With a journey of self-discovery ahead, Guille Toledano turns inward, navigating doubt, instinct and vulnerability as he begins to define himself beyond the spotlight. What happens when you spend months being watched 24/7, cut off from the outside world, only to be suddenly thrown into the music industry as a fully formed “artist”? From the outside, it reads like a dream. In reality, it’s something else entirely. Guille Toledano, who rose to visibility through Spanish talent show Operación Triunfo, didn’t get the luxury of figuring things out quietly. It all happened at once. What looks like a privilege can quickly turn on you – he’s still becoming, yet everyone’s already watching. But the Spanish singer doesn’t try to disguise that. If anything, he leans into it. There’s something disarmingly honest in the way he speaks. No big statements, no constructed persona, just a raw conversation about music and how badly he’s always wanted this. But desire comes with doubt. He questions himself daily, and still, he keeps going. Because the second he steps into the studio, everything clicks. Somewhere between uncertainty and instinct, his project starts to take shape. For now, we’ve only seen a glimpse of it through his latest single, no sé si quiero volver. A tune that doesn’t aim to impress. A goodbye. The kind of song that exists when nothing is held back. Because for Guille, vulnerability is the only way forward. There are no filters, just the inherent complexity of telling your truth, however uncomfortable that might be. With a national tour ahead alongside the other Operación Triunfo contestants and the noise only getting louder, he’s learning to tune things out. Expectations, comparisons, the pressure to define himself before he’s ready – it’s all there. But so is the intention to move differently: closer to his people, closer to his music, closer to something that actually feels like his. Amid one of his studio sessions, we spoke to Guille Toledano about creativity, the future and finding a voice that’s still in the making. I see you’ve been tapping into your creativity in the studio. Yeah, honestly, I’ve always been around creative environments. I used to be a chef, so I was in the thick of it all day, every day. Let me pick up on that – what’s different about the creative process in those two worlds? I think inspiration in cooking and in music comes from different places. But if I’m being completely honest, I don’t see myself as a super creative person, at least not when it comes to composing or creating. In the kitchen, I’m more methodical, and with music I lean on instinct, because I’ve never really studied it. But “creative” as such? Not really, zero. I’m still learning. I think even creativity is something you have to learn. You’ve just released “no sé si quiero volver,” a single full of emotion and vulnerability. Where does this song come from, and what part of you did you need to put out there? It’s a goodbye to someone who meant a lot to me and isn’t here anymore. It came from the need to tell that person how I feel. At the end of the day, it’s the most honest thing I’ve done, and the most honest I could be in the time I had. I’m really proud of it, honestly. And yeah, like you said, it’s super vulnerable. What I needed was to put real truth into the song, and I think I managed that, which is why I’m so proud of it. Do you find it hard to show yourself that vulnerable in such a public way? Not really. I don’t struggle with feeling vulnerable. In fact, I think the music that connects the most is the most honest, and for it to be honest, it has to be vulnerable. You have to put everything you’ve got into it. To understand your present, I’d like to go back to your beginnings. What’s your first memory with music, and when did you feel this was what you wanted to do? That’s a great question. I realised I might have a bit of a knack for singing playing Sing It on my Wii, singing a Camp Rock song with my sister at home. I don’t even know how old I was, but I was really young. I remember feeling something when I’d sing a Disney song I knew and it actually sounded good. There were these little boxes that tracked your pitch, and I was hitting all of them, and I was like, “Oh my God, this is amazing.” And over the years I kept developing that, until Operación Triunfo came along. Which artists have shaped you in that process of discovering yourself? There have been quite a few at different stages of my life that I’ve been really into and they’ve been key influences. The first was Pablo Alborán. Ever since I can remember, I go back to his music constantly. I was also really into Queen, and then Luis Miguel came along. Bad Bunny… I’ve kind of grown into it, it’s a really wide mix. Do you remember a moment before Operación Triunfo, or even after, when you questioned whether you really wanted to do this? I question it every day. Every single day. I didn’t try to get into music earlier because it felt incredibly difficult. It seemed like you needed so much talent, which I didn’t think I had. And it’s still a complicated life. What I’m doing now is a dream, sure, but it’s not easy. So there are a lot of moments where I wonder if I should keep going, if I’m really cut out for this. But then I go into the studio, start singing, and it all goes away. That’s how I know it’s my calling, because as soon as I sing, everything else disappears. After something like Operación Triunfo, the exposure is immediate, but the real journey starts once you leave. How are you handling that transition? I think I handled it better in the beginning than I do now. Probably because I wasn’t fully aware of what was coming or how big the change would be. Now it’s a bit harder, but overall I think I’m doing pretty well. At least that’s what I think, anyway. We’ve also got support from psychologists, which helps a lot. But yeah, I’d say I’m handling it okay. Do you feel there’s a lot of pressure to define yourselves quickly, both as artists and as people? Yeah, definitely. When you come out of Operación Triunfo, you’re under a microscope. But I’ve worked really hard to let go of that pressure completely. It’s not healthy. Constantly feeling like you have to give your best and be at 100% all the time is exhausting. It can drive you mad. So I’ve tried to strip all that away. I just do my thing, make music with my people, and surround myself with a good team. What have you discovered about yourself this past year that surprised you? One thing that’s really surprised me is that I step up in tough moments. Some people freeze before going on stage, but that doesn’t happen to me. I didn’t know I had that in me. It’s like when I need to show up, I show up. And I’ve also realised I’ve got a lot of willpower when it comes to going after what I want. That’s important. In a world like this, you either put in the work every day or you lose your way. Post-OT success often comes with constant comparison. Has that affected you? Not too much, to be honest. I don’t know… Look at what Amaia and Aitana said. They admitted years later that they were jealous of each other. But I think this year we’ve handled comparisons really well as a group. It’s a very healthy environment, and that’s helped a lot. None of us feel like we’re being measured against each other or that one is better than the other. It’s been really nice. And a lot of that comparison comes from the pressure I mentioned before. Now that you’re building your career, where do you want to take your project? That’s something I can’t really answer yet, man. I’m still figuring it out. My goal is to connect as much as possible, with the music and with people. But I don’t have a clear picture yet. The project is still taking shape, still growing. This year, and probably the next, will be key in defining everything. It’s looking really good, though, and I’m honestly really happy with what’s coming out. Fashion and music have always gone hand in hand, but with your generation it feels even more natural. What’s your relationship with fashion? To be honest, fashion didn’t interest me at all before Operación Triunfo. But during the show, with all the looks for the live shows, I realised I really like it. It makes me feel things. I really want to find a style that’s my own. I’ve discovered pieces that suit me really well, and I try to make them mine to shape my style. But yeah, before this I didn’t have a clue about clothes, to be fair. How would you define your style? Since leaving Operación Triunfo, I’ve discovered baggy trousers and I’m obsessed. Properly obsessed. Skinny jeans are out of the picture. I wore them my whole life and you couldn’t get me out of them. I also like sweaters, cropped pieces… I feel like I keep coming back to that same formula. You’re about to start the OT tour. What are you hoping to find out there? Any nerves? Yeah, we start on the 18th. First of all, I want to learn a lot, because I’ve still got a lot to improve on stage. I want to grow up there, which I think is what it’s actually for as well. I’m also really excited to be back with everyone and to perform together again. I think these 13 shows will really help us grow – moving on stage, connecting more with people. I’m not nervous at all, honestly. I’m just really excited. The tour means reconnecting with your classmates and the whole OT world. How does that feel? It’s strange. Because we went in as strangers, and now we’re not. It’s true there are people I didn’t get to know as well, but we’re still like a family. What we went through there bonds you for life. We don’t see each other much because we all live in different places and we’re all busy, so I’m really looking forward to seeing them again, sharing things, and just having a good time. And I imagine you’re even more excited about doing your own tour once your project is out? Yeah, it’s actually getting close, both the tour and the album. The album should be out around October, and the tour around the same time. Either October or November. We also saw your chef side on OT. What’s your favourite dish to cook – although I think I can guess it – and what do you most enjoy eating? You can probably guess it, yeah, haha. I think the lobster rice from La Perla is going to become world famous at this point. It’s what people ask me for the most because it’s the best one. It’s a proper dish. And what I enjoy eating the most is pasta. I’m obsessed with any kind of pasta, any sauce… anything pasta, I love it. And rice too, to be fair. Do you see yourself combining being a chef with music at some point? Hopefully. If this all goes well and I can make a living from music, I’d love to either keep the restaurant I had with my family in Guadalajara or open a new one. I’d love to do both. I don’t know how realistic it is, but I’d love to. Could you see yourself on MasterChef like Juanjo Bona from OT23? Yeah, definitely. But first I want to get my own project off the ground and build some kind of path, even if it’s small, before going into reality shows. I want to be a music artist more than a TV personality. We already came from a reality show, so I’m not jumping into another one just yet. Maybe later. I’d also love Tu cara me suena. Looking ahead, what can we expect from you in the coming months? Being fully focused on releasing music and connecting with people. What’s coming is building my project, and that takes time. It’s one of the hardest parts. I’d also love to play festivals, get myself out there more, keep doing interviews, keep meeting people in the industry. There’s a lot of music coming and a lot of enthusiasm. Any dream collaborations? I’ve said it a thousand times, but I’d love to work with Pablo Alborán. The way he writes just gets me every time. The way he communicates, expresses himself… that’s my dream collaboration. After that, everything else would feel like bonus time, but that’s the main match. And long term, what kind of artist would you like to become? Wow… I’d love to be an artist known all over the world. But you never know. I’m going to do everything I can to get there. I’m all in, but we’ll see what happens. If you look back at the Guille who was just starting out, what do you think he’d say about you now? I think he’d be really proud. I’ve had to sacrifice a lot over a long time – things that didn’t seem useful at all, but I knew why I was doing them. He’d be proud, especially because younger me thought I’d never be able to do music. It felt impossible. But here we are. Finally, what would you like your fans to know about you that they might not yet? There’s something I’ve noticed. People automatically admire you just because they’ve seen you on TV after Operación Triunfo. I’d like them to know I’m really down-to-earth, I’m just like anyone else, and I’d love for them to treat me like a friend. Sometimes people almost put you on a pedestal, and it’s like, “No, I’m still the same person.” And also, I’m actually quite shy, even if it doesn’t seem like it. I’m really shy. How do you stay grounded and remain true to yourself? Three things. First, who I am. I wasn’t chasing fame. I just wanted to sing, and that hasn’t changed. Honestly, if I could sing, connect with people, and make music without showing my face, I’d probably choose that. Second, perspective. We’re nobody, really. We came out of a TV show, that’s it. It’s great that people like what you do, but right now, we’re nobody. And third, family. Family keeps me grounded, reminds me I’m not Jesus Christ, I’m still Guillermo. I’m still the same person, just someone who went on a show that people happened to watch. That’s what keeps me mentally in a good place, because otherwise it’d all be madness. Follow him for more @guilletoledano The post A Conversation With Guille Toledano: Finding a Voice of His Own appeared first on Fucking Young!.