Student Spotlight: Andrea Recalde The vocalist from Quito, Ecuador, talks about songwriting across language barriers, taking inspiration from family, and rediscovering dad-rock.
By
Editorial Staff
December 4, 2023
Andrea Recalde
Image by Raisa Akhtar
What's it like to study at Berklee? Our Student Spotlight series asks current students all about their Berklee experience-what they're learning in class, what kinds of projects they're involved in onstage or behind the scenes, how they recharge, and of course, what they're listening to. This week, meet vocalist Andrea Recalde, a fifth-semester songwriting and music business/management double-major from Quito, Ecuador, who performs under the artist name DREA.
Tell us about your path to Berklee. What made you decide to come here?I didnt plan on attending Berklee initially. In high school, I hesitated to pursue music due to self-doubt and my brothers success in the industry. One day, I saw a Berklee ad on Instagram, and my phone mysteriously led me to the application. Wearing a Berklee shirt at that moment, I took it as a sign and applied. I believe everything happens for a reason, and Im glad I found my passion for music.
Whats been your favorite class so far, and what has it taught you?My favorite class is conducting with Professor Kristo Kondak i. Conducting connects on an intimate level, and Professor Kondak is teaching style resonates with me. He uses visuals and real-life applications, making learning enjoyable. Conducting is about emotion, body placement, and connecting with peoples energy to shape music. Its been my favorite class this semester.
Whats a project youve worked on since coming to Berklee that youve been especially excited about?One of my favorite Berklee projects was performing an original song in Spanish that I cowrote with a friend/roommate. We performed it at an open mic, and the collaboration, despite the language barrier, was a memorable experience.
Andrea Recalde performs her original song, mientras tu te vas:
How do you typically recharge or find new ideas outside of class?To recharge and find new ideas, I take walks, long showers, or naps. Sleep is essential for a clear mind. I also meditate, go on walks, read books, and journal to clear my thoughts and spark new ideas. Finding what works best for you is crucial for well-being.
When you think towards your own future, who inspires you most?My biggest inspiration is my brother, who has succeeded in the music industry. Hes taught me about the industry, the value of self-worth, and the power of connections. Collaborating with him has been a privilege, and I aspire to share my music and work with diverse artists like he does.
Whats one piece of advice youd give to your high school self?Advice to my high school self: High school is just a small part of life. Be true to yourself, never change for others, and trust that everything happens for a reason. Relax and let the universe guide your path.
Andrea's Top Five Songs Right NowWe asked Andrea to list her five favorite songs of the moment. Heres what she said:
1. Strawberry Bubblegum, Justin TimberlakeThis track is from one of my favorite albums of all time, and I love the way it switches in the middle, and it seems like its a completely different song, but its not. It's honestly just such a vibe all throughout, and it always makes me want to dance.
2. Cough Syrup, Young the GiantThis song just makes me feel good when listening to it, and it's really fun to listen to on bike rides, which I take every day so its definitely in my top favorites right now.
3. Carolina, Sebastian LlosaI met this artist at a showcase for Warner Music Latino, and I fell in love ever since. His songwriting is amazing, and I love the way his melodies mesh with his lyrics. I also just want to keep promoting him because he is a Latin artist who deserves to be much bigger than he currently is.
4. How You Remind Me, NickelbackI just started listening to this song again, and it's just a classic dad-rock vibe. I enjoy listening to it from time to time and it really is a kind of song that you listen to when you're in a specific mood.
5. The Bird & the Rifle, Lori McKennaI was shown this song by one of my songwriting teachers; she used it to describe third person narratives while telling a specific story, and I love the imagery that is shown.
Related Categories
News
Student Spotlight
Most Popular
15 of the Best Cover Songs (and Why They Work) From Fast Car to Ring of Fire, there's no formula to making a successful cover song. But the best covers answer two important questions.
Latest
Joel Ross
Image courtesy of the artist
Berklee Presents 2024 Spring Signature Series The series will celebrate the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, as well as pay tribute to the music of Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, and Michael Jackson.
Master Tour and the Berklee Popular Music Institute (BPMI) have announced a partnership in which students will be granted access to the platform to manage events and concerts on campus
Berklee and Master Tour Announce Partnership Master Tour will equip up-and-coming tour professionals from the Berklee Popular Music Institute with its state-of-the-art tools.
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Announces Center Stage Performances for Spring 2024 The four spring performances will highlight student talent in dance, music, and theater.
Read All
Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.
North America Stories
02/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
01/01/2026
Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Announces 2026 Noel Schajris Scholarship The scholarship will cover tuition and housing for one Berklee College of Music stud...
01/01/2026
New year, new games, all with RTX 5080-powered cloud energy. GeForce NOW is kicking off 2026 by looking back at an unforgettable year of wins and wildly high fr...
31/12/2025
Back to All News
NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix Scores Again With the Lions-V...
30/12/2025
As the College Football Playoff Enters the Quarterfinals, ESPN Blows Out Its Meg...
30/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Original ArticlesTake a look back at all our coverage of big-time productions, game-changing technologies, and state-of-the-art new faci...
30/12/2025
MELBOURNE, Fla., Dec. 30, 2025 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, J...
30/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
29/12/2025
San Francisco 49ers Strike Gold With Halftime Laser SpectacularStunning display caps $200 million renovation of Levi's Stadium techBy Dan Daley, Audio Edito...
29/12/2025
The Cup's Around the Corner: An Inside Look at Broadcast Preparations for th...
29/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Longform VideoWatch the standout keynote conversations, deep dives, and panel discussions from the year for free on SVG PLAY!By Brandon ...
29/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
27/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
25/12/2025
Holiday lights are twinkling, hot cocoa's on the stove and gamers are settling in for a well-earned break.
Whether staying in or heading on a winter getawa...
24/12/2025
What is AI good for? Posted by MTI Film on December 24, 2025
What is AI good for?
What is AI good for?
It's been three years since ChatGPT first cap...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
The Boyfriend' Season 2 Unveils Heartwarming Trailer, Key...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
Love, Fights, and Everything in Between: Badly in Love' Returns for Season 2
Entertainment
24 December 2025
GlobalJapan
Link copied t...
24/12/2025
Scripps Research study links sleep variability with sleep apnea and hypertension How consumers' digital activity trackers could enable personalized health s...
23/12/2025
How guilas Cibae as Dominican Winter League Games Are Locally Produced for Glob...
23/12/2025
BitFire's Jim Akimchuk on Supplying Scalability and Customization in the Clo...
23/12/2025
CAMB.AI Enables European Athletics to Offer Multi-Language SupportPlan is to eventually offer translation into all languages spoken in EuropeBy Ken Kerschbaumer...
23/12/2025
Analysis: As sports media values trend negative, scarcity and quality are king By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 14:08
Print ...
23/12/2025
ESPN, Disney, and NBA Return to the Animated Altcast Fray With Second Edition of...
23/12/2025
End the Year on a High Note and Donate to the Sports Broadcasting Fund Today!By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:25 pm
P...
23/12/2025
A Zeus motor is hot fire tested at L3Harris' Camden, Arkansas, solid rocket ...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Lightware will exhibit several major product innovations at ISE 2026, including the new USB-C BOOSTER-V1, Google Meet. integration for various Taurus UCX models...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Taking the Stage at Carnegie Hall-On a Global Scale Boston Conservatory Orchestra students reflect on their epic concert marking the 80th session of the UN Gene...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's The Great Flood and Culinary Class Wars 2 Top Gl...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things By the Numbers: How the Global Phenomenon Shap...
23/12/2025
Experience the power of WO Automation for Radio's newest service, the System Effectiveness Review. Designed to help you achieve more, a System Effectiveness...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
How Steamy Can It Get? Single's Inferno' Season 5 Pre...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
33 Million Global Viewers on Netflix Watched Jake Paul vs. Ant...
23/12/2025
New technique lights up where drugs go in the body, cell by cell Scripps Research scientists developed a technique that maps drug binding in individual cells th...
22/12/2025
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Presidio's Neerav Shah on the Role of Its Captiva...
Student Spotlight: Andrea Recalde The vocalist from Quito, Ecuador, talks about songwriting across language barriers, taking inspiration from family, and rediscovering dad-rock.
