How Ana Macho Carved Out Their Own Lane

On a quiet Friday night in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Ana Macho sits on a feathered gray futon, looking as fabulous as ever. Leaning in with their wire-framed glasses, the artist is excitedly ready to share their story. For them, it’s been a journey: Ana Macho has been trailblazing a path to the mainstream market as an artist who happens to be non-binary, and the last few months have marked a new evolution in their career.

“Just today, it’s been more than a year of doing music on my own, full-time surviving – which is really just surviving as a freelance artist.” they tell me, radiating with pride. “I’ve traveled and made really good music, enjoying myself. My team is really happy. I’m really happy being like this.”

They haven’t stopped: From local shows in the queer community to collaborations with stars like Villano Antillano, Ana Macho is well on their way to leveling up the playing field for non-binary artists looking for a mainstream path that feels authentic. They’ve continued the year with an impressive Boiler Room debut, and they’re preparing to release their album Radio Sunshine, which is expected later in 2023.

Ana Macho’s journey is full of lessons they’ve picked up working both in Puerto Rico and the United States. Music runs through Ana Macho’s blood: “My mother is an artist, my dad is an artist too,” they explain with a smile. Ana Macho grew up in the house their grandfather built in Caguas and went to public school in Caguas. Eventually, they moved to an elite secondary school at the great sacrifice of their parents. 

Taking full advantage of the opportunities their family fought hard for, Ana Macho has been building out the kind of career they’ve always envisioned. Their music has become a bright, blazing mix of sharp commentary and exciting rhythms, which they showed off on their recent seven-track EP Realismo Magico. Ana Macho is also known for risks that make an impact: Recently, they covered the iconic song “El Gran Varon” for La Brega podcast, centering their voice as their career continues to blossom. “Our energy is precious, and sometimes you have to let some things fester out on their own, especially if it comes from something negative,” they say.

It’s not that long ago that Ana Macho was balancing different jobs: “I used to work in Lululemon,” they say giggling. “[At these jobs], everyone’s like different races and then it’s like, but we’re still selling leggings and $100, $1500 items to white girls.”

As an artist, Ana Macho has been working to identify the capitalist structures that exist in contrast to their unique politics. They’re clear-eyed about the roadblocks ahead.  Latin music, and especially genres that are primarily  straight, white,and male-dominated. There has been some progress toward change, with artists like Tokischa, Villano, and Young Miko forging their own path while simultaneously staying true to their identities and individual socio–commentaries. Ana Macho is no different, and yet they are faced with different sets of challenges as they try to avoid being pigeon-holed and wrongly categorized.

“A lot of these structures are not made for diversity. Maybe we should stop asking white people to include us,” they say.

But they’re motivated by remaining unique, and staying true to their art. Ana Macho is inspired heavily by artists like Ariana Grande, Bad Gyal, and the music scene in the Dominican Republic in their process of creating a distinct sound honoring their Boricua roots. Their hope is to carve out their own musical lane that eliminates popular yet outdated archetypes regularly promoted in Latin music culture and turn On their song “Universo,” they cleverly strip the typical cis framework in reggaeton, centering intense, bass-heavy vocalizations alongside dreamy production. 

Ana Macho proudly performs in drag, and recognizes that, in many instances due to societal norms, the way they express themselves may warrant unwelcome attention. They note that cisgender onlookers can often play a role risks to their own safety, but they are focused on standing on their own principles and breaking barriers: “Maybe we should start doing our own things and stop seeing the top of the White Mountain as something that we are aspiring to.”