On her debut album Capricorn Baby, Nashville-based Latinx and queer artist Kristen Castro delivers a record that is as intimate as it is expansive. Across nine songs, she blends indie pop, folk, and ambient textures into a reflective body of work that feels deeply personal yet universally resonant. Entirely self-made, the album was written, produced, and mixed by Castro herself, marking not just a creative milestone but also a declaration of independence.
The album moves like a memoir set to music. Each track captures a different facet of Castro’s evolution, from the raw vulnerability of acoustic ballads to the lush, layered production of more anthemic moments. What unites them is a clear sense of voice and purpose. Castro has described the project as “a celebration of learning to trust myself creatively, personally, and spiritually,” and that confidence glows through in both the quietest and loudest moments.
Musically, Capricorn Baby draws on Castro’s wide-ranging influences. Raised in Southern California, seasoned in Nashville, and rooted in her Mexican heritage, she brings together disparate sounds without ever losing coherence. Echoes of The Japanese House, MARO, and LÉON surface in the ethereal synths and ambient production, while the songwriting maintains the emotional clarity of folk traditions. The balance of vulnerability and atmosphere is what makes the record stand out, allowing it to feel at once intimate and cinematic.
Lyrically, the songs circle themes of growth, resilience, and identity. Castro writes with the honesty of someone who has lived through transformation and now wants to preserve the lessons in melody. Lines of heartbreak and longing are tempered by flashes of gratitude and hope, offering listeners a mirror for their own personal journeys. The record’s sequencing also highlights her careful craftsmanship, with each track flowing into the next like chapters in a story of self-discovery.
For Castro, Capricorn Baby is also a reclamation of agency. After years of touring with the trio Maybe April and sharing stages with icons such as Bonnie Raitt and Kris Kristofferson, she chose to step into her own lane. The result is a 9-track debut that does not just introduce her as a solo artist but solidifies her as a vital new voice in contemporary indie music.
Featured Images: Artist Supplied
