written with Piper Dagnino of Blue October)