A Journey of Sound and Self-Discovery with BeautiB13nder

By Yzzy Liwanag

Thursday, November 21

Rosales Soledad aka BeautiB13nder, a name now synonymous with boundary-pushing DJ sets and electrifying beats, is no stranger to reinvention. Originally from El Paso, Texas, her journey as a DJ and producer began more than a decade ago in a somewhat accidental fashion—one that would take her from a self-taught music creator to the heart of Brooklyn’s nightlife scene.
“I’ve been producing for over 10 years,” Soledad explains, reflecting on the early days when she first got her hands on a digital audio workstation (DAW) and began experimenting with beats. “I’d say YouTube was my teacher,” she adds with a laugh, crediting online tutorials for teaching her everything from music theory to production techniques. But it wasn’t just producing that grabbed her attention. It was DJing that would change her life forever.
The twist of fate that led her to the turntables happened when a friend assumed DJing and producing were one and the same. “She asked me to DJ her party, and I was like, ‘Sure, I’ll figure it out,’” Soledad recalls. “I downloaded the first app I could find, and within days, I was DJing. And I was like, ‘Damn, this is cool!’” From that first exhilarating night, something clicked. She was hooked on the idea of creating energy, making people move, and especially bringing joy to the LGBTQ+ community. “It was so rewarding to see people dancing and enjoying themselves. I had to keep doing this.”
But it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Gigging, Soledad admits, came with its own challenges. “Crowd work is a hard skill to learn,” she says, acknowledging that it’s not just about playing great music—it’s about reading the room and knowing how to keep the energy alive. “Sometimes you’ll clear the dance floor, and you have to have the confidence to know that you can bring it back, that you can shift the vibe.”
Soledad’s path eventually led her to New York, where she made the bold decision to leave El Paso with little more than four bags and a dream. “I literally just called off work one day and got on a train to New York. I didn’t tell anyone, not even my family,” she admits. “I wasn’t sure if it was the right choice, but once I was on that train, there was no turning back.”
Her ability to take risks, to push the limits of her craft, has been essential in shaping her career. “You have to clear the dance floor here and there,” she laughs. “It’s like cracking eggs to make an omelet.”
In New York, Soledad found herself welcomed with open arms. “It’s been way more supportive of my art here,” she says, comparing it to her early struggles in El Paso. “In New York, I was booked at a gay bar within a week, whereas it took me years to get booked back home.” Her art has found a home in the vibrant, inclusive spaces of Brooklyn, where she feels a deep connection to the people and the community that supports her.
Despite the hurdles she faced, Soledad’s evolution as an artist has been fueled by a fierce commitment to self-expression and authenticity. “I want my music to give people freedom,” she explains. “Whether it's just the freedom to dance, or to feel a little more alive.”
Looking ahead, Soledad’s goals are grounded in her personal growth. “I really hope that in five years, I’m still doing this, still in Brooklyn, and still proud of the music I’m making,” she shares. “It’s not about playing big festivals for me; it’s about creating music that feels true to who I am.”
As she continues to evolve, Soledad’s story serves as an inspiring reminder that sometimes the most powerful creative journeys come from simply taking that first step into the unknown—no matter how scary or uncertain it may feel. “Just do it,” she advises anyone looking to get into DJing or producing. “It doesn’t have to be fancy. Start with what you have and keep pushing forward.”
BeautiB13nder may have started with nothing more than a cracked screen and an iPhone, but she’s now a force in the music scene, a testament to the power of following your passion, no matter where it leads you.