Tell Me Más: Alaina Castillo on "Silk Sheets," Karma, and Finding Beauty in Darkness

Image Source: Brian Ziff

In our Q&A series Tell Me Más, we ask some of our favorite Latinx artists to answer the questions only their BFFs know about them, revealing everything from their most-used emoji to the songs that get them hyped. This week, singer Alaina Castillo takes the test, and we are all ears.

After becoming Youtube and TikTok famous with her covers of Camila Cabello and Billie Eilish, the Texan singer with Mexican roots Alaina Castillo started releasing her own songs on these platforms to the delight of her huge online fanbase (1.8 million followers on TikTok and counting). From her Gen-Z ode to trust issues, "I Don't Think I Love You Anymore", to her daring "Párate", where she sings in Spanish and English mixing reggaeton with dubstep and a sprinkle of Rosalía vibes, she proved her wide vocal range and style flexibility before even releasing her first album last May.

"Parallel Universe Pt. 1" is her pandemic baby. One she's both proud and relieved to put out for the world to enjoy after months locked up in the studio. Her full debut album is an absolute treat for your ears with crema and a cherry on top. Put it on while you read more about this astrology-nerd/future pop diva/ introvert at heart and learn about her favorite things, from her mom's veggie-loaded pasta and new Prada boots to her romantic home screen image and favorite songs.

POPSUGAR: What song do you have on repeat right now?

Alaina Castillo: "Jelly," by Phabo. I like it because It's very different. I've been training to branch off and find new music recently. I'm trying to listen to as many genres as I can so that I can take something different to the studio when I get back. This song had a really cool melody and then I just started listening to it every day.

PS: Where do you find inspiration to discover new music?

AC: Sometimes I'll just go to my favorite artist's radio, like Gideon, or this Spotify playlist called "Silk Sheets." I started listening to it when I was still in high school. Whenever I want new sensual music that's where I go.

PS: What is your most meaningful tattoo?

AC: I have five. The most meaningful is a rose on my arm. I was gonna get it just outlined and then the tattoo artist colored it in to show me how it would look and I liked it. To me, it means darkness and the beauty in that darkness.

PS: What's the app you spend the most time on?

AC: TikTok! I love to watch these different motion picture videos that artists make that look like a totally different world, going on to this very trippy music. I get a lot of inspiration from this space!

PS: What's your favorite form of self-care?

AC: Pampering. After a long day, I like to take a bath, take out the bath salts… It lasts like an hour. It's time for myself which I need.

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PS: What's your most-used emoji?

AC: I found it on the Japanese keyboard. It's a little white tiny heart, a lot smaller than the hearts that we use. I use it literally every day, whenever I'm trying to be cute, and in a lot of my captions. It's small and minimalistic and I love how clean it looks.

PS: What's the background image on your phone?

AC: A long time ago, I went to my boyfriend's house for Christmas. Something was happening with Saturn and Jupiter, and his dad has this high-class telescope. We were looking at the planets and I saw the moon and took this picture with my phone. I like to look at my screensavers and be reminded to be happy so I put this moon as my screensaver.

PS: What's your favorite thing in your closet right now?

AC: I just got these new Prada boots. I put them back in the box, and I'm like, "I'm gonna care for you this time." Those are my prized possession. This time I'm gonna get the leather fixer-upper boot thing.

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PS: What's one beauty product that is always in your purse?

AC: Lip gloss. I usually use a nude color on my lips and then gloss just a gloss to go over it. I put a little red lip gloss on the cheeks and on the tip of my nose. And a little blush.

PS: What's the last series you watched and loved?

AC: Twilight! It came out on Netflix. I watched it for the first time during my senior year, and I became obsessed with it. I don't watch movies that often, and I can't remember anything from movies but for Twilight… We were watching it this weekend, and I just went through and said every line.

PS: What song immediately makes you happy, lifts your spirits, or gets you up dancing?

AC: One of my songs, "Pocket Locket." I could be hating myself in the morning and then it comes on and I'm like, "Shit, look at me!"

PS: What song helps relax you and calm your nerves?

AC: "No Less," by G Eazy. It reminds me of the old days, staying calm and chilling with my family.

PS: What piece of advice has helped you most in your life?

AC: Thinking full circle. Karma. And to stay humble because you never know what's gonna come around eventually. I'm very wary of my action and trying to stay on top of myself.

PS: What is a family dish that makes you happy?

AC: My mom's spaghetti! Every time I make it now, I think of her. She goes crazy with it! My parents eat very healthily, so they add vegetables to everything. She puts a little wine on it, everything.

PS: What's a book or movie that changed your perspective on something?

AC: The Arrival. Hopefully, we learn from that movie if something like that [alien invasion] were to happen. It was scary but also made me think, "What if this happened in real life?