On The Record: “Courage and Heritage" by Angel Cintrón
On The Record is a series of first-person pieces penned exclusively by TuneCore artists.
“If I Were Introducing Angel Cintrón To A Friend…”
I’d say she makes music for ambitious girly-pops who aren’t afraid to be real. Think of it as if Frank Ocean, Tori Kelly, and SZA had a baby — that’s Angel. A small but mighty Latina with soulful vocals, raised on every genre under the sun, who also happens to love hot Cheetos.
But the last five years have completely reshaped me.
“I Used To Create From A Place of Anger…”
The past five years in LA have completely reshaped me. I’ve been built up by my community, tested in one of the most cutthroat cities in the world, knocked down and picked myself back up countless times — all with God guiding me through. I used to create from a place of anger and toxic relationships. Now, I feel reconnected to that little girl inside me who just loved music. It’s been messy, but it’s been beautiful.
Growing up as the oldest girl in a family of 10 siblings shaped me more than I can say. There was never a dull moment in my house — and that chaos trained me to thrive in any environment. As independent artists, we juggle so much, and I think my upbringing taught me how to find beauty and creativity no matter how busy or overwhelming life feels. It also gave me leadership skills that I carry into every part of my artistry.
“My Heritage Taught Me Courage”
Being Latina and choosing to chase a dream that isn’t the “safe” or traditional path was difficult, too. In our culture, our parents and tías just want us to be stable, taken care of, and set up for success. Music doesn’t come with a degree — it comes with years of sacrifice, resilience, and pushing through rejection. That’s scary for any parent to watch. My heritage taught me courage, and that shows up in everything I create.
Family has always been at the center of my art. During the pandemic, I made a DIY music video with all of my siblings because I couldn’t leave the house, and it still means so much to me. Right before moving to LA, I filmed a music video where my siblings starred, and that felt like a time capsule of my roots. I even convinced my parents to be part of a Hispanic Heritage Month collaboration with Hollister — and they killed it!
Family Moving Forward
In my next chapter, you can expect to meet a grown, healed Angel who fully knows who she is. For years, I felt like I had to live inside this “sad girl” box. But in reality? I’m a girly-pop who overthinks — and I know there’s an army of us out there who make sense of life through art. This new chapter feels like freedom, because it represents me in my truest, most natural form.
One of my dreams is to create an EP based around my upbringing, and another is to have a reality series or documentary so people can see where I come from, to share the courage I was taught with others.
My family’s fingerprints are all over my art, and I plan to keep it that way