Inside Elia's World of Casa x Casa

On her debut album CASA X CASA, Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Elia transforms different "houses" into emotional landscapes, using each one to tell the story of her emotions and identity. Raised in Morovis, Puerto Rico, she discovered her love of music while growing up in the church, later pursuing theater and eventually becoming known as "the theater kid." She soon realized music was the path she wanted to follow and remembers her parents' hesitation when she first opened up about pursuing it. While her parents were unsure and wanted her to finish her studies first, she continued to follow the passion she had held since she was young. CASA X CASA was two years in the making, and Elia is deeply appreciative of the whole process. "I'm just really excited and so grateful that all of this is happening. It's a dream come true. I was just a regular girl working at Starbucks. All of this is still very new to me, and I'm processing everything right now," she adds, reflecting a pathway built on hard work and humility.
Alongside the release of the album, Elia also shot a short film to accompany the project with an entirely queer team. Each 'house' represents a different song and emotional theme, a concept developed alongside producer Dylan Burgos.There is also representation of growth in the short film, which Elia sees as a natural part of life. She explains how the music represents "two different worlds right now, so they're different homes, because I had a home in Morovis and a home in San Juan. They're different cities, and there's a difference here in Puerto Rico, so I wanted to bring that into the creative mind of CASA X CASA." One of the film's standout moments came through the choreography, with dancers featured in the short film for the song “CENA PA' TRES.” She describes dance as a vital form of art, adding what it meant to have dancers with her, "having those queens on stage with me was amazing."
Musically, the album spans a multitude of genres, from pop to alternative, rock, and more. Elia says that in Puerto Rico, listeners often hear the same sound repeated over and over, and she wanted something different. "I needed something to refresh my ears, my palette, and my music," she says. She admits this decision is sometimes risky, but she believes it's what audiences need right now. As a longtime fan of pop and alternative music herself, those genres were the natural direction to take for this project. Elia notes that spending so long on a single project changes you along the way; she wasn't the same person two years ago, nor will she be the same person two years in the future. "You just have to live with your reality," she says. Reflecting on those precious moments, she adds, "When you're having fun doing your job and what you love, you see life a little differently than other people might."
Beyond the album, Elia has already made major industry moves. Her single "Cacica" landed a placement on Apple TV+'s Drops of God, which was a special moment for her. The track began at a writing camp where she met producers and told them she wanted to blend different cultures and sounds. Puerto Rican influence runs deeply throughout the track, as she wanted to incorporate elements of Taíno sounds, the island's Indigenous heritage, to honor Puerto Rico's past. "Cacica" is dedicated to mothers, aunts, and women everywhere.
Being selected for Spotify's GLOW Sessions marked another milestone in her career. These sessions are an exclusive songwriting camp celebrating LGBTQIA+ creators. When asked how this felt for her personally, she admits it was her first time flying to Los Angeles without anyone from her team. She felt nervous at the airport, but once she arrived, the Spotify office was so huge that she felt like she was at Disney. "The people that were there with me were super talented; everyone had incredible projects, and everything was super beautiful," she reflects, noting how quickly the room started to feel like home.
Now that CASA X CASA is out in the world, Elia wants people to know that she’s always alive and that there is a fire inside her that can come out. "I'm an Aries, and I’m kind of very explosive, but I’m tender too." Ultimately, she wants people to lead with affection, love, and respect, believing that no matter our differences, we can all sit at a table and talk like adults. She expresses a deep desire to convey a message of love, empathy, and the importance of human connections. “I feel like people should take that Elia with them and get to know that Elia if they want to be part of this journey of what’s coming now with my career.” Her story and artistry of CASA X CASA is an audio and visual experience for all music lovers.