Jay Wheeler is highlighting the deep influence of his grandmother, Clara Luz, as he expands his career beyond reggaeton and trap into new musical territory. The Puerto Rican singer says his abuela has been one of the most important people in his life, shaping both his values and his artistry. Wheeler describes her as energetic, joyful and deeply supportive, saying he feels lucky to still have her healthy and active in his life.
According to Wheeler, Clara Luz taught him respect, empathy and a strong faith in God. He says those lessons continue to guide him personally and professionally, and they are reflected in the way he treats fans and the media. Wheeler has previously said he prefers not to wear sunglasses because he wants people to see his eyes, a detail that aligns with the open, warm image he projects in interviews and in his music. His career has been marked by a romantic style that blends emotional storytelling with modern urbano sounds, especially on projects such as “Emociones” and “Emociones 1.5.”
Wheeler, who has become one of the voices associated with a new wave of romantiqueo, remains in high demand for songs that balance old-school crooner emotion with trap and reggaeton production. His recent release, “Musica Bueno Para Días Malos,” explores the highs and lows of love with a futuristic edge. But he recently stepped outside that lane with a cover of the classic song “Piel Canela,” a choice he says was inspired by his grandmother and approached with care out of respect for the original.
He explained that his goal was never to improve on the classic, only to create his own version of a song that reminds him of Clara Luz. The cover was part of a collaboration with McDonald’s, which is promoting its new Grandma McFlurry and pairing the campaign with a TikTok competition and fan-facing promotion. As part of the effort, Wheeler and his grandmother also filmed a commercial together, giving Clara Luz her own moment in the spotlight while connecting the campaign to the family bond that has long inspired the singer.
Wheeler says his grandmother always dreamed of becoming a singer and still loves to dance and perform whenever given the chance. He recalls childhood memories of the two of them singing and dancing together, and says those experiences helped spark his own love for music from a young age. That early encouragement, he says, played a major role in his path to stardom.
Now on tour, Wheeler is preparing for a performance at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden after Puerto Rican Weekend, where he plans to perform a mix of his biggest reggaeton and trap hits. He says he remains open to experimenting with other genres in the future, including rock and classic music, as long as he can bring his own style to them.
