Who is Cali Navarro?

Calista Navarro, also known as Cali, is a singer-songwriter and storyteller from Elsa, Texas. Cali grew up with music all around her, from classic rock, country, and pop during family road trips, to the soundtracks she heard while watching Mexican soap operas on TV. It is no surprise that she developed a love for music early on. Performing and singing began at a young age, including in school assemblies, sparking a deep-rooted passion for music and a creative journey that continues to shape her unique sound. Since embarking on her musical journey, she has learned to play the ukulele and acoustic guitar, while also composing original songs. Her music draws inspiration from many genres and artists, including Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Janis Joplin, Etta James, among others.

In 2022, Cali appeared in the PBS broadcast of Reading Rainbow, where her original song “Reading is Magical” was featured on the live premiere event. Other notable performances include singing the national anthem at local sporting events, and appearing at showcases in Texas and across the country in New York City. 

Cali’s early acting experience sparked her creative expression, while her passion for writing led her to win several University Interscholastic League competitions in creative writing, oral reading, and storytelling. Her love for creative writing imbues her lyrics with a deeper layer of critical insight, and expands the range of emotional expression in her songwriting.

In her free time, Cali loves to read and play sports. She enjoys many styles of dance, including hip hop, jazz, contemporary, and lyrical. Faith and spiritual growth is also extremely important to Cali. Despite her busy schedule, she attends church regularly and is active within her parish as an altar server.

After releasing her debut EP in 2023, she followed up with the single “You and Me” in summer 2025. She most recently released “Without You” in January 2026 and is currently working on new original music.