Trinidad Cardona became an overnight success after he put his single Jennifer on Facebook.
The 18-year-old singer and rapper took a chance last summer by uploading the record and today his video has over 15 million views and the song has been streamed over 12 million times. Cardona who is half Black and Mexican has a grand curly mane and a bigger personality to match. The young sensation sat down with The Knockturnal at The Roxy Hotel in Manhattan and talked to us about his following, his stage name and reveals who Jennifer is.
The Knockturnal: So your song Jennifer blew up overnight?
Cardona: Yeah it all feels fake because everything has been going so smoothly. Even with all the BS that came with the song, everything came out way to smooth.
The Knockturnal: What was some of the BS that came with the song?
Cardona: It took longer for things to work out then expected, then someone got mad at me and put out a false release date. But even with all that it still worked out.
The Knockturnal: And you recorded all this in Arizona?
Cardona: Yeah there is only one big studio that famous people usually record at but I didn’t want to pay for it. But I just knew people who knew people and I would get studio time that way. But that’s why I don’t question things even when bad things happen.
The Knockturnal: So who is Jennifer? You are only 17 and you are singing about this Jennifer girl like y’all are in love(laughs).
Cardona: (laughs) It was high school love, it only lasted about two months.
The Knockturnal: Does she know the song is about her?
Cardona: Nope
The Knockturnal: Are you going to tell her?
Cardona: Never! We don’t even talk anymore
The Knockturnal: Even after all your success she didn’t try to slide in the DM’s?
Cardona: Oh she definitely did, and I slid right out of them, then I unfollowed her. You have to leave things that happen in 2017 in 2017.
The Knockturnal: Do you have any formal music training?
Cardona: No. I had someone help me out recording wise but besides that, it came all off top. I’ve always been really creative. And I always sing along to all the songs I hear so I would just practice that way.
The Knockturnal: So you had a following before the record came out?
Cardona: No I didn’t. I had a growing fan base in Arizona. It was just small local talk from the local high schools and stuff.
The Knockurnal: How did you come up with your stage name?
Cardona: It’s my real name. Trinidad Nelson Cordona.
The Knockturnal: Wow, so this must be destiny because you were born with a stage name.
Cardona: I guess so, and it’s funny because I almost dated a girl name, Trinidad. That would have been interesting.
Cardona’s next single Dinero will be dropping soon and he has a performance at The Highline Ballroom in NYC on January 18th.