QUIÑ’s ‘Lucid’: Weaving Dreams, Reality, and Fantasy Soul into a Conscious Artistic Journey

In the vibrant tapestry of contemporary music, few artists resonate with the ethereal depth and personal conviction of QUIÑ. Her latest EP, aptly titled Lucid, serves as a profound exploration into the very fabric of dreams, reality, and the conscious experience. Through its captivating soundscapes and introspective lyrics, the 29-year-old artist invites listeners into her unique world, one where the boundaries between fantasy and lived experience elegantly blur. This concept isn’t merely a thematic choice for QUIÑ; it’s a profound philosophy she embraces in her daily life and artistic expression, marking a significant evolution in her creative journey.

“I finally realized that I’m able to accept that I’m living a dream, and that’s okay,” shared QUIÑ, whose birth name is Bianca Leonor Quiñones, during an exclusive conversation with HollywoodLife at our Los Angeles office. Her visit came just ahead of her anticipated tour alongside fellow R&B sensation Snoh Aalegra. This realization, she explained, was a significant personal breakthrough that required considerable introspection. “I’m worthy of living that dream because it took me a while to understand that. Especially just being in a healthy love and just understanding what that even is, and realizing all of the love that I’m surrounded by; not everyone has the luxury of being able to experience that.” This sentiment speaks volumes about her journey of self-acceptance and appreciation for the genuine connections in her life. While QUIÑ articulates her success primarily through the lens of love and personal fulfillment, her artistic triumphs are undeniable, notably her hit collaboration “Mushroom Chocolate” with her “life partner,” 6lack, which has garnered over eight million streams on Spotify, a testament to her growing influence and unique appeal within the music industry.

Defining “Fantasy Soul”: A Genre Born from Ethereal Visions

QUIÑ has not only created compelling music but has also pioneered a distinctive genre she affectionately terms “Fantasy Soul.” This classification immediately makes sense upon experiencing her tracks, which possess an otherworldly, ethereal quality that transcends conventional genre boundaries. Songs like “Mushroom Chocolate” and “Fav” transport listeners to a realm where imagination takes precedence, characterized by lush soundscapes, intricate harmonies, and a dreamlike vocal delivery that often feels both intimate and expansive. For a long time, this artistic inclination led her to “always trying to retreat to space,” a metaphorical journey into boundless imagination and otherworldly realms. However, with the advent of Lucid, QUIÑ signifies a powerful shift, a profound grounding of her fantastical visions. She is now experiencing what she describes as “heaven on Earth,” embodying the manifestation of her deepest aspirations into tangible reality, showcasing a matured perspective on her artistic purpose.

This isn’t merely poetic language or abstract musings. QUIÑ, who first launched her music career with the debut EP Galactica in 2016, has held a long-standing belief that her dreams possess the intrinsic power to manifest in her waking life. What began as an intuitive sense, a series of uncanny coincidences, has now crystallized into lyrical narratives and a foundational aspect of her artistic identity. The journey from simply having vivid dreams to consciously embracing their transformative power is at the heart of her evolution as an artist, allowing her to bridge the gap between her subconscious and her creative output in unprecedented ways.

From Childhood Visions to Conscious Creation: The Power of Lucid Dreams

The roots of QUIÑ’s unique relationship with her subconscious stretch back to her formative years, where she first encountered the phenomena of lucid dreaming. “It started with very elementary school lucid dreams,” she recounted, recalling moments where she could actively influence her dream environment. She drew a fascinating parallel to the popular Nickelodeon cartoon, The Fairly OddParents, a series centered on a boy, Timmy Turner, whose wishes are magically granted by his two fairy godparents. QUIÑ’s early experiences weren’t dissimilar; if she desired a specific outcome “in that moment” within her dream — for instance, wanting her “hair to look a certain way” — it would materialize instantly. “Boom,” she’d “have it.” This early ability to consciously influence her dream state laid the groundwork for her later understanding of manifestation and the potent connection between thought and reality.

As she matured, these dream experiences evolved, becoming increasingly intricate and profound, moving beyond simple wish fulfillment to complex, immersive journeys. “Later on, it started getting really, really spacey. I kept getting shipped to space,” QUIÑ admitted, describing how her nocturnal voyages would often launch her into vast, cosmic landscapes, filled with details beyond her waking comprehension. Initially, she attributed these vivid experiences to the brain’s incredible capacity for imagination, thinking, “Wow, brains are so cool that they could just make up all these things.” However, a deeper realization began to dawn on her as the sheer complexity and detail of these dreams surpassed what she believed her conscious mind could construct. “And then I realized that my brain was not making up, like how complex the dream was, there’s no way that I could have done that,” she explained, suggesting a connection to something beyond mere imaginative fantasy, perhaps tapping into a collective unconscious or a higher dimensional plane. This profound insight has significantly influenced her artistic narrative, solidifying the conviction that her dreams are not just fleeting thoughts but powerful conduits for creativity and self-discovery, fueling her “Fantasy Soul” genre.

Harmonies from the Pews: Early Influences and the Birth of a Sound

Beyond the vivid tapestry of her dreams, another foundational element QUIÑ carried from her childhood into her distinguished adulthood is the distinctive vocal quality she meticulously honed in her church choir. This early exposure to music, particularly the rich, resonant harmonies and expansive acoustics of a sacred space, left an indelible mark on her artistic sensibility. “The easy way to put it is if you listen to Lucid, the song, those harmonies, that’s what I was doing in kindergarten,” QUIÑ revealed, highlighting the direct lineage between her early vocal training and the complex, layered vocal arrangements present in her current sound. She continued her musical journey by joining a gospel choir in high school, further cementing her understanding and appreciation for layered vocals, profound melodies, and the emotional power of collective singing.

“Yeah, just like that cathedral-y sound, the reverb in the church. I think that that stuck with me so hard as a kid,” she reminisced, describing how the immersive auditory experience shaped her perception of music. Even though she might not have fully recognized her deep passion for music as a definitive career path at the time, the seeds were undeniably sown. “I didn’t even know that I loved choir back then. I mean I did, I knew I loved it, but I didn’t take music seriously…And it stuck with me.” This early immersion in sacred music instilled in her a unique sense of melody, harmony, and an almost spiritual depth that permeates her “Fantasy Soul” sound today. The echoes of those childhood hymns and the expansive acoustics of the church are subtly woven into the intricate production and vocal arrangements of her tracks, offering listeners a transcendent auditory experience that feels both ancient and futuristic.

“7th Heaven”: Bridging the Ethereal and the Earthly in Visuals

The convergence of QUIÑ’s fantastical inner world and her grounded reality is beautifully captured in the music video for her track “7th Heaven,” which debuted in November 2019, coinciding with the release of her Lucid EP. The visuals for “7th Heaven” are precisely what one might imagine at the pearly gates: QUIÑ, appearing as an angelic figure, is gracefully seated before a harp, enveloped within an ethereal oasis of soft clouds and a captivating purple haze. The aesthetic is reminiscent of a retro-filtered dreamscape, evoking a sense of nostalgic wonder and divine tranquility, perfectly aligning with her “Fantasy Soul” brand. However, the true narrative behind the creation of this stunning video is far more down-to-earth and embodies a charming DIY spirit, closer to a collaborative art project among friends than a high-budget production, showcasing her authentic approach to artistry.

The Collaborative Spirit: Building Worlds with Friends

“I just got together with my friends and made s–t,” QUIÑ candidly revealed about the creation of the “7th Heaven” video, explaining that they shot the escapist visuals in a most unexpected location: an Airbnb. This hands-on, collaborative approach highlights a core aspect of QUIÑ’s artistic philosophy. While themes of dreams and boundless imagination are central to her brand, she remains an incredibly grounded artist who thrives on working closely with her friends on creative ventures. This genuine spirit extends to her collaborations with other talented artists, transforming professional relationships into deeply personal ones, fostering a network of mutual support and artistic synergy.

One such cherished collaboration is with Grammy Award-winning artist Khalid, 22, whom she considers one of her closest friends. Their strong bond led to QUIÑ’s involvement in the companion film for Khalid’s highly acclaimed 2019 album, Free Spirit. Recalling the spontaneous invitation, QUIÑ shared, “Oh my gosh, he picked me up from my mom’s house, and he was like, ‘Get in here, we’re going to talk about this script.’” This casual yet profound moment unfolded as they went to lunch, where Khalid pitched his vision for the coming-of-age film. Her response was immediate and enthusiastic: “And it was cute, and I was just like, ‘Let’s do it.’” This anecdote perfectly illustrates the organic and authentic nature of her creative partnerships, where genuine connection fuels artistic output.

Shared Frequencies: The Organic Connection with Snoh Aalegra

QUIÑ’s professional relationship with Snoh Aalegra, the acclaimed Swedish singer known for her hit “Whoa” (whose music video famously featured Michael B. Jordan), developed with similar organic ease and mutual respect. “Me and Snoh have been working out of the same studio for a while. While she was making her album, I was finishing up Lucid. And we both work with [music producer] No I.D.,” QUIÑ elaborated, painting a vivid picture of a shared creative ecosystem where artists naturally cross paths and inspire one another. Their encounters often happened serendipitously in the studio halls, fostering a genuine connection. “And it was just the simplest, ‘Ooh, I love this song. I love you, Snoh.’ And then it was just a quick like, “Oh s–t, I love your song, too.” This genuine exchange of admiration and positive energy fostered a strong bond. As QUIÑ explained, it was this “genuine energy” that “helped mesh it all together,” ultimately leading to their joint venture, the Ugh, A Tour Again, scheduled for March 2020, promising an electrifying live experience for fans of both artists.

Even amidst her burgeoning career and upcoming tour, QUIÑ remains dedicated to fostering creativity and collaboration within her community. While multiple projects are “starting to unfold” for her, she consistently works with her friends through her self-created initiative, the “Dreamgirl Workshop.” This concept is a testament to her belief in collective creation and empowering fellow artists, extending her artistic vision beyond her personal output to nurture a wider creative sisterhood.

Cultivating Creativity: The “Dreamgirl Workshop”

“My idea for a Dreamgirl Workshop is so many different ideas, but one of them is getting all my girlfriends together who have maybe unfinished songs or something,” QUIÑ articulated, describing the core premise of her innovative creative workshops. These sessions often involve a dynamic exchange of musical ideas, where participants share fragments of songs—hooks, verses, melodies—and collectively build upon them. It’s a nurturing environment designed to spark inspiration, overcome creative blocks, and strengthen the bonds among female artists, creating a supportive space for experimentation and growth. This initiative underscores QUIÑ’s commitment not only to her own artistic journey but also to cultivating a supportive and collaborative community around her, believing that shared creativity leads to amplified impact and stronger art.

While the imagery presented in QUIÑ’s new music and videos might suggest an artist floating high above, effortlessly living out a lucid dream amidst the clouds, her reality is deeply rooted and connected. Through her art, her collaborations, and her personal philosophy, she has never been more in tune with herself and those around her, grounded firmly in the present while simultaneously exploring the boundless possibilities of imagination and conscious manifestation. QUIÑ’s ‘Lucid’ is more than just an EP; it’s an invitation to embrace one’s own dreams, find worth in them, and build a reality that truly reflects the deepest desires of the soul, inspiring listeners to embark on their own conscious journey.