Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Navedo.
Hi Debbie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I came from a Puerto Rican family and was born in Hialeah, FL but raised in TX since I was 9 months old. My passion for singing and music began when I was three years old in 1996. The late singer Selena had recently passed away and her music was constantly playing in my house and on the radio. I admired her voice and my mom would catch me singing and dancing all over the house to her music daily. Over the years, my passion for singing grew more and more and I would spend hours upon hours a day singing in my room preparing for the concerts that I was certain one day I would have.
When i was 12 years old, my family was invited to a Spanish Christian church for the first time. I was angry and uncomfortable because I did not speak any Spanish. However, this church would ultimately be where my walk with Christ began and the beginning of an incredible journey that led me to where I am now as a Spanish Christian singer.
Even though at 12 years old I did not speak any Spanish, I looked forward to every Sunday service because I loved to hear the worship portion of the service. I would feel the presence of God moving in my life even in a language that I didn’t understand. When I heard a song that really spoke to me, I would go home after church and find that very song on YouTube and search for the lyrics so that I could sing along. I would translate the lyrics in google translate so that I know what the song was saying and this also helped me pick up on what certain words and phrases meant. Little by little, my understanding of Spanish became much better and soon I joined the worship team! Spanish worship was the only way I knew how to worship and although the language itself wasn’t natural to me, worshipping in Spanish was. God spoke to me and told me that he was going to take me around the world to sing and spread His word to His people. I held onto that promise.
I got married at 19 to a U.S. Army soldier and we moved to Italy for three years which is also where I had my first child, a baby boy. Unfortunately, with childbirth came something that I never expected to experience; postpartum depression and anxiety.
This was a battle that began after giving birth but stayed with me for several years after. I was angry at God. Why would he punish me when all I ever wanted to do was sing and worship? I didn’t understand it, and it caused me to walk away from my faith.
Our next duty station was in Colorado Springs, CO where my depression and anxiety worsened and I no longer recognized myself. I sought professional help, medication, and everything that was suggested to me but one day I fell to my knees in desperation and cried out to God for help. The next few years were rocky, and I couldn’t commit myself to trust God again when I had felt so betrayed by him. There came a day that a close friend invited us to his family’s church, and my husband and I accepted his invitation. That day, God spoke to me and reminded me of the promises he had upon my life and reassured me that those promises would still come to pass.
In the midst of the quite possibly the hardest moments of my life after the death of a close friend and uncontrollable depression/anxiety and panic attacks, once again I found myself on my knees asking God for strength and to change my circumstances. In that very moment, I heard a melody in my head along with the very words that I was feeling in the form of a song and I began to write them down. I decided that this song would be my personal promise and declaration that no matter what my circumstances are, I will always run to the Father. I had no plans to share this song with anyone but one day I met a lovely woman who God used to tell me that the song I wrote was intended to be heard and shared with the rest of the world. I reached out to a famous producer that was recommended to me named Chris Rocha and we not only recorded the song, but last minute we decided to sing it in Spanish.
Only a month later, I received a phone call from the same producer inviting me to be the first artist of his new record label called 418 Records which is based out of Spring, TX, The catch? I was being signed as a Spanish artist! My Spanish was definitely a lot better than it was when I was 12 but I was nowhere near fluent. However, I felt in my heart that it was the right thing to do because when I worshipped in Spanish, it felt so natural and right to me.
That very song was my first released song as a signed artist and was nominated for song release of the year for the 2022 Premios Arpa awards in Mexico! Since then, i have opened up for some of the biggest spanish christian artists in the industry and most recently collaborated with Lucia Parker for my latest song “Gigantes”. My journey has only begun, but i am already seeing God’s promises come to pass.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest challenge has been learning how to speak Spanish along the way. I have had several interviews with radio stations all across Latin America and on the red carpet in MX. Some days my Spanish is great and other times I struggle to find the words that I am trying to say.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Spanish Christian singer who does not speak perfect Spanish but has a successful Spanish ministry in the Spanish industry.
I sing, worship, and minister all over the world. The songs that I write in my room are being played all over the world but I am most proud of the fact that what I do brings more people to know about God’s love.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Chris Rocha. He is my producer and also the CEO of 418 Records. Without him, I wouldn’t be signed with the label that has started my entire career as a singer.
Abner Avila- He is my pastor and has been in my life since I was 13 years old. He has always been here for me and my family and supported my ministry along the way. He also helps me translate my songs to Spanish as I write everything in English first.
Abdiel Navedo- He is my husband and my best friend. He also plays a huge role in my ministry because he translates all of my songs to Spanish and sometimes he helps me write my songs as well. He has always consistently supported and believed in my craft and now is part of my songwriting process.
Amanda Kinner- She is a singer/songwriter who co-writes many of my songs with me including my latest song with Lucia Parker “Gigantes”.
AnnJillian Valcarsel- my bis sister. She has been my mentor and one of my biggest supporters during this new journey. She is also the violist on all of my songs.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.418recordsoficial.com
- Instagram: Debbie Navedo
- Facebook: Debbie Navedo
- Youtube: Debbie Navedo
Image Credits
Sterling Regard Photography
