Meet Mariana Martín Capriles

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mariana Martín Capriles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mariana, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting my own business was less about following a traditional entrepreneurial model and more about creating a platform for freedom: creative, cultural, and economic. As a multidisciplinary artist from Venezuela living in New York, I didn’t see my story, my sound, or my community reflected in many spaces. So I decided to build my own.

The thought process was layered, part survival and part vision. I wanted to make space for projects that didn’t quite fit anywhere else. Music that blends electronic production with Afro-Venezuelan rhythms. Events that celebrate identity without clichés. Design work rooted in storytelling. I didn’t want to wait for permission to make things happen, so I became the engine behind my own creative career.

Over time, that mindset turned into multiple branches. MPeach as a music project. PEACHTOWN as my creative studio. Cincuentay8 as an initiative that supports other Venezuelan artists. At the center of it all is the belief that culture is alive, and that we each have the power to shape it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a multidisciplinary artist from Venezuela based in New York. My work lives at the intersection of music, visual art, design, and cultural preservation. Through my music projects MPeach and Uva ‘e playa, my creative studio PEACHTOWN, and initiatives like Cincuentay8, I’ve built platforms that uplift diasporic stories, explore identity, and celebrate Latin and Afro-Venezuelan heritage through a futuristic lens.

What sets my work apart is that I approach art not just as expression, but as resistance and memory. Whether I’m producing music, DJing, curating events, creating visual narratives, or playing tambor, I’m always thinking about how we carry culture forward, not as something fixed but as something alive.

The path hasn’t been easy. Like many artists, I’ve had to learn how to self-produce, self-advocate, and self-sustain. It has taken a lot of hustle, community, and creative problem-solving. But I’m proud of the spaces I’ve helped carve out, spaces where our stories aren’t just represented but centered.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that authenticity and collaboration go a long way. I want the world to know that art can be both personal and collective, grounded in where you come from and still pushing toward where you’re going.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
New York (Warm Weather Edition)
If it’s warm out in NYC, the week is all about being outside as much as possible. Think day parties, concerts, beach days, and park hangs.

At some point, we’re definitely stopping by Santa Salsa, my homies’ spot and a home base for Venezuelans and Latin culture in Bushwick. It’s a must for a classic perrito con todo, Venezuelan-style hot dog.

We’d spend a day chilling at the beach, catch a good concert in Prospect Park or Central Park SummerStage, and hit up any solid art shows happening around the city. I love walking through New York and visiting local OG food spots that are still holding on.

Evenings could go anywhere, from a backyard hang to a surprise rave in a warehouse in Brooklyn, or an all-salsa night. NYC in the summer just hits different. It’s loud, sweaty, and full of life. If there’s a nonstop event at Nowadays, I love catching an early morning set for a full dance session. I’ll get some sleep, then wake up just to go dance.

I’d probably be DJing at least one night that week or playing tambores somewhere. And we’d definitely stop by Millear, my neighborhood taco spot in Crown Heights.

Miami Edition
If we’re in Miami, I’m a beach fiend. I’d probably be at the beach every day, at least for a couple of hours if possible. The rhythm there is a little slower, so there’s usually more house hangs and catching up with friends and family.

I’d love to catch a live show at ZeyZey or the Bandshell, maybe a dance night at Floyd, or a hang at The Corner. Miami also has way more options for Venezuelan food, so picking just one spot is hard. It really depends on the craving that day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people and communities who have shaped my journey, but I want to dedicate this shoutout to the Venezuelan diaspora and all the artists keeping our culture alive across borders, including my New York fam made up of immigrants from all around the world. I’m especially grateful for the women I’ve collaborated with over the years: drummers, dancers, singers, DJs, organizers, and creatives who have poured love, energy, and vision into spaces that didn’t exist for us before. I’m also thankful for the men, collaborators and teachers, who have led with love and respect. This path has never been solo, and I carry all of them with me in everything I do.
To my family, my ancestors, my mom and dad, whose spirits always protect me, and to San Juan.

Website: https://www.mpeachhh.com

Instagram: @mpeach @cincuentay8

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianamartincapriles/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mpeach

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MPEACH

Other: https://mpeach.bandcamp.com/