Kidsday reporters talk to singer Becky G

We met one of our favorite singers, Becky G, when she was in Manhattan recently.

What do you do when you get nervous?

I shake it off. I do vocal warm-ups and I like to do some jumping jacks with my dancers and get the blood going, so that way when you walk out there, your body doesn't go into shock.

Did you ever take singing lessons as a kid?

I didn't. I would just go by ear, sing along with other singers that I was a fan of, like Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera. But just recently -- actually for the past year now, two years -- I've been working with a vocal trainer every now and then, just to make sure that I'm not hurting my vocal chords or breathing the wrong way, because that's really important.

You've done a lot of collaboration with different artists. Who did you enjoy working with the most?

I feel so lucky that I've gotten to work with all the artists I've gotten to work with, just because they're all so special to me. I think working with the younger ones was really special -- working with Cody Simpson and Austin Mahone and Cheryl Lloyd -- because we're all closer to the same age, so we're all going through the same things. I could share advice with them about things that I'm going through, and they could do the same. And we all have the same likes. It was cool.

Do you like being recognized in public?

I think it's really cool. To me, it's all part of the dream of being a pop star. You always hope that you're walking by and someone goes, "Hey, is that that girl?" To me, it's really cool when I'm going to the mall, or grocery shopping. When it's not cool is when you don't have makeup on, and you're in your pajamas, and you're just chilling and they're like, "You look like Becky G," but you really don't. I don't look like Becky G right now.

Do you do anything right before a show?

I like listening to a bunch of different music, just getting the vibe right. I like bringing a lot of energy when I come to the stage; I play lots of hip-hop music and super-hard-core pop music, just because it's fun to sing along to these and kind of let all the jitters out.

What do you do in your own time when you're not performing?

When I'm not performing I like listening to music, whether it be old albums that I used to listen to or looking at iTunes and singing all the new music that's coming out. Because I feel it's really important to be aware of the fact that music is always changing, it's always evolving. It's always important to be inspired. So I'm always listening to different kinds of music.

What influenced you the most or who influenced you the most to become a singer?

I feel a lot of artists played a big part in me wanting to be a pop star. But I think the main one was Jennifer Lopez. Growing up, I remember watching all the movies that she did and just being like, "Wow, she's an actress, she has a fashion line and she's a singer-performer." She does so many things, and growing up I was like, "Wow, I want to be like her one day," and now I know her, and she's like a friend, she's so supportive of my career. She got to be on one of my videos, and I think it's really cool. It's like one of my dreams came true already.

Do you have any good-luck charms?

My family. I always bring my family on the road with me. I come from a big old Mexican family. There's a lot of us and I try to bring my dad on the road with me when he can. And if it's not my dad, my DJ is actually my cousin. He's always onstage with me. We both, growing up, would listen to music together and perform for the family together, and now we get to do it in front of thousands of people. And then, if it's not my dad, it's my cousin Vanessa. She goes on the road with me. So I surround myself with family.

Do you think being famous has made you more confident?

I think famous is an awkward word for me, to be honest, because I wake up in the morning like everybody else, I brush my teeth like everybody else, I look in the mirror and look crazy with bad hair just like everybody else. And I feel that it's important to remember that I'm normal. I'm just like you guys. And I feel like, yes, being on stage and stuff and writing songs in the studio has helped me find a new confidence in myself, but I think it's a healthy confidence; it's not like I'm-too-cool-for-school confidence.