In a world that often defines us by language and culture, Ani Cordero created Aniworld as her private realm. This Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, drummer and activist brings her unique perspective to her album Anamores, a collection of songs rooted in the power of love. Written during the uncertainty of the pandemic, these songs reflect Ani's deep dive into meditation practices and exploration of different forms of love. Each song is beautifully represented in a deck of meditation cards, inviting listeners to embark on a journey of healing and self-discovery. Read on to learn more about Ani.

Where are you based?
I’m based in Brooklyn, NY.

What drew you to pursue a career in music?
I’ve wanted to be a drummer since I was a little girl. I come from a musical family — my mom plays guitar, my dad plays mandolin, and my siblings play piano, trumpet, flute, and guitar. But drums is always what I was drawn to. When I was 14, I saved up my babysitting money and bought a drumset, and I’ve been playing in bands ever since.

Your new song ‘Troublemaker’ is a lot of fun. What is the story behind this song?
Troublemaker is a song that reminds us to not take life so seriously. I need a troublemaker in my life to encourage me to have fun. The troublemaker can be within you, or it can be a friend who pushes you out of your comfort zone and into new adventures.

We also love ‘One Hundred Years’ and its music video. Can you tell us about this song and the music video?
One Hundred Years is a letter to my future great grandchildren from the perspective of being an ancestor. It’s a promise to them that my spirit will be there to guide them when they need me. It’s a song about love across time and resilience.

You also released a new album "Anamores", which is bilingual. Why was this important to you?
I’m a bilingual person, and some parts of my story happen in English, and some in Spanish. In recent years I’ve been releasing songs only in Spanish, but that’s only part of the story of me. I decided to release a bilingual record as a way of embracing all the parts of me.

What was the inspiration behind the songs on "Anamores"?
All the songs on Anamores are about different types of love. Love for a child, friend love, etc. Even songs that are about setting bounderies like No Me Da La Fokin’ Gana and Se Acabo, are also about love in that they are about self-love.

Can you explain the idea and process of creating the accompanying deck of meditation cards to go with your album?
I started writing this album during the pandemic and in that time I began a deep dive into meditation. One of my practices is using mediation cards and tarot as a way of centering myself and connecting with my guides. I also listen to a song in the morning to set my intentions for the day. The idea of making the mediation cards for the album is that each song has a theme that can guide you. I sketched the images from my imagination to convey the meaning behind each song and then worked with an illustrator to refine them into a beautiful collection of illustrations. Every song has an accompanying mediation card, and you can pull a card from the deck and play that song as a way of starting your day or use it as theme song for your week.

How has your identity as an artist evolved since you began traveling between Atlanta and San Juan?
In recent years, I’ve become more involved in the local indie scene in San Juan and am continually inspired by the fantastic artists making music there.

What motivated you to become an activist for Puerto Rico and the Latinx community? Especially through music?
I’ve always been politically minded and have included social justice themes in my music, but after Hurricane María hit Puerto Rico, like most Puerto Ricans in the diaspora, I was feeling desperate to help. Friends were advising me that the music community was particularly hard hit, and I saw that the independent music community in particular was not being supported so I connected with the band Buscabulla and we quickly formed PRIMA and started leveraging our press and media connections to start raising funds for emergency grants. It was a situation where we stepped into the role because we saw the need.

How do you see the role of music in expressing political and social messages?
I agree with Nina Simone that that the artists’ job is to reflect the times. Music can be a powerful way of sharing what’s happing in our society. It can be a powerful rallying cry, a way of mourning together, or a way to celebrate together. Even songs that are not outwardly political can become so in certain contexts.

What motivated you to launch Puerto Rico Independent Musicians and Artists (PRIMA) and how has it impacted the independent music scene in Puerto Rico?
PRIMA was formed in direct response to the devastating impact of Hurricane María. Being a musician is tough, but when you’re suddenly in a situation where all your gigs are canceled, there’s no electricity, your gear has been ruined, and then there’s no help in sight, it becomes a huge challenge. PRIMA stepped in to help provide emergency grants to the music community because we saw they were falling through the cracks and not being supported by other initiatives.

How would you describe the mission behind Panapén Records?
Panapén Records is a collective of Latinx musicians who all have political themes in their music. As a collective, we support each other’s process and share resources and advice. It’s like a musical coop that includes strategic business and emotional support.

What advice would you give to Latinx musicians?
My advice to all musicians would be to find your people and build your own scene if you don’t find one that’s a natural fit. The more we build community, the more we can bring people together. It’s a much healthier mindset to collaborate rather than to be competitive.

Could you tell us a bit about the blog and podcast “Mama’s in the Band”? Why was this important to you?
Mama’s in the Band is a new project to bring visibility and offer advice to moms who are musicians. My son was five weeks old when he went on his first west coast tour. I have never stopped making music, but I’ve definitely run into some challenges. I want to provide the kind of information and advice that I didn’t have so that hopefully it will help some mamas who are just starting that journey or facing their own challenges.

What advice would you have for aspiring musicians who want to balance motherhood and a career in music?
I think everyone’s experience will vary – which is why I’m interviewing a variety of musicians – one thing I had to adjust early on was my timelines. Everything takes longer when you add the responsibilities of being a parent to your plate. Your priorities will naturally change, and your idea of success might change too.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced while navigating two different cultures on your journey as an artist?
One of the trickiest things I’ve encountered recently is how to classify the music as a bilingual artist. Everything from registering the songs to submitting them to the distributors, or pitching for promotion – those things are not set up for a bilingual reality. There’s more acceptance of bilingual music than ever before, but the systems haven’t caught up with that yet.

What have been some of your most gratifying moments as a musician and activist?
As a musician, playing for the first time in San Juan was one of the most meaningful shows I’ve ever played. It was after releasing El Machete which had several songs talking about the challenges Puerto Rico was facing. It was amazing to perform for an audience who understood both the words and the cultural context of what I was saying.

As an activist, our first PRIMA Showcase in 2018 was a huge moment. We brought four bands from the island to perform in NYC during the Latin Alternative Music Conference and got them access to the conference panels and press room. Since then, we’ve been able to continue to provide opportunities to musicians from the island to showcase their music to new audiences in the states.

It has been a rough few years, how have you been staying positive?
When I’m feeling helpless, I try to help someone. If I’m feeling negative, I try to make something beautiful. If I’m feeling numb, I move my body. If I’m feeling scattered, I clean my space. If I’m anxious, I sit in silence or write. I also appreciate the very simple things in life like being in nature, seeing a huge full moon, and spending time with friends and family.

What is your motto in life?
Be kind and enjoy the journey.

To learn more about Ani, please follow the links below:
https://www.anicordero.net/
Instagram: @anicordero

https://www.primafund.org/
Instagram: @prima_fund

https://mamasintheband.com/
Instagram: @mamasintheband

Photo Credit: Steph Segarra

Ani Cordero - A Soulful Exploration of Love and Healing