Three singles in, and Aline Garza can already lay a claim to being one of pop’s reigning queen of empowerment. Her January 2024 debut, “Day One,” was an ode to the fortifying nature of true friendship that became an instant classic, racking up 4.1 million views on Tik Tok and over 4 million on Instagram. She followed it up with the equally stirring “Superhero,” which put her squarely at the forefront of the anti-bullying movement. Now, with her new “Warrior,” the Austin, Texas, wunderkind draws an even keener bead on motivational guru-dom, treating the listening world to a priceless anthem that teaches the power of simple self-confidence to surmount the most overwhelming odds.
While that sentiment is self-focused in the best of ways, the song itself is the product of some stellar teamwork. Garza co-wrote it with her trusted team of producer Adam H. (the architect of past hits by the likes of Ray J, Ne-Yo, Elise Estrada, Def Leppard and Loverboy) and Don Wolf (lead singer of ’80s metal outfit White Wolf, and since turned a reliable writing partner to Bon Jovi, Poison and Motley Crue). Recorded by Adam H., the track was mixed by five-time Grammy winner Orlando Calzada (who’s been behind the boards for Lady Gaga, One Direction, Beyonce and Destiny’s Child).
It’s a simply monumental piece of inspirational popcraft, with a lyric that could call anyone’s soul to attention and a stately, finger-snapping rhythm you can just picture entire stadium’s stating “Yes I can.” In a voice that’s world-wise beyond her years, Garza surveys the scars she’s earned in trying to make the best of the one life she’s been given. And while she acknowledges that the effort has momentarily put her at “rock bottom,” she’s determined the fight won’t be over until she herself elects to throw in the towel:
Cause I’m a warrior
I’ll never give up
So hit me with your best shot
Yeah I’m a warrior
The armour is off
But I can take this head-on
So ready to battle
Right back in the saddle
Nothin’ I can’t handle
Still got the fight
Cause I’m a warrior
I’ll never give up
So hit me with your best shot
“I wanted to write about giving people an inspiration that it doesn’t matter what you go through, there’s always an option to be positive and keep living your life the best you know how,” Garza says. “‘Warrior’ is about finishing things … about not doing things halfway and not giving up. No matter what happens in life, you can always get back up again.”
At the age of 10, she had already made a name for herself as a charismatic performer. She dazzled audiences of over 3,000 as the lead singer at multiple church special performances. A vocal seminar she remembers as a true watershed enabled her to win the “Best New Artist” award for her age group at the Vocal Star New Year’s Gala Competition and place in the finals of the Dream Night talent competition. In what was perhaps a hint of crowd adulation to come, she was invited to sing the National Anthem at a minor-league baseball game in Austin in 2023.
Signing to the XOXO Entertainment Corp. label put her on the glide path to cultural primacy she’s been following with “Day One,” “Superhero” and now “Warrior.” Her instant success has made the industry sit up and take notice, but it was no shock to her DNA, given that she’s the product of a highly musical family: The youngest of five siblings, Garza counts her oldest brother and her father among her major inspirations and facilitators as she builds a burgeoning career out of her innate instincts for pop, R&B, country and even Christian music. And with that diversity of talents, there’s no telling what she might accomplish—as long as she keeps her nose to the proverbial grindstone.
“Perseverance is finishing to the end despite the difficulty,” says this young but already highly pedigreed role model. “Life is a gift; don’t take it for granted.”
Spoken like a true Warrior.
