duendita

duendita is a New York singer and songwriter from Queens, New York. Her work draws on R&B, soul, jazz and hip-hop, and she identifies as Afro-Latinx. Her songs often centre identity, faith, family lineage, grief, romance, anxiety and the experience of black and brown communities.

Style and themes

Her voice is described through a deep, jazzy range, with a style that moves between staccato phrasing, breathy ad-libs and more open, emotional singing. She uses intimate, detailed writing and often places spirituality at the centre of her music. Her recordings also include acoustic and electronic elements, with microphone, keyboard and drum machine forming part of her home recording and arranging process.

Releases and notable songs

Before releasing direct line to My Creator, she issues the single “pray”, a song about pain and isolation in black and brown communities shaped by underinvestment and denied access. Another key track, “blue hands”, is written in response to the 2016 killing of Korryn Gaines and serves as a brief but direct invocation for the protection of black girls and women from police violence. The EP also includes “September”, a wistful ballad with cinematic chord patterns, and “Bury Me”, which closes the record with a vulnerable performance.

direct line to My Creator is presented as a first full statement of her sound, with its songs flowing together into a cohesive whole. Its imperfect vocals and unusual notes are part of the record’s expressive character, and the release reflects her interest in turning personal vulnerability into music about healing and joy.

Artistic approach

duendita’s writing is shaped by lived experience and a strong sense of intention. She addresses lovers, grief and racial oppression directly, while also using her music to affirm the humanity and visibility of black women. Her sound is often linked to a spiritual, soulful emotional depth.