Check Out Angelica (Aanjolique) Barraza’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelica (Aanjolique) Barraza

Hi Angelica (Aanjolique), it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
First and fore most thank you for having me!

Where should I begin? It’s been a journey honestly. I am El Paso, Texas born and raised. I originally moved to Atlanta to pursue music as a singer/song writer. I moved here in 2015 and lived the struggling artist life with my homie who is an artist and was also my producer at the time. We lived out of a car and air bnbs for some months.. then he moved back to El Paso and I decided to stay. I took a year off of writing music to work as a waitress/bartender to save up and invest in studio equipment and learned to produce beats in that year. I networked with many producers and made amazing friends that elevated me as a producer. In 2017 I started performing in local venues like, Takeoff ATL, Ghost bar, Smith’s Old Bar and even opened up at some comedy shows. In 2018 is when I expanded a bit and I started taking gigs out of the state in Chicago & Texas. I released my first professional EP “Thick Thighs and Trying times.” Which I wrote and produced myself and promoted with a release party back home in El Paso, which got me more traction. In 2020 during the pandemic I actually quarantined and started multiple businesses. I launched 1247 which was a creative company dedicated to the goal of helping all types of creatives connect and barter to create in whichever lane they dominate. This is where I stumbled upon another passion of mine, Production. A friend at the time hooked me up with a PA gig for the Latto and Duke Deuce – Kirk Music Video. That experience unlocked a different facet of my creativity, I immediately wanted to become a Director/Producer so I started searching for opportunities in that avenue. Through my own company I was able to align gigs as a PA, Set Dresser, Stylist and even a model in music videos. I found myself more often than not working in Production while simultaneously keeping up with my music career as well. In 2021 I met Kamkilled it and became his personal assistant then shortly after became his business partner which is where I began producing and directing music videos, commercials, documentaries and short films. I also launched my intentional skin care face scrub line “Chio’s Natural Nourishment” and was still performing up to a few weeks before giving birth to my baby girl In January 2022. When she was born I finished my EP “Though Pink” and released it then took that year and a half after off of music to fully immerse myself in motherhood but I stayed creative by working production still, I focused on elevating my production career, so I continued to work with Kamkilled it and then partnered up in 2023 with Arch Street Productions and added casting to my resume. I casted, produced, and directed for ShaiDirects short films like “A date with an ATL man” and a music based short film for Kxng Blanco called “Baby Heffner”. (which I just found out is nominated for best Hip hop music video of the year!) – This year I have stepped out rebranded in all my facets. 1247 is now @Twelve47Collective a company that provides production services, networking, and social media marketing and management with partnership extending nationwide and The Philippines. “Chio’s Natural Nourishment” is now @Chiosapothecary which just launched locally and will soon expand online. and well, it always comes back to the music for me so as @Aanjolique I am back actively dropping music consistently and gearing up for a new EP Release later this year. All my creative interests really came together nicely after that journey and now I’m never not working on something creative which was the goal of that 22 year old me that originally moved out here to chase her dreams.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has been a Rocky Road. I came to atl with nothing but a bag of clothes on my back and have grinded my a** off to get to where I am today but all that was trivial. I think the hardest part for me was having to navigate my purpose without the full support of old friends and family. Staying dedicated in this freelance and Entrepreneural lifestyle has always been a self conflict. I have struggled with actively and intentionally investing in myself and having to work a 9-5 but still having the discipline to keep being intentional about manifesting my dreams into reality. From Leaving home without the support from my very Mexican Parents who are a bit more supportive now that they have seen my accomplishments still sometimes ask me when I’ll be going back to college and/or back home to El Paso to even having to make my way through the industry to make a name for myself has always been a challenge. My own impostor syndrome at times has had me at the point of just dropping everything and quitting. Even now as a mother, being written off by peers due to that very outdated mentality that “mothers can’t be boss ass women too” I run into challenges, but thankfully I now have a strong support system in my partner, close friends, family and my daughter that encourages me to continue to believe in myself.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
So as I wrote in the bible earlier.. lol. I’m now a jack of all trades. currently and actively though to keep it short: I’m an Artist, Production Executive and Entrepreneur.

Currently my main focus is on launching a new branch of the Twelve47 Collective – A Social Media Marketing Agency and also elevating my music career. The great thing about production is that it meshes nicely with everything I do so I’m always working on a big production lately. From Creative directing Local artist music videos, commercials and marketing for social media management clients and my own businesses, to directing everything for my music career. It all just ties together very nicely.

I think what sets me apart from others is that I’m a chameleon in this industry and anything that has to do with creativity. I really embrace that. As long as it has to do with me being creative I can do it and do it well. Not to toot my own horn but it really makes me a great asset to have in team projects. I know how to lead but also play my part when needed in any role to create something amazing out of nothing whether its being an executive or an assistant, I really make with what I am given and that has always been the key to my success.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
This hasn’t always been my favorite but now that I am grown up I think it’s hilarious and we never fail to bring it up in family functions but when I was younger my brother’s played a terrible prank on me. My brother Jaime had a keyboard that had different sounds programmed in… so one day my other brother Agustin started asking why I took money from our mom’s purse.. I was so confused and obviously denied it because I hadn’t but he kept going to the point where he pretended to call the cops on me. The whole time I didn’t fully believe it but he kept telling me that the cops were coming to pick me up and take me away. Then all of a sudden I heard a siren and my heart sank to my butt and I ran and hid under my bed scared to death and crying my eyes out. I think he even pretended to open the door for them and called me downstairs so they could take me! Eventually I just heard them both laughing their heads off and they had to calm me down and show me that the siren was only a programmed sound on the keyboard. Mind you I was like five. That’s the best prank anyone has ever done on me till this day lol.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://twleve47collective.my.canva.site/
• Instagram: @Aanjolique
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Aanjolique
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/aaanjolique
• Other: https://linktr.ee/Aanjolique