Born in Miami to Afro-Colombian parents and raised in the Virgin Islands, Adassa inherited a dream deferred. Her mother and grandmother both wanted to be singers but chose the medical field instead, planting seeds that would bloom in the next generation. After surviving near-death complications at her own birth, she began singing in church at age four. At seventeen, she joined a girl group at Sony Music and met her future husband, Gabriel Candiani. Her four-octave range and songwriting led to collaborations with Pitbull, Flo Rida, Snoop Dogg, and Daddy Yankee, with writing credits in the Warner, Universal, and SONY catalogs. At the height of her reggaeton success, she walked away to focus on faith and family. Years later, a casting director found her and Gabriel's music on YouTube. At her Encanto audition, she clutched photos of her parents and grandparents and told directors about her family's Colombian legacy before performing "Satisfied" from Hamilton. Landing Dolores brought her childhood wish full circle—"We Don't Talk About Bruno" hit Billboard #1. Now she's stepping into country music, blending storytelling with 808s, rap cadences, and syncopated hooks in a sound that's both beat-driven and deeply rooted.Raised Seventh-day Adventist with a pastor for a father, Adassa grew up singing in church. Her relationship with Gabriel—born into a Latter-day Saint family in Mexico—sparked a spiritual evolution. Their conversations led her to meet with missionaries. In a quiet bathroom, she prayed about the Book of Mormon. Light filled the room, her heart raced, her chest burned with heat—a confirmation that has echoed through her life. She became the first in her family to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sacrificing career opportunities to embrace a Christ-centered life. After Encanto's success, she felt called to "testify of the goodness of God," leading her and Gabriel to scrap a mainstream album and create "In Jesus We Are One," a Christian record reflecting their belief that despite denominational differences, we find unity in Christ. Her parents remain Seventh-day Adventist, and they've found common ground in worship. From touring with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to turning down seven-figure deals that didn't align with her principles, faith isn't part of Adassa's story—it's the compass guiding every decision.For Adassa, family is the foundation. She and music producer Gabriel Candiani are raising seven children. "It's absolute chaos," she says. "But it's beautiful." They've built a "live-in working style," taking turns as the stay-at-home parent while the other tours. She brings her kids to performances whenever possible: "No amount of millions of dollars could ever pay for that moment I'm gonna miss." This clarity led her to turn down six and seven-figure deals after Encanto, asking one question before every opportunity: "Does this align with my priorities and principles?" Her parents and grandparents sacrificed everything—her father caring for his family from age nine, her mother and grandmother setting aside their singing dreams. Adassa carries that legacy forward, showing her own children you can chase big dreams without compromising what matters most. Her work is rooted in authenticity, strength, and redemption—proof that faith and family don't compete with fame, they fuel it.My StoryFaithFamily
