By Phil Lacombe
In a region known for its desert beats and shimmering live-music nights, Chenza stands out as a one-of-a-kind force. Raised in the Coachella Valley and born into the musical legacy of her father, Filipino singing legend Rico J. Puno, she brings homage to the past while carving her own fiercely independent path. With a voice that channels the sultry swagger of rockabilly and Elvis-era country, fused with blues and modern roots music, Chenza’s new album If That Isn’t Love bursts with both reverence and reinvention. From studios with Grammy-nominated collaborators to stages across the valley, she’s not just making music, she’s transforming it.
CVW: You grew up steeped in music thanks to your dad’s legacy, how did that upbringing shape your own voice, both literally and creatively?
Puno: I was blessed to have grown up seeing both my parents doing shows and entertaining for large audiences and seeing how they honed their craft. Growing up with parents in the industry taught me how to work on my craft and stay dedicated. Before my dad passed, he always told me to sing from my heart, and I made sure I was doing everything with passion and gave my all in my performances. My style of music is different from my parents, but they gave me the tools to use as I discovered my own sound.
CVW: On If That Isn’t Love, you cover classics and also bring original energy, what was the spark behind the title track and your choice of covers?
Puno: The title track is a cover of a classic gospel song that Elvis did in the 1970s, and hearing it for the first time really moved me that I wanted to do my own version.
Elvis’s gospel performances has inspired me so much that I wanted to pay tribute to the music he truly loved to sing, which was gospel.
Each track in that album reflected what I was truly feeling and going through at the time, including my relationships and what I was feeling as I was trying to find what kind of artist I wanted to be. This was a project where I felt the most authentic and I definitely felt every word I sang in those covers. Each song was able to express what I couldn’t really put into words. That was a huge part of why I chose that to be the title track. Being passionate in what you do and giving your whole heart to something you truly care about. I am passionate about bringing back the classics and interpreting songs, and each track was selected from the heart.
CVW: Stage presence is a big part of your identity (“The Female Elvis Presley” has been used as a moniker for you), how do you balance paying tribute to that past while making it uniquely yours?
Puno: I became gravitated towards Elvis because he made me feel less alone about the type of entertainer I am. Elvis was known for making classic cover songs his own, and his performances were still very original even if he did not write his own music. The way I pay tribute while making it my own is combining every style of singing from different artists I am gravitated towards and letting my emotions guide me, which is why it is important to me that I truly feel the words of the songs I am singing. This is another reason why Elvis influenced me so much, because he really felt the songs he was singing. I try to bring new life out of something most people might have forgotten, and I do that by singing it the way that I feel, and telling the story as if I was experiencing it myself.
CVW: The Coachella Valley has its own unique music ecosystem, how has performing here shaped you differently compared to elsewhere?
Puno: I feel that the Coachella Valley really appreciates the classics. I feel that my type of performances are appreciated here and it’s been great discovering what else I am capable of doing. Performing here has given me the freedom to stay authentic while discovering more classics that resonate with me the most.
CVW: As a woman navigating predominantly male-led genres (rockabilly, blues, roots), what challenges and rewards have you found along the way?
Puno: I truly just love this type of music and I feel the most authentic when performing them on stage. There is so much soul in this genre that moves me and makes me want to explore it more.
It’s true that very few women are venturing into this genre and it has been challenging to get certain opportunities because the industry tends to pigeonhole female artists into doing a certain genre, but it has been rewarding at the same time because it made me stand out to the people that resonate with it the most. I think it’s important to stick to what feels true to you regardless of what everyone expects from you.
CVW: Your EP La Bambola explores Italian songs, what led you to embrace that direction, and how does it tie into your journey as an artist?
Puno: Singing in different languages especially in Spanish or Italian has challenged me to interpret songs in different ways instead of just one. There is so much passion in Spanish and Italian songs that I was always so intrigued by.
CVW: What’s next for you? Are there new sounds, collaborations, or live experiences coming that fans should keep a lookout for?
Puno: I am currently working on different Elvis tribute acts during my shows at The Roost in Cathedral City, as well as doing my own versions of many icons such as Cher, Patsy Cline, and more. I will be doing something different each month on select Thursdays.
I am also working on recording more of my own versions of classic songs, including more Spanish and Italian songs that I plan to release early 2026.
CVW: Where can fans find you?
Puno: You can find my next performances and updates on my website, chenzamusic.com
and also on Instagram and Facebook, @chenzamusic
Whether she’s honoring the timeless spirit of rock ’n’ roll or channeling the cultural threads of her Filipino-American heritage, Chenza is proof that roots and reinvention go hand in hand. Her performances don’t just echo the past — they redefine the future of desert music. Keep your eyes and ears open for her next show, streaming release or live collaboration, because in a place known for festivals and big names, Chenza is quietly building something unforgettable right here in the Coachella Valley.
That’s a wrap on this week’s Local Music Spotlight, but the party doesn’t stop here. Hit the shows, feel the beats, and keep the valley’s music scene thriving. Because around here, the next song that changes your life might be playing tonight.
