Today we’d like to introduce you to Maritza Nuñez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Maritza. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m Mexican and currently living in Decatur, Ga. I started making music when I was around 14. I didnt have many resources growing up and was raised by an amazing single mom. I struggled to gain access to instruments because of the lack of resources. Once I turned 14, I got a guitar from Walmart and started to learn to play. I used to be really bad a guitar and still kind of am but I pick up a guitar and started to write songs. I lived in Houston, Tx most of my life and didn’t have many musician friends so I kept most of my songs to myself. Once I moved to Atlanta and graduated high school, I started to explore the DIY music scene. My first ever public performance was at an open mic at a house. This was super eye-opening to me because I found out how supportive and open the Atlanta music scene was. A few months after that, I met up with some really awesome musicians, which included the extremely talented Nadav Flax and started my band, Bitter. I really loved the support I was given by my band members because they never asked me to change anything in any of my songs. They just added on to the foundation of the song that I gave them. All of the people that I met when I first moved to Atlanta really motivated me to create music and validated my art. I am really thankful for that.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t always been smooth. The support of the community has made it so much easier but some of the things that were and can still be a struggle are access to making music and finding the time to create art when you are trying to work as much as possible to survive. Another struggle I’ve faced is second-guessing myself and trying to get away from the doubt I have in myself. Sometimes, I feel like I’m not a good enough musician or I can’t sing, I also struggle with how introverted I am. At the beginning of my journey, I felt really self-conscious and like I had to look a certain way or dress a certain way. But now that some years have passed by, I feel a lot more confident in what I do and I don’t even wear makeup if I don’t feel like it when I perform. Some advice I’d give women trying to believe in the music or art they make is to be proud of who you are. Also, don’t second-guess yourself so much and don’t think you have to look a certain way to take up space. You are beautiful.
Please tell us more about your band, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I make music. I’m in a band called Bitter and I’m Mexican. I’m super proud and grateful for the things I’ve been able to accomplish because of the support from the community in Atlanta. I’d say I’m most proud of making people feel like they can also play music and perform. Sometimes after shows, people come up to me and say “wow, I also want to sing in Spanish and start a band”. So, that’s what probably makes me most proud and also being able to play Oyefest last year, a Latinx festival in Atlanta.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
I think going up to people you don’t know but admire is really helpful. I know it can be really nerve-racking going up to people you admire, but it’s paid off for me and then, you feel like you overcame that anxiety of talking to new people as well.
Contact Info:
- Email: bookingbitter@gmail.com
- Instagram: wearebitteratl, also my personal one ritz_nunez
- Facebook: @Bitteratl
Image Credit:
Josephine Figueroa, Nadir Baaset, Cole Martin, Liragraphy
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