I have known Alison Strong since she was a little girl belting out songs at her mom's living room

in our hometown of Union City, New Jersey. Her talent has always been undeniable,

and it is matched only by the heart and hustle

that has earned her roles on Broadway productions of Bye Bye Birdie,

and then Mamma Mia, the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,

the Netflix film The Week of,

and powered her two albums, including her most recent release, Bronte.

Allison and I talk about the early feedback that threatened to derail her career before it had even

begun, the mentor who put it back on the tracks, how her songwriting is informed by everyone

from Carlos Vivas to Regina Spector, and how the decision to literally create a room of her

own, allowed her to become the hero of her own story.

Alison. Hi, Alicia.

I don't think I've ever had, and I've never had anyone I babysat for on Latina to Latina, so what a treat.

It is a treat. It's a treat for both of us.

Alison, we all knew you were talented. Do you remember the first moment when you said to yourself, wow, I love this?

I'll start by saying that I shied away from crowds from the time I was quite small.

I was the kid that waited for everyone to get off of the slide at the playground.

My mom would actually have to bribe me to go.

On the slide, I did not like to be,

so, and I know this probably sounds really weird.

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm extremely extroverted

at this point in my life,

...