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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) \u2014 For years, Thalia Pab\u00f3n was content to stay out of the spotlight. The Puerto Rican\u2013born Rochester business owner grew up in a musical family, but never imagined herself as a lead singer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want to become a front-line singer,\u201d she said. \u201cThat was my sister\u2019s thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, music found its way in. With her DJ father\u2019s influence and encouragement from siblings, Pab\u00f3n helped launch\u00a0Sonidos Unidos<\/em>, a Rochester-based crossover band, more than a decade ago. The group blended English rock staples with Latin rhythms \u2014 covering songs like\u00a0Hotel California<\/em>\u00a0in bachata, and mixing salsa, merengue, and reggaet\u00f3n into their sets.<\/p>\n That experience paved the way for Pab\u00f3n to find her own voice. Now, she\u2019s preparing to release her debut solo album, a collection she hopes will celebrate identity, migration, and the modern Latina experience.<\/p>\n Her sound blends Latin pop with acoustic soul, pulling from salsa, reggaet\u00f3n, R&B, and traditional Puerto Rican folk. But for Pab\u00f3n, the lyrics matter just as much as the rhythm. Her very first single,\u00a0Yo Soy Latina<\/em>, is designed as an anthem.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re Puerto Rican, Cuban, Mexican \u2014 we\u2019re all Latinas,\u201d she said. \u201cWe carry that in our heart.\u201d<\/p>\n Pab\u00f3n admits the journey has been challenging. \u201cThere\u2019s a difference between singing and stepping on the stage and becoming a performer,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s taken me a decade to master, and I\u2019m still mastering to this day.\u201d<\/p>\n For her, success isn\u2019t measured in fame. \u201cI just want to leave more of a legacy,\u201d she said. \u201cEven if it\u2019s just for me, it\u2019s something I\u2019ve accomplished.\u201d<\/p>\n Pab\u00f3n\u2019s debut solo album is still in the works, but fans will get a first listen at her album release concert on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Innovative Theatre.<\/p>\n Tickets are available online\u00a0here<\/a>. You can also purchase them in person at East Rochester\u2019s Sunmed location or at Casa Campo Restaurant.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/i><\/p>\n