Monmouth University has no doubt honed some talented alumni, and singer-songwriter Francesca Fuentes is no exception. With her raw, personal lyrics and pop-rock mix, Fuentes is a force to be reckoned with.
She first began her musical journey when she picked up the guitar at age 12, and she hasn’t stopped since. She began playing and writing at a young age and sharpened these skills with the music community at Monmouth University. Fuentes’ career catalyzed with her debut music video “Rock W Me,” winning Best Film/Best Love Story at the 2019 Lovesick Film Festival in Jersey City, garnering much attention. However, after a split with her music producer, her career halted. With encouragement from her mentor Mike Flannery, Fuentes channeled this tumultuous time into her craft, and after conquering some obstacles, she released her 2025 EP titled “Can’t Hide.”
Fuentes EP “Can’t Hide,“ consists of four tracks, “Pink Drink,” “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again,” “Can’t Hide” and “Pink Drink (Live From Highland Park).” This release was accompanied by a self-directed music video for the track, “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again.” After appearing on MTV’s Spankin’ New and featured in The Mic Mag and The Jersey Sound, Fuentes’ career has undoubtedly gained momentum. She has directed this success into musical events for the community, one of which I had the honor of attending.
The event I attended was on Nov. 21 at the Asbury Book Cooperative in Asbury Park, NJ. With free admission and encouraged donations to Trinity’s Church Food Pantry and Saturday Soup Kitchen, this was truly a night where we saw the power of music and community combined. Here, there were performances from Fuentes, Songbird, and Chiara Maria—all New Jersey artists.
The night began at 7 p.m., with a short introduction and then a performance by Songbird. She played a mix of personal pieces and covers, including her brand new song “Boardwalk Ships” and renditions of “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan and “Creep” by Radiohead. Her talented voice and master of the keyboard made for an enticing performance.
Next was Chiara Maria, who is a jazz singer-songwriter, and she truly brought soul to the night. She, too, performed a mix of her own music and popular jazz songs, including her single “Bangin’ On The Walls” and a Christmas song. The lilting characteristic of jazz, combined with Maria’s voice, made it impossible to not bop your head.
The final performance was by the hostess herself, Fuentes. She played various pieces of her own, including unreleased songs. Fuentes’ music feels like a window into her soul. The songwriting is incredibly honest and visceral. She takes listeners through her experiences of grappling with religion, relationship hardships, and betrayal. In these lyrics are stories of privation, and Fuentes takes these hardships and turns them into something digestible, beautiful, and enjoyable. Apart from the songs themselves, Fuentes puts on a performance of a lifetime. The venue of this event made each performance incredibly intimate, and that is only intensified by Fuentes’ hard-hitting and intimate songs and performance. Her velvety rich voice, accompanied by her guitar, left goosebumps on my arms.
My favorite song of the night was “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again,” but I am biased as I am a big fan of pop music. This song is simultaneously nostalgic, groovy, and deeply personal. I could feel the passion and fun radiating off of Fuentes throughout her performance, and this made it even more enjoyable. You couldn’t help but smile and sway to her intoxicating voice and relatable lyricism.
Songbird, Chiara Maria, and Fuentes are incredibly talented artists, with undeniable passion and aptitude. I’m confident that they’ll make it far. In addition to the actual performances, the venue and people made for a great night. Everyone was incredibly friendly, and we were all connected by our love for music, which is such an electric feeling. There was dancing, cheering, and community, making for an unforgettable and inspirational experience.
Props to Fuentes for hosting such a touching and successful event. I can’t wait to see her in a bigger venue one day. Her new album is set to be released in 2026, after four years in the making, and just from what I’ve heard of it so far at the Asbury Book Cooperative, this is one you’ll want to tune in for.
