Anaé's "Nuestra Fiesta" Ignites Santa Cruz Carnival Spirit

Anaé's voice signals the upcoming Santa Cruz Carnival, a burst of happiness already building with preparations for the first competitions. Anaé (born in Candelaria in 1985) was chosen to express the island's joy through her song "Nuestra Fiesta" (Our Party). This isn't just any Carnival song; it made a big impact last Friday in Santa Cruz de Tenerife's Plaza de España. "Waking up and seeing how many people shared and tagged what happened there gives me an indescribable feeling of joy," says the singer-songwriter. She's also making the most of her debut album, "Al otro lado del Atlántico" (On the Other Side of the Atlantic), which is still getting a lot of attention.

"This is a dream come true," she says. "There's nothing I love more than singing for my own community; it's often said it's hard to be recognized in your hometown. For me, Carnival feels like home, a place I always come back to for a fantastic time. I always find so much love and support here. What happened on Friday was incredible – the perfect start to 'Nuestra fiesta,' just like the song says."

"You always hope for good things, but I'm truly surprised by how well this has gone, and especially by the trust people have shown in me, allowing me to enjoy this amazing experience."

"I don't know if everyone will hear it, but my phone is definitely going to explode!" she laughs. "It's wonderful to see so many strangers sharing that moment. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to be in this position. It's hard to put into words the affection I feel when sharing a song that's meant for everyone, a song created to be a part of 'Nuestra fiesta'."

She laughs, "When I saw this year's Carnival theme, I thought: 'This is my year!' Being part of the Carnival always makes me proud and happy. But it's true, if I'm not here this year, I'll never be!" she jokes. "Seriously though, every song I've sung for these festivities has brought me so much joy. Coming here is just an excuse to have a great time."

"No, not at all. I feel completely at home with this Carnival. I love Latin rhythms, and being able to be involved in the festivities from the inside is truly special – a wonderful memory I'll cherish forever."

"There are songs like 'Mascarita,' 'Pinta tu cara' (Paint Your Face), or versions of 'Santa Cruz en Carnaval' (Santa Cruz at Carnival) and 'Ay Santa Cruz.' I don't know if 'Nuestra Fiesta' will become an anthem for the festivities – that's up to the people to decide. But I would be thrilled if the song accompanied all the photos, reels, and videos shared during the Carnival. It would bring me joy to be with them when they tag their photos or as they get ready to go out. Ultimately, they decide if it becomes an anthem. What I do know is that when we filmed the music video just a week ago, I really felt the unity of the Carnival community around 'Nuestra fiesta'."

"My approach is very clear," she explains. "A Carnival song needs to be simple, very simple, catchy, and have a chorus that's easy to sing along to. Of course, it also needs to mention different parts of the celebration and all the fun things we'll experience once we put on our costumes. In this song, it talks about our land, my town, and what 'Nuestra fiesta' means; it really captures that feeling of belonging to the Carnival."

"I usually collaborate on Carnival songs with producer Eliot el Mago D’oz, who has also worked on many tracks for Olga Tañón. This song was written and created in the Canary Islands with my friend Árgel Campos. However, the final production happened in Puerto Rico because I was also planning my next album there. My album, 'Mejor que antes' (Better Than Before), is already out, and more music will be released soon."

"Not a cent," she smiles. "'Nuestra fiesta' started in the Canary Islands and was finished in Puerto Rico, but the song is 100% 'chicharrero' – a term for someone from Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Two Carnival enthusiasts, Anaé and Árgel Campos, created this track, pouring all our hopes into it."