We had the good fortune of connecting with Vale Peñaranda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vale, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

I decided to pursue a career in music for several reasons. First and foremost, music is a profoundly emotional and personal mode of communication that has enabled me to express my feelings and delve into my creativity.

Even though I live and breathe music 24/7 nowadays, making this decision wasn’t easy. Before graduating from high school, I felt pressured to choose a career path—aside from music—that promised financial stability and a prosperous future. This initially filled me with doubt, leading me to explore other career options for a year. However, I realized that these paths didn’t ignite the same enthusiasm and passion in me as music. So, I returned to what truly made me happy and decided not to change  it again.

Secondly, right from the start, music has shown me different sides of itself, and it’s also revealed parts of me I didn’t know existed. Music has always offered me endless learning opportunities, and I love that it allows for constant evolution.

So far, I have studied classical piano, vocal performance, arranging, composition, songwriting, film scoring, production, and sound engineering. What excites me is knowing that the learning process will continue for many more years to come!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I’m a Bolivian music producer, arranger, songwriter, engineer, musician, and educator. My journey began when I was only ten years old and never stopped ever since. I started studying classical piano at the National Conservatory of Bolivia in La Paz city.

In 2015, I moved to Boston after being accepted and awarded a place at Berklee College of Music. Currently, I live in Miami since 2021, where I moved with the purpose of continuing my education. I pursued a Master’s Degree at Frost School of Music at the University of Miami and graduated almost a year ago.

While juggling various roles in the music industry, I am dedicating my focus to nurturing my solo career as an artist since 2021.

I am proud to have started releasing my original music, and I will continue to do so for a couple of months until my first EP comes out.

My singles “Renacer” and “Dejar de amarte” are available on all platforms, and I will be releasing “Una vez más” on March 15th!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Every time my friends or family visit Miami, I think of places with live music. Lagniappe, Macondo Coffee Roasters, Savage Labs Wynwood, Neme Gastro Bar are some of my favorites. When we’re looking for a good food spot, my favorite places vary a lot, depending on what I’m craving for, usually Coconut Grove, Little Havana, and Wynwood are not only great places to find delicious restaurants but also neighborhoods rich in culture.

I also love Vizcaya Museum, I think it’s a very special place with incredible history surrounded by beautiful nature and architecture. This same captivating atmosphere is found throughout the streets of Coral Gables.

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 that I’m thankful for that have helped me grow in different ways. Starting with my mother, my biggest supporter and a true warrior. My friends in Miami who are also making great things in the music industry, Diego Clavijo, Valeria Osuna, Camilo Salas, Carolina Calvache, Pedro Sanjur. My loving partner, Francisco Castro. My mentors: Camilo Rodriguez, Carlos Rivera, Carlos Lopez, Charles Dye and so many more.

Website: https://www.valepenarandamusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valepenarandamusic/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vale-penaranda-b01558189/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valepenarandamusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuUIJi8BnSVa4Q-KZSl_wRQ

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/13YHhzUBivbPadtQTpsVoP?si=Uj0i3ni-R7G7Qd974P8s_g

Image Credits
Victor Terceros and Alejandro Taquechel

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.