A Chat with Marcello Cordova (07.04.26)
Marcello Cordova has released his latest single, ‘You Got This’, featuring Evie Lizarraga. Merging genres of alternative pop/rock, electronic rock, and contemporary Christian influences, the song shares a powerful message of perseverance, faith, and hope. We chat with Marcello Cordova below.
OSR: What thematic elements in ‘You Got This’ resonate most with you as a music critic?
Cordova: For me, I would say the verses. As a songwriter or creative, we tend to deal with a lot of discouragement, which is what these verses reflect. It hits home, but at the end of the day, we continue to push forward, we’re still here, and we’re still growing, and it’s a self pep talk when it hits the chorus “you got this”.
OSR: How does this song reflect your growth as a songwriter and storyteller?
Cordova: This song is actually a couple of years old, and I’ve done some growth since then, but at the time, it was very new to me and working with cowriters was very new to me as well. My journey as a songwriter very started late. I had just started writing regularly, so being in a room with songwriters was pushing me out of my comfort zone, not just in working with people but hearing personal ideas with them, whereas I tend to keep those thoughts private, being around them allowed me the comfort to dig deep.
OSR: In your opinion, how does the song’s message of hope and faith compare to other motivational tracks in contemporary music?
Cordova: I love the honesty in it. There’s the question that gets asked: “Where is your God in this?” But just because I have faith doesn’t mean it’s an easy life. What I’ve experienced is that despite my trials, I am still here, and because of that, my mentality is ‘I Got This’. I believe that resonates with people.
OSR: How do you interpret the lyrical interplay between you and Evie Lizarraga?
Cordova: I have a project I have been working on for a year, and I did some work with Evie on it. When the production was done, I imagined different vocalists I had been working with on it to see who would match well with it, and Evie came to mind, and she nailed it. I wanted more of a delicate intro for that first verse and first chorus, and her sound is much more delicate than mine.
OSR: Which musical influences do you hear reflected in this track?
Cordova: It’s funny, they’ve been such an influence to my songwriting journey, especially Baily, we’ve done some work together, and she has mentored me, but the influences for this particular song came from the likes of Stephen Stanley and bands like Linkin Park and POD, without the distorted vocals.
OSR: How do you incorporate personal spiritual experiences into universal messages that appeal to a wide audience?
Cordova: I think the best recipe is honesty. Some of those that I’ve been influenced by are those who have written their stories into their art and have become relatable. As I mentioned earlier, there’s this misconception that just because you’re a person of faith, then every trial is met with happy thoughts and smiles, and it’s not the case. But this song was not written from a place of “let’s write to the people of faith”, rather it’s universal. Although it comes from a place of faith, that’s not the message in itself; it’s that you’ve been through the trials already, so when the next one comes, ‘You Got This’.
OSR: How effective is the song in creating a sense of emotional connection or uplift for listeners?
Cordova: I think the fact that Evie came in delicately on her first parts and talked about being cornered and looking at an impossible task, then jumping to the high energy of empowerment.
OSR: In what ways does ‘You Got This’ stand out in the current landscape of alternative pop/rock and CCM?
Cordova: I like the fact that the song does not stay in the cellar the whole song. It’s not even climbing out of that point, but it’s more about prepping you to climb out. It’s not all about a feel-good story either. You come in agony, but you’re gonna handle it. It takes turns from the verses to the chorus before it stays in that encouraged mindset.
OSR: Do you think the song’s composition and instrumentation enhance its lyrical themes? How?
Cordova: Yeah, for sure. When you blend the synth sound, the drums and the loud guitars, it immediately draws the listener in, especially if it’s the genre that they like and gets them pumped that they will overcome as they have been.
OSR: What predictions would you make about the impact of this release on your career trajectory?
Cordova: It’s interesting, although my genre of songwriting has been more contemporary folk, my musical interests have always been rock growing up. My style changes in seasons. My previously released song ‘I’m Sorry’ is more of a countryish vibe, my current project is a worship cover album, and in between those, I have a couple of rock-themed songs. Some might ask, “who or what are you?” I think this shows how versatile I can be, I love it, and sometimes, as a creative, there’s no rules I have to go by.
Many thanks to Marcello Cordova for speaking with us. Find out more about Marcello Cordova on his Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify.
