Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellie Gonzalez.
Ellie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always been an artist and creative. I also always wanted to be on the radio. As Denton started growing and quickly becoming a busier music and artist haven, I noticed a new up and coming radio station popped up in town, DentonRadio.com. I remember thinking, I am going to be in that Studio Booth one day. One day, the opportunity presented itself.
I kept busy with producing my own new radio show/podcast – The Denton Vibe With Diva Girl Ellie on Denton Radio, with my poetry writing, photography and the local poetry group I founded here in Denton, Lost Poet Lounge and many other creative outlets. Creatively busy and artistically happy.
Has it been a smooth road?
Biggest struggles: starting in a town that I had no family/friends it was hard but I soon let my personality take over and began finding my tribe. The hard part is finding enough time for all of my artistic passions, my daily life and family/friends and loved ones and all the obligations that come with each.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Denton Vibe With Diva Girl Ellie – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
The Denton Vibe With Diva Girl Ellie is a radio show/podcast that I started on DentonRadio.com in July 2017. I was presented with the opportunity and I immediately took it! I was excited! This was my chance to become a voice in my community. Not only as a Dentonite but as a Latina. It was important to me to use my radio show to support diversity in culture. It was equally important to me to shed light on the plentiful and talented artists that called Denton, home. We live in a town that is blessed with music and artistry of ALL kinds and to shed light on the diamonds in the rough is exciting for me – providing a springboard for many to venture off on their artistic journey is something fabulous to witness. I love what I do on The Denton Vibe!
The poet side of me was also unveiled here in Denton. I have always written poetry as a young girl. It wasn’t until that I took that to a new level and founded the poetry collaborative group, Lost Poet Lounge in 2014. Producing the Lost Poet Lounge shows opened up another level of poetry for me. Not only was I getting to highlight many amazing talented poets but I was fortunate enough to have my Lost Poets showcase some really heartfelt topics full of passion that was very relevant to today or to healing the soul. I am a strong believer that music, art, and poetry are extremely healing to a soul and spirit, especially a broken one.
What I am most proud of is being a platform for bringing people together, for supporting local art, music, and poetry. For being a place, with both The Denton Vibe and Lost Poet Lounge – where people feel welcomed, at home, safe, encouraged and supported. I am also very proud to be a part of a community that makes it possible for SO MANY to realize their dreams, to breathe life into their projects, events, causes. Another proud moment for me was being nominated in four categories for the Denton Art & Music Awards this year for Best Radio Show/Podcast (for The Denton Vibe With Diva Girl Ellie), Best Collaborative Group (for Lost Poet Lounge) Best Poet and The Dentonite of the Year. It was TRULY an honor to be recognized amongst the people that admire most in Denton. I was blessed to take home Best Poet at the DAM Awards this year!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The people and community are my favorites! You will feel right at home in Denton. You will feel the strong community ties. It’s what makes Denton so amazing! The fact that the Denton Business owners play a HUGE part in supporting our artist and music scene is one of the most rewarding things here. It is so amazing to see so many local business owners always willing to help our artists, musicians, poets in any way possible. They have been there for me – many times and I appreciate them just as much as the local scene.
What I like least? There are truly not enough days to do all that we want in Denton. There is not just one thing to do a night – sometimes, you find yourself running back and forth across the square or town – to catch this show – then that show – or go here and there to see all your favorites playing or go to the happenings in town. You truly need to know how to balance your schedule with SO much going on in Denton on a daily basis.
Contact Info:
- Email: thedentonvibe@gmail.com
- Instagram: TheDentonVibe, DivaGirlEllie, LostPoetLounge
- Facebook: Facebook.com/thedentonvibe
- Twitter: DivaGirlEllie
- Other: Facebook.com/lostpoetlounge
Image Credit:
All Photos: Ellie Gonzalez (Diva Girl Ellie)
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
