The past couple of months have been overwhelming for NEZZA but “in the best way,” the singer-songwriter tells Billboard.
In June, the artist born Vanessa Hernández to Dominican and Colombian parents sung the “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Spanish at Dodger Stadium despite being instructed not to by the team’s staff, describing the performance as “one of the scariest days of my life.” What followed was a wave of support from fans and fellow artists who applauded her brave decision of singing the anthem in the Spanish version penned by Clotilde Arias at the end of World War II titled “El Pendón Estrellado.”
“I didn’t expect the moment at Dodger Stadium to reach so many people, and I definitely didn’t expect the outpouring of love that followed,” she says. “It’s been emotional, humbling, and empowering all at once. I’ve heard from so many people. Young Latinos, immigrants and families. All saying they felt seen and proud. It reminded me that when you speak up, even when it’s hard, you help others feel brave enough to do the same.”
Now, she’s officially released her version of “El Pendón Estrellado,” which the U.S. Department of Defense commissioned in 1945 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor Policy focused on improving the relationship of the U.S. and Latin American countries.
“I think one thing that’s become clear through all of this is that ‘El Pendón Estrellado’ wasn’t something many people knew about,” she says of her decision to record and release the anthem in Spanish. “And if I’m remembered for anything, I hope it’s for helping bring it back into the spotlight. For Clotilde Arias, who gave it life, and para mi gente Latina, who’ve always had songs worth singing.”
Spanish National Anthem
Sonia Vargas
According to a press release, 50% of all proceeds from the anthem will directly benefit A Place Called Home (APCH), an organization that offers support to young people in South Los Angeles through multiple services and programs, including a music program funded by Tupac Shakur in 1996. The remaining 50% of proceeds will be donated to various immigration defense nonprofits such as Esperanza Immigration Rights Project.
NEZZA will also host a charity concert titled NEZZA & Friends at The Roxy in West Hollywood, Calif. on Aug. 29, with 100% of the proceeds from this event being donated to immigration defense nonprofits. “This isn’t just about music. It’s about using my platform to make a real impact. It’s about honoring where I come from, supporting the people who often go unseen, and creating space for others to feel heard and valued,” she says.
Listen to her studio recording of “El Pendón Estrellado” below:
