Giselle Woo

Growing up in Cathedral City, Giselle Woo learned early the power of  music to bring people together. Her grandmother would rise in church pews to lead songs when there was no choir, inspiring Woo to follow. “My mom and dad are both musicians … that church is where I learned my chops,” she says. “What better place to learn than somewhere where you’re not going to be judged?”

Woo fronts Giselle Woo & The Night Owls and is one half of  Las Tías, a duo that reinterprets Mexican ballads. “When someone comes up to you in tears and says, ‘My dad loved this song,’ you can’t help but cry with them. Like, wow, this is why I do it,” she says. “It feels good to be that person for someone, to help them remember.”

Dreams came true in 2022 when Woo performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, bringing her music to one of the world’s biggest stages in her own backyard. “It was incredible,” she shares. “It’s funny though. When you dream about something for so long, it kind of doesn’t surprise you. You’re just like, ‘I should  be up there.”

Family continues to guide her path. “My cousin told me, ‘You’re our pride,’ ” she says. “To honor my family in that way is awesome.”