I remember singing when I was 3. We didn't have cable and sometimes watched opera on PBS. I would walk around the house and mimic the songs in a big alto voice. The sopranos were singing too high, so I wanted to be a male opera singer someday.
My brother Mateo, ’20, taught me to play guitar. I started writing my own music when I was 14. A few of my songs have some lyrics in Spanish, which is my second language and part of my Mexican American heritage.
Brandi Carlile was my first concert. She and I both went to Tahoma High School. I wanted to be a songwriter, and I admired her style—so folky and so beautiful.
She invited me to sing with her at a fundraiser for our school. We sang a duet, ‘Shadow on the Wall.’ I asked her if I could sing an original, and she let me play her guitar.
At 16, I auditioned for ‘American Idol.’ Lionel Richie said yes, Katy Perry said no, and Luke Bryan said no. They asked me to audition again the following year. I still didn’t get in.
A couple months after my graduation from the UW, ‘The Voice’ reached out and asked me to audition. My time on the show felt magical. I always felt like I was going to get a chair turn. I was in the most confident space that I have ever been. I worked hard on staying positive and not comparing myself to the other contestants.
Adam Levine, who coached me, encouraged me to be myself. The best thing was just getting to know him and realizing that he wasn’t so different from me, he’s just a normal person. He told me, ‘Lucia, you’re mega-talented. Do not ever doubt that.’
Though I came in fourth, I’m still happy. It didn’t feel like a competition until we were on stage. It was an incredible year and a half. I’m just so grateful. I grew a lot and feel so propelled by the experience.