At just 10 years old Mandy Corrente is on a mission. Beginning dance when she was “super tiny” at 3 years old, Mandy’s creativity quickly became a career. She released her first song at 5 years old and has become a beacon of positivity and high-energy fun ever since. Her music and performances have taken her to stages and events from her hometown in Miami to Los Angeles to Colombia to New York City, and she has wowed audiences from the screen in appearances on The Ellen Show and from her posts on social media.
In just a few years, Mandy has released 20 songs including her latest releases “Super Duper” and “Do the Hit.” The latter became the soundtrack for a collab with the clothing brand Justice. We caught up with Mandy for an inside look at what inspires her positivity and how she brings music and dance together to spread that positivity to others.
Showstopper Magazine Online: How did you begin your journey with music?
Mandy Corrente: Well, it all started when I was 5 years old. I recorded my first song called “Sunday Funday,” and I’ve been hooked ever since! I just couldn’t stop making music after that. It’s like, once I started, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else!
SMO: You have been working on your music career for most of your life! What motivates you?
Mandy: What keeps me going is making people happy with my music! Seeing kids smiling and having fun when they listen to my songs makes me feel so happy and grateful. It’s like, when I know my music brings joy to others, it just makes everything worth it! And I feel really thankful to God for giving me this gift to share with the world!
SMO: What drew you to pop music and Latin pop specifically?
Mandy: Even though my mom was born in the US, she grew up in Venezuela, and that’s where she met my dad. His family is from Italy and Spain, so I’ve got this mix of Latin and European background, which is pretty cool! And because of that, I love singing in both English and Spanish. Pop music just feels right to me, you know? And especially Latin pop because it’s got this energetic rhythm that just makes you want to dance! So, it’s like a mix of who I am and what makes me feel good!
SMO: Your latest song “Do the Hit” is a dance-pop moment! What was the inspiration for the song?
Mandy: Oh, it was super fun! My mom actually wrote the words for the song, and then when [my producer] Poo Bear saw them, he was like, “Wait, ‘The Hit’ is a dance!” And that’s when everything clicked! We were totally inspired by the idea of dancing, and when we recorded the song, I just started moving to the beat, doing these cool dance steps. And bam! That’s how “Do the Hit Dance” was born! It was all about feeling the rhythm and letting the dance take over!
SMO: Can you tell us about your summer collab with Justice featuring “Do the Hit”?
Mandy: Justice, you know, that awesome brand for girls? Well, they chose me for this super cool campaign featuring “Do the Hit”! And get this, I’ve been wearing Justice since I was born. Their message about empowering girls is just so cool and totally matches my vibe. And then, to top it all off, I got to dress up in their clothes and dance to my own song! How amazing is that? It was like the perfect combo of everything I love! I’m just so grateful for all the opportunities my music career has brought me!
SMO: How does dance play a part in your music?
Mandy: Dance is like, half of everything for me! When I’m making music, I always think about how it’s gonna make people move and groove. Being a performer is about more than just singing, you know? It’s about putting on a whole show! And dance is a huge part of that. So, I’d say it’s like fifty percent singing and fifty percent dancing.
SMO: What are some of your favorite songs to get up and dance to?
Mandy: Shakira’s songs are always a blast to dance to! And lately, I’ve been loving SZA’s tunes, too. But honestly, any song that gets me in the mood to move, I’m all about it! Whether it’s pop, hip-hop, or even some classic jams, if it makes me wanna dance, count me in! And you know what? I’ve been putting on dance shows for my mom and dad since I was super tiny! It’s like my favorite thing to do!
SMO: Is there anything else you want people to know?
Mandy: Totally! I just wanna keep making music that puts a smile on people’s faces or gets them moving on the dance floor! I’ve got tons of new songs in the works, and I can’t wait for you all to hear them! Oh, and about an album, hmm, I’m thinking maybe when I’m a bit older I’ll drop one of those. But for now, I’m just gonna keep putting out singles and spreading good vibes!
