Venezuelan Marcelo Rubio is not afraid to bare his soul in each song. With a unique mix of vulnerability and strength, the artist—named by Billboard as “Artist to Discover”—has become one of the most promising voices in pop in Spanish.
After captivating with “Si no la vuelvo a ver”, the artist returns with “Líneas Temporales”, a collaboration with Gus and Mazzarri that takes the listener on an emotional journey inspired by Marvel’s multiverses, where love exists in all realities… except ours.
Far from clichés, Marcelo embraces masculine sensitivity and turns introspection into his personal hallmark. Her next release, “What You Hate About Me,” reveals a raw portrait of insecurities and the need to heal after a breakup.
In this conversation with La Entrevista, the singer-songwriter speaks without filters about the importance of being real, the challenge of growing in the industry without losing authenticity and the magic of transforming pain into music that connects.
Marcelo, your new song explores parallel universes in love. How did the idea of mixing the Marvel multiverses with your music come about?
“Líneas Temporales” is a song that I released a couple of months ago with Gus and Mazzarri, two Venezuelan artists whom I greatly admire. We were inspired by the Marvel multiverses to talk about a relationship that didn’t work in this timeline, but it did in the rest.
Now I am releasing a new song titled “What You Hate About Me,” a more personal song that addresses the insecurities one feels from the perspective of a man who finds it difficult to express his emotions. It is a confession about vulnerability and what it means to open up for the first time.
In “What you hate about me” you show vulnerability and emotional dependence. How do you handle masculine sensitivity in your songs without losing strength?
I always try to show the importance of expressing yourself. I was never afraid to say how I felt: when my heart was broken for the first time, when I’m happy with my girlfriend, or when I lose friends. I even have songs dedicated to my family.
Through my art I want to convey to the public that feeling heard and accompanying others is also vital.
In fact, I have a lump tattooed in my throat as a reminder that if I keep things in, they end up hurting more. My audience has connected a lot with that message. They write me direct messages, share their stories or upload videos dedicating my songs to their partners, families or even their pets.
I love that, although my lyrics are based on personal experiences, people make them their own and adapt them to their own emotional world.
You go from conceptual electronic pop to emotional balladry. What inspires you to explore different musical universes?
I am inspired by many people and many genres. I don’t like to stay locked into a single style because it would become boring, both for me and for the audience. Very varied music was always heard in my house, and that gave me freedom to experiment.
I have done rancheras, boleros, reggaeton and pop. I like to try new things without losing my lyrical essence: talking about heartbreak, vulnerability and how we really feel.
Billboard named you “Artist to Discover.” How do you balance authenticity with the pressure of growing in the industry?
When Billboard named me “Artist to Discover,” it was a big surprise. Very nice things have happened in my career and I am very grateful to everyone who has made this path possible.
Of course I felt pressure going from working alone at home to being part of one of the biggest labels in the world, Sony Music. At first it was difficult for me to adapt and I even experienced my first panic attack. It wasn’t because of something negative, on the contrary: my team and the label have always treated me incredibly.
It was simply the change, understanding that behind each artist there is a great team and many responsibilities. Luckily, I have had people who have helped me stay calm, focus, and take care of my mental health. I am nervous by nature, but I have learned to ask for help and take things more calmly.
What can you tell us about your next projects or collaborations?
Several collaborations and a lot of new music are coming. I can’t reveal too much yet, but I can say that there are shows and releases on the way.
I invite everyone to follow me on social networks, where I always share news. We are working very lovingly with my team so that everything turns out as we imagine.
What does it mean to you to transform pain and vulnerability into music that connects with your fans?
It means a lot. I think the biggest dream of every artist is for their message to reach the right audience.
In these two years of my career I have been lucky enough to connect with people I never imagined, and that has been very special. I feel like there is a real, close bond between me and my audience. On social networks we joke, we are sarcastic, and I feel like we have always known each other.
Every time I release a song, I know that they listen to it with the same affection with which I make it. Everything that comes from my side is 100% sincere and made from the heart.
Do you have plans to visit New York?
I was in New York a year ago and I loved it. It is an incredible city, and of course I would like to share my music with the public there. I’ve received a lot of messages from New York fans, so I hope to be able to do a show or promotional tour soon. I would love to continue getting to know the city and connect more with its energy.
