Emerging from Montevideo, Lucía Molina unveils CRUZA, a project where vintage jazz soul meets modern R&B, blending Dark Academia aesthetics with raw emotion, heritage, and cinematic storytelling.
1. “.38” feels cinematic, sensual, and deeply atmospheric. What was the emotional or visual starting point that sparked this debut single?
The emotional starting point that sparked my debut and led me into the studio was a bond I was beginning to create with someone who was not being truthful. That experience became the foundation of the first song.
2. CRUZA blends old-world jazz grit with modern R&B polish. How did you approach balancing those vintage influences with a contemporary sound without losing authenticity?
I always approach music with my heart and soul. I am a very intuitive person, and that is how I maintain my authenticity while still embracing and enjoying vintage influences.
3. Your “Dark Academia” aesthetic is central to the project’s identity. How do fashion, visual art, and cinema shape the sonic universe of CRUZA?
Fashion, visual art, and cinema are central to Cruza’s aesthetic. However, they are ultimately a reflection of who I am as a human being. They are simply additional ways of expressing myself.
4. Listeners might hear echoes of icons like Etta James and Erykah Badu in your vocal presence. How have these influences informed your storytelling and vocal delivery?
I love old music—the kind that makes you understand you are not alone in this world. The singer-songwriters who could reach you from thousands of miles away have influenced me since childhood. I believe those early influences have undoubtedly shaped my vocal delivery.
5. As an artist emerging from Montevideo with European-Spanish lineage, how does your cultural background shape the emotional depth and identity of CRUZA’s music?
The emotional depth and sense of identity in my music are deeply shaped by my background. My mother was born in Galicia, and that heritage naturally emerges when I improvise—folklore and flamenco blend with blues. I do not like to overthink when I create; I prefer to feel. In everyone’s roots, there is both pain and joy. That duality is why my voice can feel both uncomfortable and pleasurable at the same time.
6. With Spanish-language artistry reaching new global milestones, where do you see CRUZA positioning itself within the evolving Latin and international independent music scene?
I hope Cruza finds its place within the Latin independent music scene and, most importantly, in the hearts and ears of those who need to be reminded they are not alone. It will evolve as it is meant to. I will continue creating music, and I will be releasing another single in March.
Copyright © 2026 The Inteviewist
