Kat DeLuna (19) has released her debut album 9 Lives for Sony BMG’s Epic Records. The album is made up of songs that blend together the unique musical influences that have been a part of this young singer/songwriters life. The album contains 3 Spanish versions including her second single, “Como Un Sueño”. Kat’s songs mix together Pop, Dance, Merengue, Bachata and Urban rhythms.

Born in the Bronx and raised in the Dominican Republic, she is a bilingual force and a quadruple threat with classic opera training. Kat is the very first Dominican crossover artist.
It is also the first time a new artist is being broken at the same time in both the English and Spanish markets simultaneously.

This incredible young talent has already achieved a global hit with her first single the dancehall, Latin house infused number one dance hit, “Whine Up” which features reggae star Elephant Man. Her new single, “Am I Dreaming” incorporates Bachata rhythms with Pop and Reggae.

Kat DeLuna is well on her way to becoming the next international Latin superstar.

Kat, When did you decide music was your going to be your career? Music has been a part of me since I was born, I was already singing tunes and wanting to be around music since I was one, so it has really always been a part of my life. The entire album is very influenced from opera. I am a first soprano and I studied it for four years in high school. My album is influenced from all the musical styles I grew up listening too. When you hear “Whine Up”, you can hear Techno, House, Merengue, and Dancehall.

How do you feel about the responsibility of being the first Dominican cross over artist? It is a big honor and responsibility. I feel very proud of this and the fact of being a Latina. You have to make your people proud of you the right way. The fact that I am the first Dominican crossover artist, I found it was important for me to incorporate some of the folkloric music from my country like Bachata. I’m actually introducing this rhythm and infusing it with Pop and Reggae in my second single, “Am I Dreaming” or “Como Un Sueño”. The video is being shot in the Dominican Republic and I feel very honored to be able to represent my culture and country on a world stage.

Who have been some of your influences? Wow, I have had so many. I can honestly say Juan Luis Guerra has inspired me. Milly Quezada has always been someone I have admired also. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to sing with her at a festival once when I was younger, she brought be up on stage with her. I feel being a role model is a big time responsibility. So I feel it is important for me to be an inspiration for other girls. I write because of Mariah Carey, I do certain things because of Selena, the same way they have been role models for me I would like to be for others.

What can you tell me about your new album, 9 Lives? I wrote the whole album except for one song. There are 9 songs, 9 stories and the number nine has played a big role in this whole album. We finished the recording process in about a month, which was really fast. I have been writing my whole life and these songs come from a variety of places and not just my personal life. I think there are a variety of styles and something for everyone. I have a rock type song, with “Run the Show” and I have also included a ballad, “Love Me, Leave Me”. This album is what I feel about music and about living your dreams. Some of these songs are answers to some of my friends who have asked me for advice and I have answered them in song.

What can your Spanish speaking fans expect from this album? You can feel my Latin roots throughout the album since Latin music has always been a part of my life. We have also included three songs in Spanish as bonus tracks including the Spanish version of “Whine Up”. We also recorded a bi-lingual version of that song. There is also “Run the Show” en español and the second single, “Como Un Sueño”.

What are some of your future plans? I defiantly see myself dominating my category as a singer/songwriter. I also see myself continuing to be involved within the Latin community. I also want to keep things open to the possibilities of being involved with film and fashion. Besides for my music career, I also see myself doing things for other people. I want to help those in need because I have been there, and I want to be a helping hand.

How do you feel now that you have gotten to the point of releasing your first album? It was very long and difficult. I am 19 years old but I feel like thirty because this has been a long time in the making. When I was younger I formed my own group, Coquette. We never got signed because at the time people in the industry didn’t believe a group of latinas could make it in the hip-hop world. Two years after we broke up, I decided to go solo and I had to prove myself all over again. It was a struggle but everything came together last November when Epic Records signed me. At this moment in time I am excited and overjoyed. I can’t believe it, I am finally releasing my first album to world, and this is my first experience, something very special to me. I can’t wait for everyone to discover, sing and dance along with me!