They say that when one door closes, another opens ... and María CelesteArrarás decreed this in her life. After concluding an 18-year chapter with Telemundo, great things were coming for the journalist and everything from the hand of her son Adrián. The young man, who has a spectacular voice and a great talent for music, has launched himself professionally in this highly competitive industry and his mother has become his right hand: his manager.
In an exclusive interview with HOLA! USA, María Celeste and Adrian Vadim share a family and professional dialogue in this learning process for both of them, in which sincere questions are asked full of love, trust and mutual support. In the same way, the Puerto Rican explained how her transition from journalist to manager has been, a stretch that she experiences as she goes, as it was an unknown territory for her.
Despite the great challenge that this may represent, she assures that she has all the willingness to learn and take her son‘s career to the top, which, by the way, this September 25th is the world premiere of his first single Space.
Like any mother, María Celeste wants the best for her children, so from a very young age she has paid special attention to the communication she has with them, and recognized in this conversation that she is a demanding mother, which has resulted in the development of three magnificent boys. In the specific case of Adrián, who is entering the world of entertainment, the ‘momager’ (mother and representative) ensures that his level of demand will be at the maximum, all with the purpose that his son can get ahead and forge his own path.
Although it will not be easy, María Celeste knows that, with effort and discipline, Adrián will be able to make his dreams come true and make her feel very proud and perhaps one day see him on the stage of an award ceremony as important as the Latin GRAMMY.
“You once told me that to succeed in life you have to be open-minded. You told me, “The world is not black and white, it is a wide range of grays” and I did not forget that because as you know I am quite stubborn and sometimes I get stuck,” said Adrian.
María Celeste: How do you feel about starting this new musical adventure?
Adrián: I have many emotions, but mainly I feel a mixture of nerves and enthusiasm because I have been working on this project for more than a year.
María Celeste: Do you remember when was the moment you realized that you wanted to dedicate yourself to music?
Adrián: I have been singing alone since I was 14 years old and in 2016 when I was 17 I saw an acoustic concert by Justin Bieber and seeing how he connected with the audience I was shocked. It was then that I knew that I wanted my music to also provoke strong emotions. I hear that Bieber concert to this day frequently.
María Celeste: Do you remember what my response was when you told me you wanted to sing?
Adrián: Well, you heard me singing in the shower and thinking it was the radio and you told me to turn down the music. And when I told you it was me when I came out of the bathroom, you were astonished, I think a little confused.
María Celeste: Who are your musical heroes, what singers do you admire and why?
Adrián: I like singers like Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber. When they sing, it is so natural that it seems that they speak and sing at the same time, they tell stories. And that is what I try to achieve with my songs.
María Celeste: How do you feel knowing that I have become your manager? How would you rate me?
Adrián: I feel confident because being my mother I know that you are protecting my interests and that gives me peace of mind. But you are very, very demanding.
María Celeste: What do you expect from your musical career, how do you see yourself a year from now?
Adrián: I hope that by then the Coronavirus is already under control so that I can present myself live to the public. I would like to think that it will go well for me and that I would be working on new songs. I have many songs stored in my heart.
María Celeste: Who would you like to do a musical duet with?
Adrián: Someday I would like a duet with Camilla Cabello or Ed Sheeran.
María Celeste: What is the good and bad side of having me as your manager?
Adrián: The good side is that I know I have an unconditional professional and that you will never betray me. And above all that you take care of me at the same time that you guide me. The bad side is that you have no filter and when you criticize you have no mercy, hahaha and sometimes what you tell me hurts, but then I understand that you do it for my good, so that I improve.
María Celeste: What have you learned most from me that you think will help you with this stage of your life, to achieve your dream?
Adrián: To work hard like you always have. And to be persistent as you have been in your career.
María Celeste: Are you prepared for what awaits you if you become famous?
Adrián: I think so, but until it happens I‘m not sure. I hope so. I have a bit of practice from being by your side and seeing how you handle your fame. In short, I have had a good teacher.
María Celeste: What would you do with your first salary as a result of your effort and work in music, how would you spend it?
Adrián: Honestly on a new computer specialized in video games. And when I make enough money, I would buy a two-bedroom apartment so that you and my brothers can visit me.
“Son, in life one has to always see things in a positive way and put them in perspective. If I had to do my daily program today, I would not be able to immerse myself in this project that is so important to you. This is your moment.”
María Celeste: Tell people a little about the creation and production process of this project?
Adrián: It all started when you were hired to record the audio version of your book “Selena‘s Secret,” with Grammy-winning music producer Joel Someillan. I remember one day you told him that I wanted to be a singer and he wanted to listen to me. When I went to his studio, quickly we hit it off and agreed to work together. To write the songs we identify a concept based on a story of mine, he interviews me and we play with phrases and words until the song is put together. The song takes on a life of its own. Today Joel and I are attached Yam that I call ”uncle”.
María Celeste: How do you inspire yourself to write your songs?
Adrián: In situations that I have had to live. They can be difficult or intense experiences or that have made me happy. All my songs tell an intimate story that others can relate to.
María Celeste: Would you write me a song?
Adrián: Well, without a surprise being revealed, one of my songs that the public will hear soon has a lot to do with you. Without you that song would not exist. But it is a surprise. Including for you.
María Celeste: What advice would you take from all the ones I have given you?
Adrián: You once told me that to succeed in life you have to be open-minded. You told me, “The world is not black and white, it is a wide range of grays” and I did not forget that because as you know I am quite stubborn and sometimes I get stuck.
The first song we are releasing is about the moment when someone in a relationship asks you for space, it is called “Space”.
Adrián: I love having you fully dedicated to my singing career, but do you miss doing your television show every day?
María Celeste: Son, in life one has to always see things in a positive way and put them in perspective. If I had to do my daily program today, I would not be able to immerse myself in this project that is so important to you. This is your moment. I have already done many things and I will continue to be involved in other projects, but at this moment nothing excites me more than seeing you take certain steps towards your future. Which shows, once again, that everything that happens, happens for a powerful reason that sometimes we will not be able to identify immediately.
Adrián: The first song we are releasing is about the moment when someone in a relationship asks you for space, it is called “Space”. Have you ever been asked for “Space” in a relationship?
María Celeste: Hahaha, that‘s a good question. Yes, of course they asked me for “Space” a couple of times. And one suffers a lot because they usually ask you for space when what you want is to be closer than ever to that person you love. And, I admit that, I also asked more than one boyfriend for space. And they also suffered. That is why it is a song that will touch so many people. I love that part where it says that you asked me for space and now ”loneliness is taking your place.”
Adrián: How would you define this change from being on TV to becoming my manager?
María Celeste: Like something that was predestined, something that had to happen. It is magical for me to witness your development as an artist.
Adrián: What was your first reaction when I told you that I wanted to dedicate myself to music?
María Celeste: I was very concerned because I know that this race is very difficult. There are millions of kids trying to achieve the same thing as you and only a handful do. Sometimes there are those who are successful in the music industry and are not even talented. The stakes are high and the last thing I wanted for you was to be exposed to rejection. People judge a lot and even more if you are the son of someone who is a public figure, as in your case. That is why I agreed to support you in everything on the condition that you continue your studies, as you are doing.
Adrián: What worries you most about me in the music business?
María Celeste: Many things. Moms see different scenarios in the future and we program ourselves to protect our children from each of them. I worry that you are doing very well, very fast and that this distorts your perception of reality. Although i know that I have taught you to have your feet firmly on the ground and I hope that those values will serve you as a compass.
Adrián: Give me some advice to make a girl fall in love with me.
María Celeste: Simple, be you. You have everything to make the girl of your choice very happy. And this doesn‘t come from a mom’s point of view. You make the whole world love you. I remember that when I was little the teachers cried when you finished a grade and it was their turn to say goodbye to you.
Adrián: Do you remember when someone dedicated a song to you for the first time or gave you your first kiss?
María Celeste: Everyone remembers that first song and that first kiss. But sometimes that first song or that first kiss is the most memorable. Life holds beautiful surprises for you throughout life. That is why life is worth living.
Adrián: What do you expect from me and my brothers?
María Celeste: May they be good people, as they have been up to now. Because when you are successful as a human being, you are undoubtedly happy. And I also hope that when I am an old lady you take good care of me and take me to live with you, hahaha.
Adrián: What have you learned from this new process that you may not have known about?
María Celeste: I keep learning. But immediately, the most exciting thing for me is that producing a song is in many ways like producing a show or mini-series - things that I‘ve done. Everything requires a lot of visualization to be able to see the final project in your mind before it materializes. So in that regard, it comes easy.
Adrián: How would you describe this stage of ours?
María Celeste: Like a stage that we will never forget. A stage in which we are penetrating into another plane. For me it is a gift.
Adrián: When the pandemic passes, you are ready to live the crazy and fast rhythm life of the singers (trips, tours, etc.)?
María Celeste: If you become famous, I imagine that you will hire a team with experience in this field and with the acumen to help you continue growing. I will always be supervising, making sure that nobody tries to take advantage of you and protecting you, but eventually the day to day will be in the hands of others and I will dedicate myself to applaud you in your presentations.
Adrián: Did you ever think that life would put you in this situation, with me?
María Celeste: Never, never. It was a nice surprise. And things always have their reason for being. It took me to no longer being on my television show to be able to dedicate myself to this project, to concentrate 100% on your launch.
Adrián: How would you describe my music and my performance as a singer?
María Celeste: You have a particular voice and that is good in this business, you also have very commercial songs, with which everyone can identify in one way or another. You deserve all the success in the world because you have given your maximum, you have dedicated all your effort to it.
HOLA! USA : What has been your biggest challenge in the change from journalist to manager?
María Celeste: It is an industry that I do not have much knowledge of in the sense of managing, administrating, being the manager of an artist, but I learn quickly and I am very excited and I have all the willingness in the world to make sure he does well in walking those first steps. Eventually, he will have other people, his work team already formed, but at this initial stage who better than me, I have the connections, I have the interest and care for everything that has to do with his well-being. Above all, I like knowing that I can take him by the hand, so that she can take his first steps.
HOLA! USA: What are Adrián‘s strengths to face this new stage as a singer?
María Celeste: First of all, that he has a great voice, that‘s fundamental. He sings beautifully and I think that helps him because it opens the door for people to listen to him. Second, he has great perseverance and discipline, he had wanted to do this for years. I did not personally know whether to let him jump into this profession that can be so thankless, treacherous and so difficult. There are so many millions of young people who want to do this and so little is the space to fill in terms of shaping their future and being famous and making it pay. He insisted and told me that he would continue studying in parallel with seeking his opportunity in the world of music.
HOLA! USA: In what way have your other children, Julián and Lara, supported their brother Adrián at this stage?
María Celeste: They are happy because my three children grew up in the environment of television cameras, of photo sessions. They were on the cover of HOLA! when Adrián was about 22 months old, just under two years old. It‘s hard work that my other two children hate because you have to be posing for the camera, seeing what clothes you are going to wear, so much detail that you have to take care of, so that a photo session looks good. They are delighted that it is Adrian and not them. They are applauding him, they are supporting him. They give a lot of opinion regarding the music, the videos, the covers, etc.
HOLA! USA: Have they already called you a mother-in-law around there?
María Celeste: They have already called me mother-in-law. It‘s very funny because a few weeks ago when we started testing the song Space, their single, one night I was in my bed monitoring the test release and their first fan from Thailand wrote. I was so shocked because it is so hard to believe what communications do today. Since then, many girls have written; but, well…. That’s something for him to say.
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