Exclusiva: Ria Dishes On Her 'El Headliner' Win

By Michael Lopez

The "El Headliner" fans have spoken yet again and this time they've shown a massive outpouring of love for Colombian-American rocker Ria. Mixing a bold blend of pop, R&B, and dance grooves, her unique sound has captured the attention of some very influential people. But more importantly, she captured the attention of the OurStage listeners and took down the "El Headliner" crown for the month of August.

"Finding out about the win was very exciting!" She told us in an exclusive interview. "There's nothing like being reminded that people really like what I'm doing. They really like my music, my look, my vibe, and that's extremely assuring because I absolutely LOVE what I do!"

Ria happens to have some very high-profile fans too. Legendary rocker Melissa Etheridge was a big early supporter of her music, loudly proclaiming that she "rocked her world" after a performance in Boston.

And Ria has actually been rocking the mic for a very long time. As she told us, her first brush with music came while singing in church.

"I've always had an inherent desire to sing music," she said. "But the turning point that made it clear to me was when I became a cantor in church. From there on, I began my journey towards a life of music…private lessons, then talent shows, and beyond."

Interestingly, Ria showed so much talent that she was accepted into the prestigious Berklee College of Music. A true haven for the sonically gifted, Berklee alumni include stars like Juan Luis Guerra, Quincy Jones, Paula Cole, and (not coincidentally) Ms. Etheridge.

"Berklee will be in my heart forever," she went on to say. "It provided a rich, international, competitive training ground for my career. It was in Berklee that I discovered my own sound. And it was in Berklee that I got to sing for one of my favs…Melissa Etheridge."

Obviously the sound that Ria developed proved to be quite enchanting. After spending more time honing her songwriting abilities, she crafted a very catchy debut album. Tracks like "Alright," "Queens,"and "Simply Happy" have already put her on the map in markets across the world.

Now a touring phenom as well, Ria has opened for acts like John Mayer and is currently overseas performing for the Euro crowd. So what could be next on her musical agenda?

"Next is new music and new places," she said. "I am currently checking out some offers, meeting new musicians, and treading new waters. I'm excited to see what's in store."

And so are we!

Have you had a chance to hear Ria's music? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Berklee College of Music, Blogger: Michael Lopez, El Headliner Contest, Exclusive Entrevistas, Música, Melissa Etheridge, Ourstage, Ria, Tr3s Exclusives