Q&A: Sam Vazquez Tackles Mixed Signals on "Quiere Quiere"
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
RISING INDIE POP ARTIST SAM VAZQUEZ IS SERVING UP A VIBRANT ANTHEM with their latest track, “Quiere Quiere,” for anyone caught in the exhausting loop of modern relationship anxiety. Arriving on the heels of her recent milestone appearance at Spotify’s EQUAL event in Mexico City, the track marks a confident step forward for Vazquez as she continues to carve out her own distinct space within the indie Mexican pop scene. What began as a "happy corrido with sparkles" evolved in the studio into a fresh, upbeat pop track designed to dismantle the idealization of partners who simply aren't ready to love with the same intensity.
Deeply influenced by the direct, fast-talking energy and sharp local humor of her home city of Monterrey, Mexico, Vazquez balances bittersweet, diary-honest lyrics with infectiously light pop melodies. "Quiere Quiere" serves as an emotional blueprint for walking away from inconsistent love and prioritizing self-worth, treating the final track less like a conventional breakup song and more like an empowering victory. It is simple, authentic, and intended to be the soundtrack to her listeners’ everyday realities.
Read below to learn about the regional Mexican roots hidden in the track's structure, the creative spark she finds during late-night carne asada sessions, and how a room full of inspiring women in Mexico City gave her the courage to stay unapologetically true to herself.
LUNA: The track explores the emotional push-and-pull of modern dating. Can you tell us more about the creative process for this one?
VAZQUEZ: “Quiere quiere” is a fun way of accepting something that hurts you and letting go of the idealization that happens when you love someone who isn’t ready to love you with the same intensity—or simply doesn’t love you back. Ouch.
At first, the song was a happy corrido with sparkles; we wanted to experiment with compositions that followed the structure of regional Mexican music while blending it with a more pop/indie production style, which we achieved thanks to David Moreno. The arrangement also conveys this emotional indecision. Singing sad lyrics over upbeat music is probably one of the things that shows up most often in my songs. In the end, we wanted to make a fun song about letting go of what doesn’t make you happy—like a sonic Band-Aid.
LUNA: You are carving out a unique space within indie Mexican pop. How do you feel your sound bridges the gap between traditional emotional storytelling and the "fresh" pop sound we hear in this new single?
VAZQUEZ: My songs are simple songs, but very honest. One thing I love about traditional storytelling is its unique way of expressing things—showing emotions through simple, light melodies that anyone can sing and make part of their everyday life. To me, that’s what pop is: the soundtrack to my reality.
When I write a song, I go out and listen to it in public spaces to imagine what it would feel like to exist with that song playing in the background. Even as my music continues to evolve, I try to preserve that essence.
LUNA: You were recently invited to the Spotify EQUAL event in Mexico City. How did being in a room with so many influential women in Latin music impact your perspective on the storytelling you bring to your own music?
VAZQUEZ: It made me feel very welcomed and understood—seeing so many women just as crazy as I am, sharing the same dreams. Girls who grew up singing in front of the mirror or making up songs while they played. I love that these spaces now exist, where female-led projects are given more visibility. It gives me the courage to keep writing songs and to stay true to myself.
LUNA: What’s your favorite lyric from the track?
VAZQUEZ:“Ojala fueras perfecto pero no se puede, ojala no fueras un indeciso que no sabe que quiere” which translates to: “I wish you were perfect, but that’s not possible. I wish you weren’t so indecisive—someone who doesn’t know what they want.”
LUNA: What is the one message you hope a listener who is currently stuck in a "mixed signal" relationship takes away after hearing “Quiere Quiere”?
VAZQUEZ: We shouldn’t hold on to relationships that lack clarity or reciprocity. If something brings you more anxiety than happiness, it’s better to let go before it hurts even more. We shouldn’t idealize people—we should always choose ourselves first.
IN_LUNA: Why was it important for you to make emotional independence and self-worth a central theme of this release?
VAZQUEZ: I think that at this point in my life, I’ve already gone through the introspection that helped me value myself. I realized that I want to share my time and my company with someone who values and appreciates them just as much as I do.
Learning to let go and stop idealizing my emotional relationships has helped me a lot. I think it’s a lesson that allows us to feel calmer and more at peace—to let go of what doesn’t bring something positive into our lives.
LUNA: How does living and creating in a melting pot like Monterrey, MX influence your sound?
VAZQUEZ: Northern Mexico has a tougher edge. In Monterrey, we tend to say everything a little more aggressively and quickly—we’re more direct. That definitely influences the way I write.
Since it’s such a big city, it’s chaotic all the time, and new information is coming at you every second. That inspires me a lot. It also has this super corny local sense of humor that I love. Monterrey is a vibe that only locals truly understand 100%. We’ve written a lot of songs while drunk and grilling carne asada, so that definitely has to influence it too.
LUNA: Who have you been listening to lately?
VAZQUEZ: My latest discovery and obsession is Amaia, a Spanish singer-songwriter. I also love ILLIT, a K-pop group, and I frequently listen to Mecano and Elia y Elizabeth.
LUNA: With “Quiere Quiere” now out in the world, what can fans expect from the sonic world you’re building for the rest of 2026?
VAZQUEZ: A lot of honesty, powerful songs, fun melodies, and heartfelt lyrics.
