Mariana de Miguel, better known as Girl Ultra, has helped shape Mexican R&B and is looking to expand her sound.

Born in Mexico City, Mariana was always surrounded by the music the city absorbed and the musical influences of her parents. Her mother played 1980s pop artists like Gloria Estefan, and her father loved classic rock bands like REO Speedwagon.

“ My dad took the task of just giving me some CDs every weekend after the divorce, like every two weeks,” she said. “He was like, O.K., so you gotta listen to this … and he was very excited about giving me great musical taste.”

She was active during the ”indie sleaze” music era, defined by popular early 2000s indie-rock bands like Interpol, The Strokes, Bloc Party and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Mariana saved money to see these bands perform, in

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