Gissel Villanueva showcases her powerhouse vocals on debut, “Center of Me”
Some songs don’t rush to make their point, rather they unfold slowly revealing their full shape only to those willing to sit with them. Gissel Villanueva’s “Center of Me” is one of those rare, quietly commanding tracks, a piece of artful pop that builds from a whisper into something undeniably powerful without ever losing its emotional core. It’s not often we “feel” something from music, but her vocals instilled all the power in the world.
From the very first moments, the song feels intimate, almost confessional. It opens with little more than Villanueva’s voice and a delicate acoustic guitar. There’s no urgency here or overproduction, just a raw presence overall. It was in that simplicity where the magic really started!
As a Honduran singer-songwriter and actress currently based in New York City, Villanueva channels such a wide spectrum of influence, and you can hear traces of powerhouse vocal traditions in her delivery. What really set her apart is how personal it all felt. Her range is stunning, yes, but it’s the sheer emotion that landed the most. She knows exactly when to hold back and when to let her voice bloom into something grander…just wait until the final 30 seconds.
Around the one minute mark in the song though, the track begins to evolve. Drums power into the mix and the arrangement expands. Subtle strings hover in the background, adding a cinematic glow without pulling attention away from the centerpiece, Villanueva’s voice. It’s really a masterclass in restraint, allowing things to organically grow on their own instead of in a forceful way.
By the time it reaches its final moments, “Center of Me” doesn’t feel like it’s trying to resolve anything. Instead, it lingers, like a thought you keep returning to long after the music fades. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most impactful songs aren’t the loudest, they’re the ones that know exactly where to stand and let you come to them. It’s surely reflective and opens you up a bit to who the artist is, but we also felt it was quite open and universal to apply your own meanings too.
With this release, Gissel Villanueva doesn’t just showcase her vocal ability, she establishes herself as an artist with a clear emotional compass, unafraid to sit in vulnerability and turn it into something quietly extraordinary. Do yourselves a huge favor and click those links below to listen in, follow along for more, and of course to stay tuned for the second single!
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