Camila Cabello might be a global pop sensation now, but as a teenager, she wasn’t the life of the party. The 27-year-old “I Luv It” singer recently revealed a side of her teenage years that may surprise some: a total obsession with music that left her feeling like a “total loser.”
In an insightful conversation with Dave Grutman at the Tribeca Festival during Art Basel in Miami Beach on December 7, Cabello shared how her dedication to music affected her social life. “We were total losers,” she admitted with a laugh. “We did not go to parties, we did not hang out with people. I was in my room, singing along to YouTube instrumentals, watching videos of my favorite musicians and artists. It was my life. I’ve always been like that. I’m still like that.”
To prove her point, Cabello even joked that she’s still singing “Defying Gravity” from *Wicked* every day, and spontaneously belted out a line to the amused crowd, reminding them that some things never change.
While Cabello was just 15 when she started on *The X Factor* in 2012, her dedication to music was already apparent. After rising to fame with Fifth Harmony, the group formed on the show, she eventually launched her successful solo career, releasing her debut album in 2018. Her latest album, *C,XOXO*, dropped in June 2024, showcasing her ever-evolving sound.
“Honestly, pushing my own boundaries is what motivates me,” she explained during the chat. “But sometimes that can be a little hard in music.” Cabello reflected on the mixed reactions to her latest album, admitting that although she didn’t worry about how fans would react, she probably should have. “When it came out, people were like, ‘This is so different.’ But for me, change feels natural.”
She also shared how *C,XOXO* was particularly meaningful to her because it highlighted her Miami roots in ways her previous music hadn’t. “I don’t think people knew I was a Miami girl,” Cabello said. “And this album resonated with fans because of the little Miami details I put in there.”
As she navigates her late twenties, Cabello feels like she’s finally coming into her own. “I’m finding out what is really important to me and what my values are,” she said. “The second half of your 20s is when you really feel like an adult. At least for me, at 27, this is the first time I really feel like, ‘I’m a woman!’ Like, I’m an adult.”
Cabello also opened up about the creative process, revealing that one of her most cherished unreleased songs, “Scar Tissue,” holds a special place in her heart. “It was from my first album, and I didn’t release it because I felt like it wasn’t as good as the other songs,” she explained. “But it ended up meaning so much to my fans. Sometimes you have to block out the noise and trust your gut.”
In the same conversation, Cabello couldn’t help but gush over her favorite collaborator, Lil Nas X, calling him “a pure, sweet angel.” She also revealed that one of her favorite lyrics she’s written is from the unreleased track “Scar Tissue.” Looking back, she admitted it was a mistake not to release the song sooner.
“Honestly, people got in my ear about it, saying it wasn’t as good as the others,” Cabello said. “But it turned out to be so honest, and that honesty is what connected with my fans.”
Her chat with Grutman, part of the Tribeca Festival at Art Basel, highlighted the powerful intersection of music, art, and film—and for Cabello, it’s all about staying true to herself as she continues to evolve both as an artist and as a woman.
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