Jay Wheeler explains how his Abuela inspired his music

For many of us, our relationship with our grandparents can serve as a bridge to the past, often connecting our crucial developmental years to the wisdom and customs of generations before us. For Jay Wheeler, the bond he shares with his grandmother, Clara Luz, is something he cherishes. It helped him become the man and artist he is today.

“One of the greatest treasures I have in my life is my Abuela,” Wheeler says. “She’s a person who loves to go out, who loves to party, and I’m lucky to still have her with me and to have her healthy.”

But aside from being the life of the party, his grandmother helped instill many of the values ​​that guide the singer – who worked hard to usher in a new form of romantico with his albums “Emociones” and “Emociones 1.5″.

“She taught me to be respectful, to always empathize with people and to have a healthy fear of God. I am a person who believes very strongly in God, thanks to her,” says the singer, adding that she also taught him to “simply love the world”.

This caring disposition is reflected in his music and his interactions with fans and media. Wheeler once mentioned that he tried not to wear sunglasses because he wanted his fans to be able to see his eyes. Musically, DJ protégé Nelson is in high demand for bringing the old-school crooner vibe to the new wave of trap and reggaetón. His latest creation, “Musica Bueno Para Días Malos,” is a futuristic ride through the ups and downs of love. However, the singer recently found the opportunity to tackle a different genre by releasing a cover of the classic song “Piel Canela.”

“I was actually very nervous because I know it’s a classic, it’s something that shouldn’t be messed with,” he says. “So my intention was never to make a better version or anything like that. My intention was just to do my version of a classic song – one that reminds me of my grandmother.”

The opportunity to cover the song arose through a collaboration with McDonald’s. The fast food giant is working hard to promote its new “Grandma McFlurry” and offer fans a chance to meet the reggaetonero to sweeten an already sweet deal. For Wheeler, however, not only does he get to cover a timeless classic, but he also gets to honor his abuelita, who he also credits with helping him cultivate his love for music through his own passion for singing and dancing.

“My grandmother always wanted to be a singer…and that inspired me. From a very young age, she instilled (that desire) in me. And she always wanted to be famous,” Wheeler laughs. “(To this day) if you give her a stage and a microphone, she will dance and sing.”

The singer recalls a childhood video of him and his abuela singing and dancing like two superstars. Fast forward to today, and Wheeler is well on his way to becoming just that – the McDonald’s campaign is a testament to his rising star and marketability. As part of the marketing campaign for Grandma McFlurry, Wheeler and his grandmother had the chance to film a commercial together advertising the new snack and the accompanying TikTok contest. So, her abuelita finally gets her moment in the spotlight.

So what’s next for Wheeler and Grandma Clara Luz? Wheeler is currently on tour and his next stop is a concert at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, where he will run through his repertoire of reggaetón hits and trap bangers the week after Puerto Rican Weekend. But even if cantando urbano is his livelihood, the singer does not rule out continuing his experiments with classic genres.

“I’m willing to do anything when it comes to music. There’s no limit. I’m always going to challenge myself to do anything,” Wheeler says.

“Obviously, not everything will suit me, but I will always try,” he adds. “I’m very open to everything, rock music, classical music, whatever. I’ll always try to give it my touch, my best shot.”

Aside from switching genres from time to time, the singer is also known for collaborating with his wife and fellow singer, Zhamira Zambrano. So maybe a duet with his abuelita will also be considered in the future. Whatever he chooses to tackle next, his grandmother will be there, watching with pride, knowing that his passion was the push toward the bright future Wheeler currently lives in.

Miguel Machado is a journalist specializing in the intersection of Latinx identity and culture. He does everything from exclusive interviews with Latin music artists to opinion pieces on issues relevant to the community, personal essays related to his Latinidad, as well as think pieces and features relating to Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican culture.