Today we’d like to introduce you to Maribel Rubio.
Hi Maribel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi there! My name is Maribel Rubio. I am from El Paso, TX. I am the lead Singer of RUBI GROOVE. I started singing around my childhood home and local church and naturally gravitated to singing because I come from a musical family. Dad, Eduardo Rubio and grandparents mostly. I attended Montwood High School and throughout my years there, graduated as senior class president and participated in the Choir program run by Mr. Joe Estala and Musical Theatre program run by Ms. Leffler. I then competed in several beauty pageants and won several titles, including Miss Jr. Teen El Paso 2006 and went on to win Miss Jr.Teen Texas 2006. After high school, I attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NY, NY then returned to Texas to pursue an opportunity with a band that I fronted called Sidekick Saves Hero led by Roger Argenis. After signing to Golden State records, we signed a deal with the Guitar Hero franchise for our first co written single “Means to and End”. I soon moved to Austin, TX and fell in love with the diversity of cultures, music and networking opportunities. Soon, I started a band named “The Golden Hour” consisting of myself and a dear friend named Joe Kim on the keyboard and Aaron Hong on drums and evolved into a 4 member band myself lead singer, Jim Briggs and Anthony Caulkins on Guitar, Micaiah Navarrete and Tre Pham on Bass and Stefan Tomm and Dan Gorman on drums. All in all I’m blessed to currently work as a self-employed vocalist, band leader, freelance artist as well as a full-time mom to my son Emiliano! I got to where I am with perseverance and hustling to follow my dreams with little to no support from my family. However, the struggles I have endured have made me titanium strong and given me the capacity and humility to care for others and empathy for those that most people might not understand. Throughout it all, I never let my hardships make me into a bitter person and still stand true to who I am, which is an authentic, creative, down to earth and free-spirited woman.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My obstacles and challenges have been many, supporting myself and my son as a musician and freelance artist has had its difficulties for sure! Luckily, I met my husband Hector Smith in December 2020 and he is my biggest fan. My challenges began when my parents divorced and learning how to overcome all the effects that can have on a child. I was 8 years old at the time. In 2011 I auditioned for the Voice season 4 after my manager Gabi Kochliani encouraged me to give it a shot. I got to the blind auditions and sang in front of Shakira, Usher, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. It was nerve-wracking to say the least but I got through my song and just gave it my everything. When no one turned around, it was hard not to take it personally and upon returning to Austin, I fell into a deep depression. Then, I found employment as an administrative assistant for a great company called ATX Environmental Solutions led by President Mr. Paul Kim and Vice President Ms. Lori Wood and obtained health insurance that allowed me to seek help from a psychiatrist for major depression and anxiety I had been battling for years. Long story short, I was misdiagnosed and prescribed the wrong medication. (medical malpractice) I became manic, came close to losing my life a few times and was hospitalized involuntarily. However, while I was in the hospital I wrote a letter to the medical board and became my own advocate and freed myself after a couple of weeks. While I was there, I met very special and interesting people from all walks of life. I grew exponentially and spiritually. I became so aware of so many things that I simply didn’t know before and my compassion for others grew dramatically. After leaving the hospital, I moved into my mom’s tiny 1 bedroom apartment in South Austin and slept on her couch and continued performing. I stopped taking the medications, due to some terrible side effects and after therapy was encouraged to just go natural. I moved into my own place and ever since then, I have learned to be healthy mentally and physically without pharmaceuticals. I still struggle with PTSD and anxiety after all that happened to me during this time but that was over 10 years ago. I still continue to go to therapy. There are always improvements that can be made and always things to learn from others in order to grow as a person and cope in healthy ways with life. Working as a professional singer has been very helpful in this as when I start to sing and perform on stage all my worries melt away.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a dedicated artist and professional singer. I lead a band I started in 2015 called RUBI GROOVE. I have always taken a strong liking to jazz so vocally that is where I am coming from. My band is a cover band consisting of 2-4 members (depending on the gig) and have made a living in Austin and surrounding areas for quite some time now. I also sell my artwork (sketches, watercolor, oil, and pastel paintings. I’m most proud of my courage to get up in front of crowds and be truly vulnerable and channel different emotions that songs require. I believe that what sets me apart from others is that I am able to portray a presence when I perform that brings people joy and that I always make an effort to connect with the people that support me. Always taking the time to thank and show them that I am truly grateful for their encouraging words.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was extremely creative thanks to some wonderful influences like my aunt Hilda Lechuga and my grandpa Francisco Acosta. As early as Elementary school, I really took a liking to writing and came up with all kinds of short stories that won awards at school, absolutely loved to read and was a part of the gifted and talented program which is a program you have to take a test to join and it basically provides a different class structure for minds that think differently. Growing up I was perfectly content being alone in my room playing with dollhouses, creating storylines for all the different characters and playing out each role. Personality-wise, I’ve always been outgoing however can be very shy depending on the situation and how many people are around. Ironic, I know. But always got in trouble for socializing too much in school. Thank you for your time and if given the chance, I wouldn’t change a thing!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rubigroove.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/maribelrubio_official
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/rubigroove
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/bellenycity
- Other: www.facebook.com/bellenyc
