Spanish Singer Judeline on Being ‘the Only Atheist’ in Her Catholic School, Rosalía’s Support and Her Coachella Debut

Judeline is will make her debut at Coachella on Saturday, April 12

• Judeline opens up to PEOPLE her journey to music, growing up in a small town in southern Spain
• The Spanish star reveals her plans for her debut performance at Coachella on April 12
• Judeline shares the advice that fellow Spanish star Rosalía gave her

Judeline, the rising Spanish star known for her enchanting voice and ethereal tunes, is ready to be heard.

The “Zarcillos de Plata” singer, who will make her debut at Coachella on Saturday, April 12, had an unconventional upbringing in the seaside village of Caños de Meca in southern Spain. She was the only atheist in her Catholic school — but still had a deep curiosity for religion and spirituality. Now, it’s what influences her music.

“I love to use references to nature, or spirituality, or maybe religion,” Judeline, 22, tells PEOPLE. “I always go for something more poetic.”

Catholic school aside, Judeline discovered music that set her apart from the rest of her “small town,” which she says inhabited about “200 people,” watching MTV.

 “I discovered Usher and Alicia Keys in ‘My Boo,’ that song really blew my mind,” she says. “A lot of different music that anyone knew in my class and in my high school.”

Now, Judeline (born Lara Fernández Castrelo) has earned praises from global stars like Rosalía, Bad Bunny and Tainy — and she’s “very grateful” for that.

Below, the “JOROPO” singer opens up about her upbringing, views on religion and plans for Coachella.

PEOPLE: How did you discover your love for music and who were some of you inspirations?

Judeline: In my childhood I listened what my parents listened. Like [the] Beatles, The Police, a lot of flamenco music too, Venezuelan traditional music. I love The Doors, all these kind of groups. But [then] I started to discover different rappers [and] R&B, because I’m from a very, very, very small town. We are like 200 people. So, I only had the TV for the information of the world.

So, I remember I was always watching MTV, and I discovered Usher and Alicia Keys in “My Boo,” that song really blew my mind. And then Lady Gaga was a very big inspiration for me. I downloaded Vine, and I discovered a lot of different songs like, I discovered Playboi Carti, I discovered Travis Scott. A lot of different music that anyone knew in my class and in my high school.

PEOPLE: Do you remember the first song you wrote?

Judeline: Yeah. I feel like I was six years old. It was a song I [wrote for] my dog, because she was lost. It was called “Pequeño Lucero.” It means like Little Star. It’s kind of sad, the song, because I’m like, ‘Oh, where is she?’ Blah blah, blah.

PEOPLE: When you’re writing music, where do you draw inspiration?

Judeline:  I love to [take] a situation that happened to me, and romanticize it so much that it’s not true anymore. But I just get inspired by it. But it’s not the actual story. I have one of my songs that I talk about a guy that sells drugs, and blah, blah, blah, I fell in love with him. That’s not true at all, but it’s a little bit true. But I feel when I’m not saying the truth completely, I am more free to talk about whatever I want.

PEOPLE: So much of your music is focused on nature and spirituality, including your debut album Bodhiria, which means spiritual awakening. What is your relationship with these concepts?

Judeline: I went to a Catholic school when I was little, but my parents didn’t want me to feel obligated to be Catholic. So, I was the only atheist in the school, because it was an option, if you wanted to have religion class or not. And it was pretty weird, honestly, because I was always thinking, I felt like I was different from them. I was thinking a lot of God, if I was really believing in it, or I just wanted to, so I felt included in the group. It was kind of weird. But I always saw something very beautiful about the connection with God and faith. I don’t know if I’m Catholic, I don’t know what I am, but I really feel like I’m very connected to something.

And I pray in my own way. I don’t want to make it disrespectful, I just feel like I just found my own way to be spiritual and have faith, but it’s very difficult to put a title on it. So, I was just curious about why humans choose this to make life maybe easier, or maybe it’s a natural thing, to feel connected with something that sometimes cannot be explained. But I really love it.

PEOPLE: Are you into astrology?

Judeline: Not that much. I think it’s funny, and I loved when people tell me like, “Hey, maybe you are this and this because you’re Capricorn,” but I don’t know that much about it, honestly. I love to talk about it, but I will not say I’m an expert.

PEOPLE: You’re playing Coachella for the first time! How does that feel? And how will you bring your music to life onstage?

Judeline: It’s huge. When I was a teenager and I thought about famous people in the States or whatever, I always thought about this festival, which it was like the most crazy music, all the artists I wanted to see in my life were there. So, it’s such a dream, honestly. I can’t wait to go, I can’t wait to have fun.

We don’t want to do something crazy, crazy, because I think for the first time I’m introducing my music, I wanted to make it pure, and kind of basic for the people to understand what I do. But we are preparing everything with a lot of care, and love.

PEOPLE: You’ve said that Rosalía has shown a lot of support for your career. Has she given you any advice that has really resonated with you?

Judeline: She’s very chill, honestly. When I talked to her she was like, “You have a beautiful energy, you can just flow.” I feel like you can just trust yourself. She’s the sweetest, honestly. I really admire her. And she’s really trying to support upcoming artists in Spain. She also did it with Ralphie Choo, and with a lot of different artists around here. She’s the best.