Tiliana
I was born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico. Ever since I was little, my absolute dream was to be a singer. When I was five or six years old, I remember being in a music class where we were asked to sing Noche de Paz (Silent Night). Everyone else was terrified and covering their eyes, so at first, I covered mine too just to fit in. But then I stopped, uncovered my eyes, and completely lived the song, singing my heart out to the whole room. When I finished, the kids were in total awe, and my music teacher was literally crying tears of joy. That’s when I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.
At eight years old, I was obsessed with Hannah Montana and Lady Gaga. I asked my cousin to give me an honest review of my voice: "If you think I have potential, tell me, but if not, I’m not gonna waste my time." I sang Lady Gaga, and she hit me with a flat-out, "Honestly? No." I appreciated the honesty, accepted it, and decided right then and there to pivot to my backup plan: acting.
I threw myself into acting with everything I had. I took a ton of classes, did Melvin Comedia Kids, and auditioned for John Robert Powers. A major agent from the U.S. representing Disney and Nickelodeon actually called and wanted to sign me! The catch? They wanted to send me to LA with a nanny because my parents both worked and couldn't just move to California. My parents gave that a very swift, "Uh, absolutely not." It was way too expensive anyway. Looking back, I honestly dodged a huge bullet, child Hollywood is wild, and I’m genuinely relieved it didn't happen
By high school, I ended up at La Central High School. Up until then, I’d switched schools about seven times and was always the "weird kid," but La Central was a specialized arts school where everyone was weird, so weird was cool. My major started in multimedia arts (learning Photoshop and Illustrator) and switched to industrial design, where we designed textiles, fashion, furniture, and products. I also joined the acting club, Proscenium, and landed singing roles in our musicals, playing the main character’s best friend in Hairspray and Sharpay in High School Musical (a total dream come true). Being Sharpay made me realize I didn't just love acting, I loved acting because I got to sing. I was a full-on musical theatre girly.
Academically, I was always a C or B student. In 9th grade, my grades dipped so low with Fs and Ds that my mom threatened to kick me out if I didn't get tested. I got diagnosed with ADHD and started medication. My grades immediately shot up without me even having to study, I’d just listen in class and ace the exams! But the side effects were brutal: I felt like a brainless zombie, stopped eating because the smell of food made me nauseous, and completely lost my creative daydreaming space. Eventually I graduated high school as an honors student in 2019.
When I went to college at UPR (Río Piedras), I started in general studies because I was terrified of being a starving artist. Everyone always tells you, "What are you gonna do with art? You'll starve." I wanted financial stability, so in my second year, I overheard a professor mention how well accountants got paid and thought, "Yup, that's it." Studying accounting purely for money is a terrible idea, by the way! I cried every single semester in every single accounting class, but I refused to give up, pushed through, and got that Bachelor's in Accounting from FAE-UPRRP (2019–2024).
Along the way, I immersed myself in student leadership, joining the Asociación de Estudiantes de Contabilidad (AEC) and diving headfirst into the Financial Management Association (FMA), where I served as Operations Director, traveled to NYC twice, and networked like crazy. My work ethic has always been intense. At 16, my mom had me doing medical billing and secretarial work for her, and throughout college, I was constantly juggling multiple jobs, student governance, and internships (like working with Nave Bank, the first digital bank in PR, and Fagón Financial) all at once. That hustle and networking got me into high-net-worth wealth management at GenTrust, and now I’m a Wealth Planning Analyst at Mariner Puerto Rico, currently studying for my Series 65 with plans to get my CFP®. Under my corporate and creative entity, De La Texera, I balance this high-level financial acumen with my artistic output.
Through all of this, my true artist identity as Tiliana never faded. In my second year of college, after getting out of a relationship where I felt caged, I regained my confidence and decided, "Fuck it, I love singing and I'm gonna die with regret if I don't try." A friend introduced me to the UPRRP Taller de Jazz y Música Popular (2022–2024). I was terrified, but under the guidance of my jazz mentor, Jesús Colón, the professor had me sing on the spot and immediately said, "You're in."
I spent three years performing with the jazz workshop, playing over 10 live jazz gigs at spots like Distrito T-Mobile and the iconic Heineken Jazz Fest / Ventana al Jazz in Condado, sharing the stage with amazing contemporary musicians like Daniel Andrades, Geno Zabata, Gabo Pacheco, Keyda, and Gabriela Guillén. To keep sharpening my craft, I also stepped into the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico (CMPR), taking weekly vocal technique classes with my professor Nicole Sepúlveda (lead vocalist of Las Cejas de Frida) and electric guitar lessons with Héctor Vázquez Gil.
Naturally, I wanted to take things even further, so I co-founded the band Solo Coco with four other members. We became a massive live act, booking over 40 performances across the island, from our debut at Saludos Cordiales in Guaynabo to El Corcho, Palmas Farmers Market, The Boat Show in Ceiba, Bocao y Sal, high-profile private events at Caparra Country Club, and even headlining as the featured musical act for artist Sabdiel López’s Añoranza art exhibition at CAOS Gallery. Along the way, I also loved jumping into other musical spaces, whether singing alongside live cover bands like The Comebacks, performing as a guest artist with Waldy Amadeo, or sharing musical moments with my grandfather, legendary danza pianist Luciano Quiñones.
During my band and jazz journey, I connected with incredible producers and creators like Jaime Zapata ("El Zapa"), who brought me into his studio to record my early single "Dirección Natural".
Now, I’m stepping out firmly as a solo artist under the moniker Tiliana, while keeping that powerhouse live-band energy alive. I’m currently working hand-in-hand with my main producer, manager, and creative director, Eva Luna Ortiz (Salwet Sound). My ultimate goal is to release my own music and perform it live. I love the stage, I love connecting with the crowd, and I sing every single day (much to my sister’s annoyance when she's trying to study!).
At the end of the day, I’m fiercely ambitious, completely unfiltered, and driven by a deep fire to create, perform, and build a secure corporate and artistic future all on my own terms.