I had the chance to chat with Empty Pinata about his creative evolution, his unique approach to music, and, of course, his undeniable admiration for Doja Cat. With a name as enigmatic as Empty Pinata, Alejandro—the multi-hyphenate creative behind the moniker—is stepping out from behind the scenes and into the spotlight with his debut single, “I Have A Huge Crush On Doja Cat.” Known for his work as a photographer, music video director, creative director, artist developer, and manager, Empty Pinata has spent years shaping other artists’ careers. Now, he’s embracing his own artistic vision, blending humor, introspection, and cinematic flair into his music.
Drawing inspiration from Joji, Tyler, The Creator, and Childish Gambino, his work is both playful and deeply personal, balancing absurdity with raw emotion. His debut single is more than just a love letter to Doja Cat—it’s a tongue-in-cheek exploration of fantasy, self-perception, and the dreamlike nature of desire. With his forthcoming EP, Nail Biter, on the horizon, Empty Pinata is ready to carve out his own space in music—on his own unconventional terms.
RM: “I Have A Huge Crush On Doja Cat” is such a bold and playful debut single. What inspired you to make this your introduction to the music world?
Empty Pinata: I think I just wanted to do something fun. I don’t believe I had any other option from a creative standpoint. I think I would be doing myself and the listeners a disservice if I took it too seriously
RM: You’ve worn many creative hats—photographer, music video director, creative director, artist developer, and manager. What made you finally decide to step into the spotlight as an artist?
Empty Pinata: Well in all honesty, I’ve been releasing music since 2009. On Bandcamp and Youtube and whatever else was around at that time but never in a legitimate way. I did a jazz rap album with my producer/best guy Gamal in 2011/2012 and a weird bedroom rap follow-up in 2013 and a few little projects along the way but I never really envisioned myself making this kind of music so now that I do, i’m more comfortable with the idea of being a musical act myself
RM: Your visuals are often described as “strange” and “odd.” How do you translate your background in visual storytelling into your music?
Empty Pinata: I try to be funny. It’s my go-to. I always have comedy in my back pocket and i think with comedy comes so many different branches like comedy is just an extension of a scene in a different direction. Like a key and peele skit could be a drama if they dont show the last 2 minutes of the skit. So with comedy I have this sort of acting ability and a disbelief to my art that ties all the mediums together
RM: The title itself is eye-catching! Is the song literally about a crush on Doja Cat, or is there a deeper meaning behind it?
Empty Pinata: Sort of both. I do love Doja Cat and i feel as though thats obvious. Like I tried to let my wife have Doja Cat as a hall pass but she wasn’t having it. But in a more “personal” way, It’s a song about dreaming. Dreaming about a date. The best version of yourself out with your crush.
RM: Your music blends humor with introspection. How do you balance the comedic and emotional elements in your songwriting?
Empty Pinata: I hate to admit this but I fear i’ll always feel like this is all a big joke. I think it’ll lean more comedic without being like Weird Al type stuff but still, always like a clown telling you a sad story.
RM: Your influences include Joji, Tyler, The Creator, and Childish Gambino—artists known for their strong visual identities and genre-bending sounds. How do these artists shape your approach to music and performance?
Empty Pinata: F*cking Young by Tyler is like one of the 10 perfect songs every made so every song we make, I try to chase that feeling. He’s in alot of my art and even in my personal life, I’ve had many people tell me I act like how they imagine Tyler would act.
RM: You’ve worked behind the scenes with artists who’ve accumulated over 10M+ social media impressions and 500K+ streams. How has that experience shaped your own rollout strategy as an artist?
Empty Pinata: Just in general, working with artists and seeing how they behave and how they treat this craft has had a major impact on me. I realized that I always cared so much more than the artist and I always spoke about these releases with a pain in my voice. Like “if these artists cared more, they’d have a core fanbase and living well off of music” so in a weird way, those artists inspired me to be nothing like them in my releases.
RM: “I Have A Huge Crush On Doja Cat” is a preview of your upcoming debut EP, “Nail Biter.” What can listeners expect from the full project?
Empty Pinata: Just some audio and a magazine
RM: Is there a particular theme or storyline that connects the tracks on “Nail Biter”?
Empty Pinata: anxiety . thats the main theme of this project without a doubt.
RM: Your background in comedy and cinema plays a big role in your artistry. If “Empty Pinata” were a film, what genre would it be?
Empty Pinata: Whatever genre Parasite is. I want sex and money and a heist and death and love and grief and clase and mystery and slight supernatural elements. If not that parasite then 2022’s Decision To Leave. Drama i guess but charming edge of your seat drama
RM: As someone who’s worked across different creative industries, how do you see your music evolving in the future?
Empty Pinata: I definitely need to learn the guitar to a usable level and I would like to take a singing lesson or two lol Hopefully more visuals too. Like accompanying short films and things like that so I could do scoring and foley and stuff
RM: Any dream collaborations—whether in music, film, or comedy—that you’d love to make happen?
Music – Dijon
Movies – Paul Thomas Anderson
Comedy – I would love to direct some cathartic comedians special. Any takers?
RM: With your debut single out, what’s next for Empty Pinata?
Empty Pinata: Any upcoming visuals, performances, or surprises fans should look forward to? I don’t think any surprises from here on out. Just more endearing nonsense from this loser
Empty Pinata is an artist who embraces creativity in its purest form—unfiltered, playful, and deeply personal. “I Have A Huge Crush On Doja Cat” is more than just a debut single; it’s an open invitation into his world, where humor meets heart and imagination knows no bounds. As he prepares to share Nail Biter with the world, it’s clear that his artistic journey is just beginning, and there’s so much more to look forward to.
With his unique blend of comedy, emotion, and visual storytelling, Empty Pinata is carving out a space that is entirely his own. And if this debut is any indication, we can expect a musical adventure filled with surprises, honesty, and plenty of creative magic.
