LA PLATICA, Ep. 241: “I WALKED AWAY FROM A CRAZY DEAL” – CHIQUIS TELLS ALL (April 6, 2026)
Brief Overview
In this heartfelt and wide-ranging episode, hosts Sebas (Sebastian Robles) and Josh Leyva welcome back their longtime friend and Latin music star Chiquis for a genuinely revealing conversation. Chiquis speaks exclusively about a “crazy deal” she walked away from, her transformative journey after personal loss, the making of her most vulnerable album yet, spirituality, relationships, wellness rituals, and plenty of laughs about life, snacks, and language quirks. This episode is packed with honest insights about navigating growth as an artist and person—showcasing the trio’s signature warmth, humor, and depth.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The "Crazy Deal" and Empowering Artistic Choices
- Chiquis reveals leaving her record label over pressure to stay in the banda genre, despite being offered a lucrative deal:
- “I walked away from my record label, from a crazy deal, because they wanted me to do banda and I was like, ‘I don’t want to do banda right now. I need to do this.’ If I don't listen to this, it's really going to send me in a different direction and not a good one. I said, I need to do this. This basically like saved me, I feel.” (23:21)
- She emphasizes following intuition over external expectations, making music that “finally aligned” with her heart.
- The new album ("Janae") is her most personal, with Chiquis drawing from poetry, meditation, and real-life transformation.
2. Healing Journey & Rebirth Through Adversity
- Chiquis speaks candidly about her miscarriage in 2024 and how it led her to a rebirth and deep healing, including plant medicine and indigenous spirituality.
- The experience inspired her to change her music’s direction, shifting from music for others to music true to herself.
- "That was part of, like, in some ways, like a rebirth ... I felt like I connected more with God. I felt like I cleansed my body. I feel better than ever. And it just inspired me to change my music for now. This is what I need to do right now.” (14:01)
- She notes that the journey also improved her relationship, making her a “better partner.”
3. Relationships, Wellness, and Personal Growth
- Relationships: The trio discusses the importance of openness, adapting as partners grow, and how change is constant in healthy relationships.
- “If you treat that person like you did before, it might not work.” (17:29 – Jess)
- Wellness Rituals: Chiquis shares her daily non-negotiable practices: prayer, breathwork, stepping barefoot on grass (“earthing”), and disconnecting from her phone in the morning.
- "For me, that's one thing that's non-negotiable. Like, it just kind of sets you." (53:52)
- She candidly discusses her mental health, vulnerability, and self-care as essential to her artistic and personal evolution.
4. The New Album “Janae”—Vision, Creation, and Inspirations
- Process: A songwriting camp with daily meditation and breathwork; poems transformed into songs; Chiquis openly cries in the studio as she confronts her feelings.
- "The songs were poems from my heart ... So the entire process has been absolutely so beautiful. I did everything completely different." (22:52)
- Genre: Described as “very spiritual,” “pop, but not popish,” and “floro pop,” with fusions of R&B, soul, and English/Spanish tracks. Pink Floyd, Sade, Bob Marley, and Cleo Soul among her influences.
- "There's nothing like it. The album is continuous ... like Pink Floyd—biggest inspiration." (26:32)
- Singles: Sneak peek at upcoming release “Malibu” (with Jesse Joy), and current singles “Volvi” and “Eres Mas.”
- Promotion: Breaking the mold—Chiquis says she’s eschewing traditional media in favor of intimate podcast conversations and smaller listening events.
- “I don’t think I want to go do promo for this album. I just want to do podcasts and you guys are the first one.” (24:21)
5. Spiritual & Philosophical Explorations
- On Souls & Reincarnation: Chiquis reflects on the soul as “star dust,” believing in reincarnation and that we’re all “given a light that finds its way into a body.” She thinks our purpose involves learning lessons across lives.
- “That’s my belief ... I feel like each soul is ... a little light, one of a kind.” (44:38)
- On Religion & Openness: The hosts and Chiquis stress mutual respect among beliefs, sharing the philosophy that “love is my religion.”
- “Be a good person, treat people the way you want to be treated ... my religion is love.” (47:42)
6. Wholesome Banter: Language, Food & Light-Hearted Delights
- Language Rants: The trio riff on English “weird” words (island, colonel, knife, route/root), “neither vs. neither,” and the quirks of pronunciation. (60:54)
- Snack & Food Favorites:
- Chiquis: SmartPop white cheddar popcorn, beef jerky (prefers it dry), peach Snapple, Cool Ranch Doritos, Tostitos Salsa Verde chips (“fire”), and animal-style fries (but cheese “messes with her stomach” lately).
- Favorite chain: BJ’s (pizza, salad, bazooki).
- In-N-Out Order: Number 2, extra toasted buns, no lettuce/tomato, grilled + raw onions, extra pickles, chiles.
- Dream date spot: Sushi bar—watching the chefs, intimate conversation.
- Self-Care Essentials: In her bag: hand lotion with SPF, wipes, agenda, Poo-Pourri, trail mix with nuts and M&Ms, lip balm, and a little perfume.
- Fun “Rapid Fire” Questions: Fast food preferences, favorite movies (“Mrs. Doubtfire”), and what’s on repeat in her playlist.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Empowerment and Artistic Integrity
"I walked away from my record label from a crazy deal because they wanted me to do banda and I was like, I don't want to do banda right now. I need to do this. If I don't listen to this, it's really going to send me in a different direction and not a good one...This basically, like, saved me, I feel."
– Chiquis (23:21)
On Healing and Spiritual Awakening
“After the miscarriage...I started looking into natural ways of cleansing and I came across indigenous medicine, so plant medicine. I felt like I connected more with God. I feel better than ever. And it just inspired me to change my music for now. This is what I need to do right now.”
– Chiquis (14:01)
Discussing the Power of Podcast Intimacy
"I don't think I want to go do promo for this album. I just want to do podcasts and you guys are the first one."
– Chiquis (24:21)
Defining the Album’s Spirit and Influences
“There's nothing like it. The album is continuous ... like Pink Floyd—biggest inspiration. Just do whatever the hell you want. And they just did it. That's kind of what I did.”
– Chiquis (27:04)
On Souls & Reincarnation
“We all come from stars. We're...stardust. We're all interconnected, and then I think we're just giving a light that we have ... that's our soul.”
– Chiquis (44:38)
On Religion and Tolerance
“My religion is love. That's what I'm—what's up? Love.”
– Chiquis (47:42)
Belly Laughs on Food and Wellness
“You need more fiber...We just have to, like, replenish, you know, prunes and all that stuff.”
– Chiquis (76:16)“If you treat that person like you did before, it might not work.”
– Jess (17:29)
Important Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 13:16 | Chiquis describes her healing, musical transformation and rebirth | | 21:24 | The vulnerability of releasing a personal album | | 23:21 | Exclusive: Walking away from a record deal to stay true to herself | | 26:32 | The album’s spiritual, genre-bending direction—Pink Floyd inspiration | | 44:38 | Philosophical chat on reincarnation, souls, and lessons | | 47:42 | On “religion is love” and mutual respect for beliefs | | 53:52 | Chiquis’ daily rituals for grounding and wellness | | 60:54 | The great debate: route/root, neither/neither, colonel, “library,” etc. | | 66:15 | Snack favorites, rapid-fire food Q&A | | 76:30 | On fiber, digestion, and dates—both as fruit and romantic evenings | | 78:11 | Intimate album listening party invite for April 7th | | 79:21 | Official album drop: April 9th/16th | | 80:15 | Warm goodbyes, mutual support, and gratitude |
Tone, Friendship, & Final Thoughts
The episode’s tone is a beautiful blend of vulnerability, humor, and warmth. Chiquis’ openness about struggle and growth sets the stage for conversations that oscillate from deep (spirituality, love, art) to delightfully everyday (snacks, language, digestive health). There’s palpable respect, inside jokes, and “real talk” between the hosts and guest which makes La Plática’s signature authenticity shine through.
Final message: If you want an honest, inspirational, and genuinely fun view into a star’s evolution—personally and artistically—this episode is not to be missed. As Chiquis says: “My religion is love.” And this episode overflows with it.
“I believe we all have our inner lights.” — Chiquis (43:25)