Rebecca Black first captured the world’s attention as a 13-year-old with the infamousl viral hit “Friday,” quickly becoming a pop culture phenomenon with more than 150 million views. Today, she stands tall as a mature, multifaceted artist, redefining her narrative through bold creativity and authentic artistry. Mexican-American songwriter, queer icon, DJ, and style maven, Black is carving a distinctive path in the music industry, continually surprising not only fans and critics, but also herself.
Her recent work, “Salvation,” marks a pivotal chapter in Black’s career — a genre spanning album bursting with hedonistic energy and poignant themes of self-discovery. Black will be bringing this album to the Bay with a sold-out stop March 7 at San Francisco’s Bimbo’s 365 Club.
Black’s fans can expect a show that encapsulates both the reflective and revolutionary aspects of Black’s music — a celebration of breaking personal boundaries and embracing the eclectic, liberating spirit that defines her music.
Ahead of the show, Black took some time to sit down to talk about the ambitious project, delving into her experience at the heart of the vibrant San Francisco scene, her exploration of personal growth, and the grounding power of intuition that has guided her journey.
Q: Your music treads between mainstream appeal and underground authenticity. How do you strike this balance between achieving a big-budget sound and maintaining a DIY approach?
A: I’m not sure if I ever think about it from that exact point of view, but one lesson I learned when I was making “Salvation” is the power of space, and the power of silence. A lot of this production, even though it sounds very big, is actually much more minimal than my previous work. I think what I’m always looking for when I’m in the studio is trying to discover what feels like a step-up, and what could hold a candle to anything I did before.
Q: Well it seems like you’ve been succeeding at that so far. From your scene debut with “Friday” to your projects like “Rebecca Black Was Here” and “Salvation,” what one word would you use to describe your evolution as an artist?
A: This evolution is something that has been learned as I’ve gone through it. There’s been so many different iterations, phases, and eras for myself that have all accumulated into the person I am. I’ve had my own expectations of myself that have never totally come through in the way I thought they would, so one word I would use to summarize that journey is ‘surprising.’
Q: One of the latest surprising additions to your career bio is DJ, a job title that many people often groan at, but it’s been an incredibly well received twist for you. Tell me, are you, Rebecca Black, on a personal mission to single handedly save the reputations of DJs everywhere?
A: No, I can’t do that. That sounds like a lot of work. That is the world’s job to reckon with. I get why so many people cringe at the word “DJ.” I do too- all the time. But really, the “DJ renaissance” thing has been so interesting for me because while I’ve been doing it for eight years now, it was something that I specifically didn’t make as big a part off my world as I wanted to. Because it was a skill I was still learning. I started it as a hobby when I was 21, just throwing small house parties with my friends. It was only when I started playing bigger stages that people began to realize like “Oh, yes, she does this now. She’s one of those girls who does this now.” I’ve been putting in my hours is all I have to say, and I think that any DJ is credible enough if they put their head down and do the work.
Q: Your recent appearance at SF’s 2024 Portola Music Festival made huge waves, as did your free DJ set back in December Did that surprise you? How were you feeling when that happened?
A: I had so much fun at Portola. That was a festival that as soon as I booked it, I was already excited to be a part of the lineup. Seeing myself in the same hypothetical room of some of my favorite artists, who also performed at that festival, it just made me want to put my best foot forward. That’s always the thing for me. With any show I do, I want to one-up my time there from before. I love to compete with myself, so doing that and being able to come back for the show in December, that was another surprisingly huge turn out we didn’t expect. So I love coming back, the crowds there are wild, and who knows? Maybe this next stop will be even wilder.
Q: San Francisco is a hub for queer culture. How do you think performing here resonates with your newfound label as a queer icon?
A: As I’ve gotten more touring under my belt, I’ve developed the ability to feel the difference in playing a city like San Francisco versus one like Indianapolis. Both are important and impactful, and I learn so much from every city, but being able to perform in a place like SF and seeing the viscous freedom that lives within the crowd, is something I’m really excited to experience with this upcoming tour. The heart of this project, the baseline theme, is breaking through personal boundaries and fears. Allowing yourself to live in the freest version of yourself regardless of what anyone thinks. Even my first few times visiting S.F. as a kid, it became a place where I knew I could do that.
Q: “Salvation” is the title track for this album. Music itself has an inherent ability to save and heal its listeners, so I’m wondering, how has music saved you?
A: Music has always been the thing that, when all else fails, is something for me to turn to, and I think that’s a sentiment that many people can probably resonate with. Even if you don’t have the ability to put a song on in a particular moment, there’s comfort in having thing that is familiar and rings in your head. That’s been the real “saving” aspect for me at least, is that there’s always something for me to seek solace or familiarity or inspiration in, regardless of where I’m at in my own journey.
Q: You’ve mentioned the importance of intuition in this project. Can you discuss a moment where intuition led you to a pivotal decision in your life or career?
A: I’ve been doing this for 14 years of my life now- over half of my life. If I look back on any of my past decisions, as I was trying to discover my own sense of self, the one thing I was I could have hammered into me is to trust your own guidance. If someone tells you to do something and it doesn’t feel right, please don’t do it, because your name is on it forever. Please don’t do it because you don’t believe in it, and because people won’t believe you because you don’t believe in it.
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