Erica Gonzaba, the local singer who showcased her talent on the fourth season of Telefutura’s “Objetivo Fama,” is continuing her journey to singing stardom.
Two singles from Gonzaba’s debut album “Ahora Voy Yo” were released last month, with the title track debuting as the number one MP3 download on Amazon’s Latin Pop chart.
“It’s so crazy and amazing to see my name listed next to Shakira and Nelly Furtado,” says Gonzaba, who’s been busy recording her album in Austin during the past year.
Her debut album, which has been in the works since early 2008 after her contractual obligations to “Objetivo Fama” ended, is due out this fall. A definite release date hasn’t been set. It’s a blend of Spanish-language and English-language songs.
Finding the right mix of music, says Gonzaba, is a big reason why it’s taken so long to complete the album. She’s finished recording songs for the album, and is focusing now on song selection.
“It’s taken a while to get a sound,” she says. “It’s been a long, long process. We want to make sure we have the right mix of Spanish and English. We want to make both worlds happy.”
Gonzaba, who sang her way to the final seven contestants on the Puerto Rico-based “Objetivo Fama” in 2007, says it looks like her debut album will have seven Spanish-language pop songs with three bonus English tracks.
One of those English-language singles, “Move On,” was released Aug. 11 along with the album’s title track.
“There were a lot of tears before the release because I was so nervous because I didn’t know if people would remember me, if they would still care to listen to me,” she says.
Gonzaba has a large fan base in Puerto Rico because of her time on “Objetivo Fama” and her participation in a tour featuring her and other contestants from the show. She plans a two-week promotional tour there and another in Los Angeles before her album’s expected October release.
“The momentum is there so I’m very excited,” says Gonzaba, who turns 24 on Sept. 5.
“This will be my best birthday ever,” she says before correcting herself. “I should say my best birthday yet.”
