Camila Cabello opens up about the “obsession” that defined her teenage years, calling herself a “total loser” at the time and admitting she still shares those traits today.
By Website Content Manager
Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
The singer discussed her career journey during an appearance at the Tribeca Festival held at Art Basel Miami Beach.
At just 15 years old, Camila Cabello may have been a national TV star, but she didn’t see herself as a “cool” teenager.
During a conversation with Dave Grutman at the Tribeca Festival at Art Basel Miami Beach on December 7, the 27-year-old “I Luv It” singer reflected on her younger years and the intense “obsession” she and her friends had with music, which completely shaped their social lives.
“We were total losers. We didn’t go to parties or hang out with people,” she shared. “I spent my time in my room singing, using YouTube instrumentals, and watching videos of my favorite musicians and artists.”
She added, “It was everything to me. That’s how I’ve always been, and honestly, I’m still like that.”
To emphasize her point, Cabello joked about her current fixation on “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, admitting she sings it “every day” before giving the audience a sample.
Cuban-born and raised in Miami, Camila Cabello launched her career at 15 on The X Factor in 2012. Following her rise to fame with Fifth Harmony, the group formed on the show, she embarked on her solo journey, releasing her debut album in 2018. Most recently, in June, she unveiled her fourth studio album, C,XOXO.
“Pushing my own boundaries motivates me, though it can be challenging in music,” Cabello explained. “I’m often asked if I worried about how fans would react to this album, and honestly, I wasn’t—though maybe I should’ve been. When it dropped, people said, ‘This is so different.’”
She added, “For me, change feels natural. I’m always evolving, but I’ve realized it’s important to push boundaries without alienating people. This album felt like that for me. It was also special because I don’t think people realized I’m a Miami girl, and I loved how the Miami influences resonated with listeners.”
Reflecting on her beginnings, Cabello acknowledged that she entered the industry as a “tiny girl” and is only now truly finding herself.
“I’m learning what truly matters to me and defining my values—it’s a process,” Camila Cabello shared. “The later part of your 20s is when you really start feeling like an adult. For me, at 27, it’s the first time I genuinely feel like, ‘I’m a woman, I’m an adult.’”
During her conversation, Cabello also revealed her favorite collaborator: Lil Nas X, whom she described as “a pure, sweet angel.” She further shared that her favorite lyric comes from an unreleased song called “Scar Tissue,” expressing regret over not releasing it.
“It was from my first album, but I didn’t include it because I thought it wasn’t as strong as the other songs,” she admitted. “People got in my head about it, too, saying it wasn’t as good. But it ended up being the most meaningful song to my fans because it was so honest. That experience taught me not to let others influence my decisions. That’s my advice.”
Cabello’s conversation with entrepreneur Dave Grutman was part of the four-day Tribeca Festival at Art Basel Miami Beach, a celebration of the intersection between music, art, and film.
