Several months later, she accepted an invitation to sing for free at a quinceañera.ĭespite the uncanny Selena resemblance, Solis found it as a way to connect with her mother. Even moreso when she began getting offers to perform. The reaction to her look took Solis by surprise. She won first place that night, and when she returned for the next round, Solis dressed up in one of her mother’s retro outfits, which reflected the ‘90s glam of Madonna, Janet and, yes, Selena. I was like, ‘Hell, yeah, I’m gonna sign up,’” Solis says with a laugh. “If you signed up, you got two free drinks. Solis ventured out one night in December 2016 to 504 Bar in Kemah, where a friend prompted her to sing “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” in a karaoke contest. She says the Selena tribute started “by accident,” an oft-used phrase by performers that rings true in this case. Solis attended the University of Houston, where she was a cheerleader, and College of the Mainland in Galveston, earning her associates degree and eventually a real estate license. But less than five years ago, music wasn’t even an option. People would often point out her resemblance to Selena. “My traditional roots are still there, with a little twist.”Įven with “Kiebra la Bota” now at digital platforms, Solis still can’t believe it’s happening. Let me show you who Amanda is and do something different,” Solis says. I’m already being someone else as Selena. And it’s unlike anything currently on radio. It’s an exciting, bilingual mashup that moves forward genres that have desperately needed the push for a long time. They worked for several months to develop Solis’ own sound, dubbed "cumbia-Americano," a savvy blend of Tejano and regional Mexican rhythms with contemporary flourishes. The end result, a six-song EP cleverly titled “Quinceañera Queen,” is due early next year. I think she has loads of talent and has been practicing for her shot all her life.” “Amanda made this whole process easy with her sense of humor and talent. “They came to us to get our sound but definitely brought ideas on what they wanted,” Dusty says. She immediately zeroed in on his sound as what she wanted to do with her own music. Solis and her team met Dusty at an event in San Antonio. It’s a fusion that’s also championed by Houston collective Bombón. Corpus Christi native Dusty is a pioneer of nu-cumbia and cumbia electronica, which filters the traditional sound through synths, electro and hip-hop. “Kiebra la Bota” was produced by El Dusty and Mariano Herrera for the Houston-based Street Science Entertainment label. I need to do a song like this from a woman’s perspective’.” But it also made me think, ‘There are only men singing these songs. “The dance floor would just fill up whenever the zapateado songs came on,” Solis says. If you don’t hear it at least once, you’re not at a true Mexican party.
Zapateado is immensely popular at quinceañeras and weddings, a point that wasn’t lost on Solis as she performed at the events around the country. She’s inspired me and paved the way in many different ways.” “I’ve been paying tribute to Selena for so long. “I was just excited alone to be working on my music as Amanda,” Solis says. The lyrics namecheck Houston and Piedras Negras, Mexico, where Solis’ parents were born. She just released her first original single, “Kiebra la Bota,” a party anthem in the style of zapateado, a Mexican dance characterized by continuous foot stomping around a dance floor. UN GRITO: Mariachi Pumas covers Selena, Ed Sheeran at first UH performanceīut Solis is finally ready to put the bustier aside and truly introduce herself. Phil and his family, was one of five finalists selected to attend the Madame Tussauds Selena wax figure launch party in Los Angeles and portrayed the iconic singer in a documentary on the Reelz channel. It’s kept her booked and busy throughout Houston and around the country.
The Texas City native recreates the late Tejano singer's looks, moves and voice onstage. Photo: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerĪmanda Solis has spent the last few years paying tribute to Selena. The Texas City native and Selena tribute artist has released her first original song, produced by nu-cumbia pioneer El Dusty. Amanda Solis poses at Panaderia Del Sol on Park Place.
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