Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

GLOW Artist Villano Antillano Finds Power in Community, Authenticity, and Being Fearless

23/02/2023

It's no easy feat to be as fearless and uncompromising as Villano Antillano. But for one of Latin rap's first transgender artists, it's a necessity.

Villano has been carving out a path for herself and other queer artists in Latin rap, making music that brings her challenging, raw, unfiltered experiences to the forefront in a time when queer people still face so much adversity. And now, she's also one of Spotify's first GLOW artists.

Spotify GLOW is a new global music program celebrating and amplifying LGBTQIA+ artists and creators. It's our latest initiative through our Creator Equity Fund to support people of this historically marginalized community of voices and reassert our commitment to equity in audio. It ensures that queer creators, and their contributions to music and culture, are heard and honored year-round.

Born in Bayam n, Puerto Rico, Villano generated early buzz with hard-hitting tracks such as Pajara, Culo, and Mu eca -the last of which was recorded with non-binary rapper Ana Macho.

In 2021, Villano enjoyed viral success with her feature in the single Vendetta, and went on to be on Bizarrap's Bzrp Music Session, Vol. 51. This past December, she was a featured artist for Spotify RADAR US, and at the 2022 Latin American Music Conference, Villano was named one of its 2022 Wonder Women of Latin Music. She closed last year with the release of her debut album, La Sustancia X, a project that embodies the beauty and horror of growing up queer in the Caribbean.

For the Record sat down with Villano to talk about her music, her life as a trans woman, and what makes her GLOW.

Can you tell us a little about your journey into music? It's been a long development. As a trans woman and a queer person, I didn't really have access to this world until I paved my way into it. I was just in the trenches for the longest time, so I feel like my chances for opportunities were maybe lower than they would have been for people that aren't queer because we're just shunned out of all these places. So, now I feel like I can actually get things like people on demand, or a team and resources, and I'm just getting freaky with it now because I'm much more comfortable. But it took me a while.

Growing up, did you have any queer artists who influenced you? No, because they didn't exist in the public lens. We now know the story of Cristina La Veneno, who definitely changed the trajectory of my life when I found her on YouTube. But otherwise, I have very, very foggy memories of some slightly famous trans women who were public figures because they were so sexed up. I remember reading about them in the newspaper sometimes, but it was never treated with respect and dignity. There was no way they could have just been anything but a mockery on television and radio over here.

I would say, however, there were cis-het females who went above and beyond because they really f*cked with the queer community and the queer public. Those two would be artists like Iris Chacon, who was the pillar of everything aesthetic and one of my biggest references. I feel like she's one of Puerto Rico's biggest artists. And Ivy Queen, of course, because I feel like she really took it upon herself to give the community space within her crowd and her music.

How is music used to empower queer communities? I feel that art is a mirror of society. Since the advent of civilization, music has always been present, and it's tied to the art of storytelling and how culture is kept alive through tradition. So, I feel like those things are of very fundamental importance to humanity.

Music is also a mirror of our own experiences. I make music that makes me and other queer people feel empowered, and I created that feeling for myself because I needed it. I feel like we [the queer community] are a very empowered collective globally right now and we're growing. Regardless of whatever is happening, we're forcing people to take us into account. We're here and you're going to have to deal with it. I'm glad we're moving so far away from the patriarchy because it was about time!

What makes you GLOW? Wow. A lot of things. You know, I feel like I take joy and find beauty in the little, ordinary things and in being at a point in my life where I can take a step back. Before I had access to this life and before I was a cemented and fully realized figure, I was just a poor girl from Bayam n trying to stay alive. I didn't even have access to the minimal and limited resources we have here. So the power for me to obtain these things makes me GLOW. My community makes me GLOW, my friends make me GLOW, and the fact that I can give them a life that we never thought we could achieve before makes me GLOW.

If you had one thing you'd want listeners to take away from your music, what would it be? Fearlessness. I'm very into sci-fi and am reading the Dune novels, and I really just come back to that fear is the mind killer line. Because fear is the mind killer, and nobody should have the power to make me feel fear because nobody holds absolute power over me, you know? And I feel like I communicate that fearlessness into my music.

I feel like the life expectancy for trans people, specifically trans women according to the study, is around 35 years old. I'm 27. How, or why, would I let that limit me? It's a fact none of us can escape, so I feel like, in a way, it's what you do with that information. And what I'm going to do is not buy into this idea or narrative that there's something wrong with me or that I'm f*cked up or erroneous.

I feel like as a trans person who has medically and socially transitioned, nothing has gotten me closer to my consciousness than the fact that I have actually had to feel my existence from all spe
LINK: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2023-02-23/glow-artist-villano-antillano-...
See more stories from spotify

More from Spotify

08/07/2025

Spotify's Our Game, Our Sound' Campaign Champions Community and Joy in Women's Football

This summer, as the energy builds for one of the biggest moments in women's ...

04/07/2025

Spotify Partners With The Reading Agency to Bring the Summer Reading Challenge to Life Through Audio

The Summer Reading Challenge has inspired children across the U.K. to embrace a ...

30/06/2025

Discover Weekly Turns 10: Celebrating 100 Billion+ Tracks Streamed and a Decade of Personalized Discovery

There's nothing quite like the magic of finding music that feels made just f...

30/06/2025

Spotify's Editors Pick Their Best Songs of the Year (So Far)

When it comes to new music, Spotify's team of editors across North America is always on the hunt for songs that make them feel, think, and move. They're...

27/06/2025

Spotify Launches K-Pop Performance Video Series . . . Next Up, TWS

K-Pop remains one of the biggest genres globally, and many fans just can't get enough of it. That's why Spotify has launched a new series of K-Pop perf...

25/06/2025

VidCon 2025: Top Creators Join Spotify to Discuss the Impact of Video Podcasts

Last week, content creators from all over the world flocked to Anaheim for VidCon 2025, one of the largest creator conferences in the U.S. As an official sponso...

24/06/2025

Spotify at Cannes Lions 2025: The Week's Unmissable Highlights, Star Power, and More

Last week, Spotify returned to the Croisette for our 11th year at the Cannes Lio...

20/06/2025

Glastonbury 2025 Is Calling: Discover Your Next Favorite Artist With Our Personalized Experience

In just a few days, the pilgrimage to Worthy Farm begins. Glastonbury, the legen...

19/06/2025

Miley Cyrus Brings the Party to Paris for Spotify's Billions Club Live-And a Concert Film Is Coming Soon

On Wednesday, Spotify and Miley Cyrus tangoed in Paris during an unforgettable e...

18/06/2025

RADAR Italia Celebrates 5 Years of Success With a New Class of Rising Stars

Since popping up in 2020, RADAR Italia has not only supported emerging artists but also reflected the cultural and musical richness of Italy. Over the past five...

17/06/2025

How South Africa's Gen Zs Are Reshaping Maskandi Culture for a New Era

In South Africa, the rebirth and resurgence of the vibrant folk genre Maskandi has captured the attention of music fans, becoming the country's fastest-grow...

16/06/2025

Spotify's Brian Berner on Creativity, Connection, and What's Next for Advertisers at Cannes Lions

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is officially underway for...

16/06/2025

Francophone Content on Spotify Continues to Thrive Around the World

On Spotify, francophone content continues to cross borders at an unprecedented rate. In 2024 alone, more than 123 million listeners worldwide streamed audio con...

13/06/2025

Materialists' Director Celine Song Reveals the Inspirations Behind the Film's Soundtrack

Photo credit: Atsushi Nishijima If you're a true lover of rom-coms, chances...

12/06/2025

Spotify's Heart & Soul Initiative Brings Mental Health Support to Artists and Creators Worldwide

In 2018, Spotify launched Heart & Soul, a mental health initiative developed to ...

11/06/2025

Spotify Rolls Out Playlist Cover Art Tool in More Markets and New Languages-Plus, Summer Stickers Are Here

When a music fan creates a playlist on Spotify, it's not just for listening-...

11/06/2025

Spotify i Almedalen 2025: AI, kultur och framtidens kompetenser

Hur s krar vi Europas konkurrenskraft i en tid av snabb teknikutveckling? Och hur rustar vi samh llet f r framtidens kompetensbehov inom AI, tech och kultur? Un...

11/06/2025

ENHYPEN and Spotify Unleash DESIRE' With Immersive Pop-up Experiences in Seoul, Tokyo, and Jakarta

Spotify and ENHYPEN are inviting fans to step inside the world of DESIRE : UNLEA...

10/06/2025

Spotify Ushers in a New Era of Moroccan Pop With 6 Artists Influencing the Scene

A new generation of artists is redefining Morocco's pop music scene, blending their deep-rooted heritage with contemporary influences to create sounds that ...

10/06/2025

Spotify Delivers Growth for the Publishing Industry: Audiobooks Sales Continue to Grow

Since Audiobooks in Premium launched on Spotify in 2023, we've seen strong g...

09/06/2025

Addison Rae Shines Bright at Spotify's Addison' Release Party in NYC

It was Thursday night in New York City and The Box was buzzing with excitement. The edgy nightclub, known for its lavish theatrics, provided the perfect backdro...

06/06/2025

GLOW With Pride: Amplifying LGBTQIA+ Voices on Spotify

Spotify is dedicated to lifting up the voices and contributions of all artists, creators, and authors. This Pride Month and beyond, we're also taking a mome...

06/06/2025

Spotify Beach Is Back for the Annual Cannes Lions Festival

Spotify is heading back to France for the annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and this year we'll showcase how Spotify is more alive t...

05/06/2025

Dua Lipa's Service95 Book Club Podcast Is Launching on Spotify, Plus Her Summer Reading Picks

Whether she's in the studio, on a tour bus, or traveling the world, there...

05/06/2025

Spotify Takes In-Flight Entertainment to the Skies With New United Airlines Partnership

Spotify and United are teaming up to deliver an even more entertaining in-flight...

05/06/2025

Fans Vote Mexico's Top Podcasting Stars at Spotify Mexico's Inaugural Podcast Awards

On Wednesday, Spotify brought together Mexico's vibrant podcast community fo...

05/06/2025

Watch Travis Scott's Historic Barcelona Concert Exclusively on Spotify

Last month, Spotify brought Travis Scott to Barcelona to play his first-ever show in the city and celebrate the release of his Spotify x Cactus Jack x Bar a jer...

04/06/2025

Canadian Artists Are Thriving on Spotify-And the World Is Listening

Today, Spotify launches its Loud & Clear report-our annual deep dive into the economics of music streaming-in Canada, and with it, a powerful story of how Canad...

29/05/2025

Japan's Music Finds the World: How Streaming and Fandoms Are Powering a New Global Chapter

Japan's music scene is entering an exciting new chapter. Long known for its ...

28/05/2025

All the Ways It's Even Easier To Discover Your Next Favorite Podcast on Spotify

Spotify is all about bringing you closer to the voices and stories you love. Tha...

28/05/2025

Como o Spotify continua impulsionando a indstria musical brasileira

A ind stria musical do Brasil est passando por uma transforma o hist rica - e o Spotify segue iluminando esse caminho. A vers o mais recente do relat rio Loud...

28/05/2025

How Spotify Continues To Supercharge Brazil's Music Industry

Brazil's music industry is in the midst of a historic transformation-and Spotify continues to help illuminate the path. Our most recent Loud & Clear report,...

28/05/2025

The Latest Spotify Data Shows EU Artists Generated a Record-Breaking 1.7B in 2024

Spotify's commitment to transparency and artist empowerment continues to res...

21/05/2025

Spotify Electrifies CMA Fest 2025: Here's All You Need To Know

When CMA Fest springs to life in Nashville each year, Spotify House is always one of the top destinations-and 2025 was no different. For the sixth year, Spotify...

21/05/2025

A New Way for Fans To Get Hyped for New Albums Is Here-Meet the Upcoming Releases Hub

Marking a first, Spotify has launched the Upcoming Releases hub-a destination so...

20/05/2025

Six Captivating Audiobooks Amplify Asian and Pacific Islander Artists

Throughout the month of May, Spotify is celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by amplifying the many artists, creators, and authors who share th...

20/05/2025

Songs of Summer 2025: Spotify's Global Editors Predicts the Anthems That Will Soundtrack the Season

It's officially summer on Spotify and, once again, our team of best-in-class...

19/05/2025

Fresh Finds Turns 10: Cheers to a Decade of Indie Artist Success

For the past decade, Spotify's Fresh Finds playlists have served as a launchpad for emerging independent artists, helping them break through and connect wit...

17/05/2025

Celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month With Music, Podcasts, and Audiobooks That Illuminate a Wealth of Cultural Diversity

Globally, Asian and Pacific Islander (API) artists, creators, and authors contin...

16/05/2025

Celebrate Beyonc's COWBOY CARTER Tour With Exclusive Cover Art Stickers

As Beyonc s COWBOY CARTER Tour sparks excitement around the world, Spotify is helping the BeyHive get concert-ready with a limited-edition collection of playli...

14/05/2025

Travis Scott Electrifies Barcelona With Exclusive Live Show and El Clsico Appearance

Spotify and FC Barcelona's partnership saw its sixth jersey takeover this we...

14/05/2025

A Conversation With Spotify's New Chief HR Officer, Anna Lundstrm

At Spotify, we believe that our incredible bandmates (that's what we call our team) are the driving force behind our success. Longtime Spotifier Anna Lundst...

13/05/2025

Spotify Releases 51 Audiobooks From Bloomsbury's Popular 33 Series

Spotify aims to bring compelling audiobooks to as many consumers as possible, and we're eager to give fans even more options as they discover their next gre...

13/05/2025

Spotify's DJ Now Takes Requests, Enhancing Real-Time Music Discovery

People all over the world love DJ. At the gym, at home, whenever and wherever you want a deeper experience with great music, DJ is the answer. In fact, DJ liste...

09/05/2025

Spotify Data Reveals Eurovision 2025 Fan Favorites, With Sweden's KAJ Leading the Pack

As excitement builds for the annual Eurovision Song Contest, Spotify data offers...

07/05/2025

Experience a New Dimension of Music Discovery With More Controls and Enhanced Tools

Discovering music should feel effortless and fun. That's why Spotify continu...

06/05/2025

Spotify Amplifies Colombia's Booming Local Music Scene With Sbele a Eso' Initiative

In Colombia, music isn't just background noise-it's center stage. It'...

06/05/2025

La nueva apuesta de Spotify para destacar la msica local en Colombia: Sbele a Eso'

En Colombia, la m sica no suena de fondo: es el centro del escenario. Es el cora...

06/05/2025

Spotify Introduces Plays, a New Way To See What Content Is Resonating With Podcast Fans

Updated May 16, 2025: We always aim to provide the best Spotify experience, and ...

06/05/2025

In Mumbai, Our Public Affairs Chief, Dustee Jenkins, Spotlights the Role of Spotify in the Growth of India's Music Industry

Since Spotify's 2019 launch in India, the growth of the country's local ...