Alba C. Molina: Between Chords, Words, Teaching and Books

 Alba Cecilia Molina Gómez, better known in the artistic industry as Alba C. Molina, was born on April 16, 1960, in Bogotá, Colombia, and has lived in Costa Rica since she was 10 years old.

Photo/Courtesy of Alba

  I speak of the distinguished singer-songwriter Alba Cecilia Molina Gómez, better known in the artistic industry as Alba C. Molina, born on April 16, 1960 in Bogotá, Colombia, and who has resided in Costa Rica since the age of 10.

 Alba is a Holistic Life Coach, Neuro-Spiritual Coach, positivity singer-songwriter, bilingual speaker, writer, narrator, producer of inspirational capsules, and voice-over actress. She genuinely stands out for her natural inclination toward helping people reconnect with their essence and authentic mission, a vocation that strengthened after aprofound catharsis in 2003. This propelled her to train through various therapeutic and communicative tools, such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Music Therapy, Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Reiki, Public Speaking, Voice-over and Literary Authorship. She has given numerous conferences in cities across the United States, Panama, Mexico, Argentina and Costa Rica.

Alba C. Molina, before an interview on a Costa Rican television channel. Photo, April 2025. Courtesy of Alba.

  Alba is a member of several associations, including: • ACE: Asociación Costarricense de Escritoras (Costa Rican Women Writers Association) • ACAM: Asociación de Compositores y Autores Musicales (Costa Rican Musical Authors Association) • APROVOZ: Asociación de Profesionales de La Voz (Voice Professionals Association) • Voicemasters Latam • AMAV: Asociación Multinacional de Artistas de La Voz (Multinational Association of Voice Artists) • Red Solidaria “Yo Elijo Ayudar” (Solidarity Network "I Choose to Help" • Red de Mujeres Beta (Beta Women Network) • Collaborator in voice projects with INCREARTE

 Among her recognitions stand out: • Nomination for the 2023 SOVAS Award in the category Audiobook Narration – Fantasy – Best Spanish Voiceover, California, USA • Representative of Costa Rica in Latin American Public Speaking Competition, Cancún, Mexico • 2016 ACAM Award for the children musical album; El Mono Rufredo" • Composition of lyrics and music for several schools’ Anthem, such as Saint Gregory School, Santa Mónica School, Yurusti School and Josefita Jurado School.

 Our guest has distinguished herself in various disciplines, both as a composer and singer-songwriter, as well as in the educational field. Her songs address themes of positivity and empowerment for all ages; however, as she herself points out: "in my children material, I also write songs that stimulate the imagination or are simply for entertainment and enjoyment.

Alba C. Molina and her daughter Adriana at a talk in Sam José, Costa Rica. Photo: August 27, 2022. Courtesy of Alba.

 Alba possesses an extensive and versatile trajectory, which makes it difficult to cover in a single conversation all the areas in which this outstanding woman has grown, both artistically and professionally. For this reason, I have sought to engage in a dialogue with her in this format, in a concise and precise manner. What we present below is a brief look at the valuable career of this important Latin American artist.

 Dear readers, I hope this interview will be a source of inspiration, especially for those who are beginning in the world of music or in any artistic discipline to which they dedicate themselves. May it motivate you to continue growing and to become great professionals, for you are the future of humanity and the heirs of musical art. There is no better way to learn than by approaching people with such an important legacy as our guest today, who is undoubtedly a true reference of contemporary music. Her voice, so resonant and melodious, captivates the audience instantly. I don´t say this to flatter, but because I have had the joy of seeing her perform some of her songs live and in person.

 Interview

 What was it like for you to grow up in a home where music, art and voice-over were lived with such intensity and brilliance?

 My childhood was marked by harmony. I say this both because of family love and music literally. But Im not referring  to such generic concepts that could resemble the cradle of so many people anywhere in the world...

 In that era (in the last century) it was common to find large families in Colombia. As good Catholics, my maternal grandparents had fourteen children, and my paternal grandparents fifteen, of which my father was the youngest.

 My father´s nine sisters decided to take religious vows, and all the males went through seminary for a good while. Well, one of them died as a baby, and another, already in the novitiate, died at twenty-one. Of the rest, one became a priest and the other three chose to start families.

 It was marvelous to be present when the Molina-Roldán family got together, because they all played instruments and sang!

 My two brothers, my cousins and I also participated in the musical celebrations, and they even recorded us singing in two and three-part harmony.

 One of my aunts was my teacher in the early school years, and since kindergarten she had me doing presentations playing marimba and singing; later I learned to play the “tiple” and guitar on my own.

 In what way did your uncle, the priest, influence the development of your musical and artistic world?

 My uncle, Father Bernardo, as we all called him, was an extraordinary being in many ways. The gifts he had were numerous: In art, he painted large canvases that adorned various churches in the country, he made sculptures, played various instruments, wrote poetry and songs, and his spiritual sensitivity marked the lives of many people who testified to his wisdom and great charisma.

 He used to come to my house frequently to perform various classical works on the piano. I was mesmerized listening to him, and I frequently stood next to him while he played each piece, so I learned fragments of several of those works by ear during those first 10 years of my life.

 Later, when we had already moved to Costa Rica, he became very interested in what I was creating musically, so he wrote me letters (yes, the kind that were sent by airmail with stamps...) giving me his impressions about my works, and telling me that he proudly shared them with other musician priests. I still keep his words of support as a treasure!

 Tell us about the meaning of your name, and why it was decided to change it from the beginning. What does that change represent to you?

 The influence my uncle had on my life in various aspects from my birth was certainly very important. My mother had chosen the name Gloria for me, since I was born on Holy Saturday, which the church calls Saturday of Glory.

 However, my uncle asked my mother to please name me Alba Cecilia instead, to which she agreed.

 Several decades later, in the midst of a time of meditation, I felt that I was informed that it was important to be called Alba, as it is the first light of day; and Cecilia, because she is the Patron Saint of Music. The explanation given to me was that, if my name had been Gloria, I would have used music for vainglory, and my music was destined to bring light to those who heard it.

 What´s interesting is that I was never attracted to making commercial music just to seek popularity and, on the contrary, my songs have always been of a positive and spiritual nature. They fill me with joy and enthusiasm. They help me have clarity about my goals.

 Why is it that in some productions you appear with different names, such as Alba, Alba Molina and Alba C. Molina?

 In Colombia everyone called me Alba Cecilia, but in Costa Rica I was only called by my first name. My ear got used to it.

 I´ve been writing songs since I was 13, and the first ones that were publicly released were several Christ-centered themes I wrote for an acoustic group I conducted, called Leche y Miel (Milk and Honey).

 But at the level of more professional recordings, I´ve made music for children and adults, although without any commercial strategy; because if I had done it with that vision, everything would have been different!

Those initial musical productions were released in 1993, for the mere pleasure of creating songs seeking aesthetic quality in the works, and to contribute with school material.

 My children participated in the first productions that I made, and we identified ourselves as Alborada (synonym of alba). Under that name I released the productions: Dinosaurios, Había una Vez en Belén and Fantasía.

 Then I released the production Navidad Es Tiempo de Amar together with my daughter, and that album had both our names: Alba and Adriana.

 Under my name Alba, I released the productions “En Vuelo” and its English version “Flying on Fire”.

 Later on, I used my more common name, Alba Molina, and released the productions: “Transfórmame”, “A Tu Viva Imagen”, “Fluyendo” and “Flying on Fire”.

 However, to honor my full name, from that moment on I incorporated the initial of “Cecilia” when identifying myself. So under that “seal” Alba C. Molina, I released: “Tu Mundo Es Tu Reflejo”, “Your World Is Just Reflection”, “Arrullando Genios”, “El Pato To-Tomás”, “¡Alerta!” and “El Mono Rufredo”.

 I share this link to an interview related to the main theme of this latest production, which won first place in popularity on a Spanish radio station. 

 Also identifying myself as Alba C. Molina, I released my book of dialogue topics: “Ya posees la Llave” and the children’s series “Los Policuánticos”.

 By the way, even today I often record and share the stage with my daughter Adriana Muñoz, who is a professional singer, and with my son Luis Diego, who has extraordinary musical talent. Both have participated in almost all my musical productions.

 What are the most recurring and significant themes in your musical compositions?

 Positivity and empowerment. My work in general is a life mission, and my objective is to be a “messenger” who reminds each person I encounter (physically or through my works) of their connection with the essence of Life. That they reconnect with their eternal roots, and that they ALREADY have INSIDE them all the answers and tools they need to fulfill their mission and purpose during their passage through this life.

 Within the children’s material, I also highlight values and inner potential. Several of these themes allude to high self-esteem and acceptance of all their characteristics just as they are. However, I also write songs for children that stimulate imagination, or that are simply for entertainment and joy.

 What has been the evolution in the genres and themes of your discographic productions from 1993 to the present?

 Well, I’ll tell you that in the last decade I have continued composing music, only they have not been independent songs—what we know as “singles.” For example, I have composed several songs under contract. One was a composition for Costa Rica, and another was a Christmas song. Later I created another Christmas song on my own, both in Spanish and English.

 On the other hand, the songs for the Los Policuánticos books currently total 14. And there are also the five musicalized poems for two of my writer friends.

 In general, the songs I have written since my adolescence have belonged to the following genres: Christ-centered Children’s Christmas Empowerment Non-codependent romantic And spiritual without denomination.

 Among the musical styles, pop ballad and acoustic music (indie style) prevail, and in the production “Fluyendo”, several styles also appear such as Blues, Gospel, Bossa, Colombian Cumbia, Big Band and Celtic.

 How would you describe your experience teaching music, English and Spanish to children in Costa Rica and California?

 I was always a teacher in private institutions, most of which were bilingual. Since I learned the language as a teenager, it was easy for me to teach my lessons in both languages.

 I even created the hymn for four of the institutions where I worked (Saint Gregory, Santa Mónica, Yurusti), and also for the Josefita Jurado school, which hired me externally to compose and perform its hymn.

 What I have enjoyed most during my educational stage is contributing new material with transformative content. An example is the operetta I wrote in 1993, “Los Talentos,” for children in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. The work received several recognitions, and in 2004 I created the English version to be staged in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

 In California I taught for a short time, but since it was during the second half of the year, I was in charge of producing eight bilingual shows for all grade levels in the three institutions under the same owner. The objective was to commemorate the Light in different cultures. It was an arduous challenge, but extremely satisfying.

 What important changes did you experience in your personal and professional life starting in 2002?

 In reality, I had been feeling not only unmotivated, but depressed due to several situations. One of them was precisely having to work for other people with different principles and visions.

 When one accepts a job solely out of the need for a salary, and to comply with family, social and cultural obligations, one reaches a point where one realizes one is not living THEIR TRUE SELF, and is only living to please others or to maintain an image.

 I have enormous sensitivity to that inner guidance, so I underwent many therapies with different professionals (traditional and holistic), but the depression was stronger than the options I was hearing.

 So by the end of 2002, I was sinking… However, when I let everything go and hit bottom, I discovered an inner voice that, through telepathic communication, made me understand that I am loved exactly as I am, that I don’t need to please anyone, that I can rewrite my life script however and as many times as I want, that I have the right to be happy, and that I already have inside EVERYTHING I will ever need to fulfill my life purpose. And most importantly—that I must ENJOY!

 From that moment on, absolutely everything changed and extraordinarily wonderful things began to happen in my life. That is why my work now more than ever carries that message of empowerment and connection with our Inner Guidance.

 The people who began to arrive in my life were deeply crucial for me, such as an American friend who became an angel in my life, for he believed in me and in the pure intention of my work. For almost 20 years he supported and encouraged me as if he were an older brother. During the last three years of his life, I was able to be the one who supported him through his health challenges until he completed his earthly chapter.

 What is your science fiction series “Los Policuánticos” about, and what inspired you to create it?

 I share the trailer for the series: https://youtu.be/u51-pbB3H6c?si=uHSKWraj4eOeDOSJ

 It was a seed silently planted in my heart since 1993, precisely thanks to the operetta Los Talentos.

 The theme was exactly to accept each person just as they are, and that every “defect” is a potential quality waiting to be discovered and developed.

Los Policuánticos finally came to life as a first “draft” in February 2013. At that time, I created an audio narration with songs and recorded it in my home studio, but without the intention of releasing it publicly.

 Then in July 2018, the possibility of publishing the book with Balboa Press, a division of the prestigious publishing house Hay House (founded by author Louise Hay), appeared. At that moment I still did not know that my book would actually become a 12-episode series.

 It was obviously a contract, and not a cheap one… The thing is, I backed out after having signed the contract. It was a mixture of fear and the advice of my best friend. So I stored the potential book in a mental trunk.

 During the pandemic, the need to bring the project to life resurfaced, now as a literary series with songs, and I fully dedicated myself to reviewing what I had, improving it, and completing it. I realized that the content looked more like “Children’s Coaching” in a Science Fiction format with touches of Quantum Physics and of course NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming).

 It is precisely the personification of high values in beings who come from the Sun, and who came to Earth in the form of four children and a pet who came hidden, representing our fears and self-sabotage that stop us from facing challenges. They came to help us understand our true potential to defeat the villains (the anti-values), who in the end are also inside us. So the ways those challenges manifest and their solutions are revealed.

 In 2022 the first episode was released in Spanish, followed by the English version and then the audiobook versions in both languages in 2023.

This episode was the topic of the talk I presented for TEDx PuraVida 2023, only applied to the INNER CHILD of adults.

 Episode 2 was released in Spanish in 2024, and I had to pause due to other projects. But like everything that has happened to me, that pause had a greater purpose… This series is becoming that Coaching I sensed, and will be directed to adults who have elementary-age children in their care (teachers, parents, caregivers, etc.).

 I am “in the front row” witnessing what I am being inspired to create. We shall see…!

 Given that your career encompasses music, composition, production, radio programs, teaching, personal development and writing, how do you manage your time to attend to all these disciplines?

 It makes me laugh, and at the same time it overwhelms me… I know there are quite a few projects simultaneously in my hands, and others lining up…

 The thing is that each objective seems to know how to arrange itself into my schedule, and the synchronicity of invitations and opportunities magically appears with an order that does not depend on me.

 Of course, I have had to refuse and resign from several activities and initiatives, because it is very easy to be seduced by the potential that exists in so many things. However, I go back to the moment when it was revealed to me that I MUST ALWAYS BE TRUE TO MY TRUTH (not to the whims of the ego).

 How do you integrate your certifications in therapeutic areas, communication and coaching with your work in music and art?

 In reality, everything is the same “patchwork quilt.” Everything flows toward the same point: reconnecting with the essence of being. So from that perspective, everything I do is therapeutic, including what we are talking about now. If my life story motivates or inspires someone to believe in themselves, in their inner potential and their authorship of their life, then we have contributed to that person’s integral well-being!

 What aspects of solfège, harmony and counterpoint do you consider fundamental to your compositional style?

 Since my teenage years when I was a member of the Youth Symphony Orchestra, I began some composition studies. Later my participation in the Orchestra’s Symphonic Choir greatly enriched my taste for choral harmonies and many musical styles. I have participated in a great number of vocal ensembles as a singer, many times directing the group.

 The eight years of university studies I completed in the field of music undoubtedly gave me important tools. But I have never been so docile as to remain boxed in rules that don’t resonate with me. I let myself be guided by inspiration and what I like most, regardless of the influence of the time.

 What challenges and lessons have you found when combining voiceover with music and teaching?

 To be honest, I don’t feel they are mutually exclusive. The three disciplines are forms of communication, and I have a clear message to share. I interweave the different forms harmoniously. That is why I record my audiobooks, which also contain music and message. And when giving Lecture-Concerts, I can use more than one discipline at the microphone.

 Perhaps the only challenge is not allowing myself to be boxed in by anything or anyone. My format is very “my own,” and sometimes that is not very “commercial.” So it is expected that not everyone will agree, or that it will not fit what is established. Even so, doors have always opened generously for me.

 How has your creative approach evolved with the combination of technical and therapeutic training throughout your career?

 I feel that creativity has grown more and more, precisely as a result of connecting with my spiritual essence, and that foundation is what gives meaning to any other tool.

 That’s why I mentioned that there are still more projects lined up waiting for their moment to come to light…

 All of them have a purpose of empowerment and helping others discover their inner potential in total freedom and based on unconditional love.

 What message would you give to those who are going through especially difficult times in their lives?

 That we must believe in ourselves, knowing that we are all channels of Universal inspiration. That we already possess the key to true success, which is not limited to the material or intellectual aspect.

 Success, as I see it, is precisely the freedom that comes from knowing we are permanently connected with that Omnipotence, Omniscience and Omnipresence made of pure Love and Light, and that participates actively in our day-to-day life. It is not separate from us, but INSIDE each one of us.

 And that we understand that the reality of our life is the projection of our convictions. So if we believe we are victims of circumstances, we are granting more power to those circumstances to dominate and sink us.

 But if we believe with certainty that we have all the solutions inside, they will manifest in our creativity and intuitive impulses, and we will very quickly see results even better than what we initially expected.

 What artistic and production projects are you currently working on?

 I have just launched the English version of my online Coaching program: “The Neuro-Spiritual Method,” aimed at middle-aged women, since it is precisely the stage in which I myself experienced my life transformation. I wish to share everything I have learned and show them what can be achieved.

 Within a few months I will launch the Spanish version of the same program.

 On the other hand, as I mentioned earlier, I am preparing the children’s Coaching course for teachers, parents and caregivers of children between 7 and 11 years old, through the “kit” Los Policuánticos.

 Upon finishing writing this series, I must complete a fiction novel for teenagers with the theme of empowerment (later I will share the title).

 There is also a collection of stories for preschool children in process, based on several of my children’s songs and the stories behind those characters. (Also filled with positivity)

 Musically, I already feel the urge to compose another empowerment music production, as these are songs I use in my activities as a coach. And finally, I have been preparing a children’s program and a podcast. (Maybe more ideas will arise tomorrow… Don’t ask me for time! Ha!)

 I deeply appreciate your support for my work, Carlos Jarquín!

I appreciate your interest in my journey and in what my activities may accomplish in improving the lifestyle of those who receive my contribution.

The interviewer is a Nicaraguan writer and columnist based in Costa Rica.