Felíz Torralba is a local musician in Tucson, AZ. Torralba excels in jazz, pop, R&B, and musical theatre. She has roots in theatre, most notably working at Borderlands Theatre and The Scoundrel and Scamp theatre as an actress, director, and musician.
When she's not performing, Felíz teaches voice training and is a private vegan chef. She enjoys spending time with her two massive dogs, Chance and Benny, and jamming out with friends and family.
Recently Felíz has taken on a musical residency at the legendary Cafe Passé on 4th avenue. To catch her next show, check out her Instagram @feliztorralba.
See her next performance this Saturday December 21st at Cafe Passé from 7pm-9pm with special musical guests!
We asked Felíz 5 questions about their experience as a musician in Tucson. Here's what they said:
What's your favorite venue to play in Tucson?
My favorite venue is Cafe Passé. It’s so cozy, has immaculate vibes, and the owners and the staff are incredibly sweet and accommodating. Playing at an intimate venue helps me interact with audience members individually and make them a part of the show.
Since Passé is where I have my musical residency currently, it feels like home base for me. The Century Room is a close second - so classy, everyone feels like family and the musicianship is unmatched. I feel like every time I leave The Century Room, I am smarter than when I arrived. We are so lucky to have such cool spots to play here in Tucson!
What's the funniest thing that's happened during a performance?
When I was playing a show with my drummer for the first time (Greg Ashbaugh), we played "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter in DOUBLE time by accident. Immediately after getting through the first verse, I looked back at Greg gasping for air and we just gave each other a “dude, we gotta get through this” look and we giggled our way through the rest of the song.
It sounded like the band had too much espresso before we started playing it. The most funny part is that it actually worked and the audience loved it! Let’s just say the band was definitely wide awake for the rest of the show. I promptly enjoyed a stiff espresso martini after this.
What's your first memory as a musician?
That's hard to pin down. I grew up in an abundantly musical household so singing, learning to play instruments, and performing was just a part of my everyday life. I have a memory of singing with my big sister, Mia, in her room one day and she taught me how to harmonize with her.
Once I got it, it felt like magic. After that, I felt like I had the ability to “hang” musically with my family during jam time. It felt special being able to contribute in some small way - particularly adding those complimentary melodies that weren’t obvious to everyone’s ear. A gift I’ll never forget from my sister.
What's your favorite song to perform?
My favorite song to perform changes frequently but at this moment, "Girl From Ipanema" is my go-to. No two performances of this piece are the same for me. I love the jazz bossa nova style - it’s a standard but has a Latin vibe. It also feels like a musical theatre song of sorts since the composition goes through this gorgeous imagery lyrically and contrasting melodic emotional shifts.
I get to scat, riff and play around OR do none of that and make it simple. Also, whichever musician I’m playing it with never fails to add a dope musical break, and that foreshadows how the ending will go. That song feels like a small journey I’m willing to take any time.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
"Be prepared, don’t simply survive.” This is what my mentor and teacher Marissa Garcia instilled into me as a child, and it's true in play and in life. There are survival skills we can learn to simply get through a performance but nothing makes me feel more confident than preparedness.
Do your homework because once you know what’s up, that’s where the play begins. Examples of play are being able to vibe with your band and audience, to try fun riffs or tempo changes, and most importantly, to perform. You can’t do this if you’re still worried about knowing the lyrics.
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