Flight Artist of the Month: Mariana Galbani

From bedroom covers to a signature Flight Ukulele, Mariana Galbani has built a devoted online community by sharing her love of music with people around the world. Based in Peru, Mariana is a singer-songwriter, ukulele educator, and Flight Artist whose journey began at 16 with a ukulele she saved up for by selling homemade desserts at school.

What started as a way to learn her favorite songs quickly grew into a full musical career, one that has taken her from posting covers on social media to studying Music with a specialization in Music Business, releasing her own songs, performing on stage, and even contributing to a traditional Peruvian music project nominated for a Latin Grammy. In 2023, she became the first Latin American artist to receive a Flight signature ukulele, the Flight Sunflower Mariana Galbani Signature Ukulele.

We caught up with Mariana to talk about discovering the ukulele, her introspective songwriting style, her favorite Flight instrument, and the moments that have shaped her path as a musician and educator.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your musical background?

I first started playing piano as a child and loved singing at school performances. But everything changed when I got my first ukulele at 16. It inspired me to share my music on social media, which eventually led me to work with amazing brands like Flight Ukulele and pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Music. Today, I’m a singer-songwriter from Peru, and I’ve had the opportunity to work on amazing musical projects in my country and around the world.

How did you first discover the ukulele, and what drew you to it?

I think the first time I ever saw a ukulele was in Lilo & Stitch, but like many ukulele players of my generation, I truly fell in love with it after watching Grace VanderWaal play it on America’s Got Talent. Around that time, in Latin America, singer-songwriter Josean Log was also becoming well known for his ukulele songs, which inspired me even more. I wanted an instrument I could take anywhere, so I started saving money by selling homemade desserts at school until I could afford my first ukulele. It instantly became my favorite musical companion, allowing me to sing, play, and eventually write my own songs. Eight years later, it has taken me further than I ever imagined, opening doors to incredible opportunities and connecting me with people around the world.

How would you describe your style as an artist?

I would describe myself as an emotional and introspective artist. Music and the ukulele have been a huge part of discovering who I am, and songwriting has become my way of making sense of everything I feel. My songs are inspired by nature, nostalgia, and the little moments that often go unnoticed. Through my music, I hope people feel that experiencing emotions deeply isn’t something to hide or be ashamed of. I believe our sensitivity helps us become more self-aware, more empathetic, and more connected to the people around us. The ukulele has given me the confidence to keep exploring my own sound and telling those stories in the most honest way I can.

What role does music play in your life today?

Music plays almost every role in my life. It’s my career, I studied Music with a specialization in Music Business, but it’s also the way I connect with people, make lifelong friendships, express myself and continue learning from the incredible musical traditions of my country. At the same time, it’s my favorite hobby and my biggest passion. During one of the most difficult periods of my life, singing and playing my ukulele reminded me why I wanted to keep moving forward. That’s why I’m so grateful to be a musician. Today, I honestly can’t imagine my life without music, even though pursuing music in Peru can be challenging, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.

How has your journey as a musician evolved over time?

When I first picked up the ukulele, I simply wanted to learn my favorite songs. I never imagined it would become my career. Over the years, I’ve gone from posting covers on social media to studying Music, working with Flight Ukulele, writing and releasing my own songs, performing on stage, collaborating with incredible artists and brands, and even being part of a traditional Peruvian music project that received a Latin Grammy nomination.

But beyond all those opportunities, I think the biggest change has been personal. I started as someone who was very insecure about my voice and even the way I looked. Being surrounded by inspiring musicians encouraged me to keep learning, step outside my comfort zone, and trust myself more. Music has helped me become more confident, not only as an artist but also as a person, and today my biggest motivation is to share that passion with others through everything I create. I feel like I’m still evolving every day, and that’s one of the things I love most about this journey.

What inspires you when creating or performing music?

I’m inspired by the emotions that are often difficult to explain, the ones that make us feel nostalgic, vulnerable, or unsure of ourselves. Songwriting has become my way of understanding those feelings. Sometimes I don’t fully know what I’m feeling until I pick up my ukulele and start writing, so creating music often feels like discovering something new about myself. Nature has always been another huge source of inspiration. Since I was a child, I’ve had the opportunity to travel across different regions of Peru, and experiencing the country’s incredible landscapes has shaped the way I see the world. Those places inspire me not only to write music but also to represent them visually. For my first music video, we filmed in a hidden location in the desert of Ica, and it became one of my favorite creative experiences because it reflected that connection I feel with nature.I also love blending that real world with the imaginary one I carry inside me. Forests, flowers, mountains, and fairy tales have always sparked my imagination, and I enjoy creating a dreamy universe where fantasy coexists with honest human emotions. That’s what I hope people experience through my music: stories that feel magical, but are deeply rooted in real life.

I’m also constantly inspired by the musicians I’ve met along the way. I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with incredible artists, especially in Peru, and every conversation, performance, and shared experience has taught me something new.

How did you first connect with Flight Ukulele?

It all started through social media. I began sharing my very first ukulele videos in 2018, when I was 16 years old, simply because I loved playing and wanted to share my progress. I never imagined those videos would change my life. A year later, I connected with Peruke, who introduced me to Flight Ukulele, and I became a Flight Artist through collaborations. As time went on, Flight believed in my work, my passion, and the community we were building together. They invited me to become part of the team, and since then we’ve had the chance to work on countless projects. Looking back, it’s incredible to realize that what started as covers recorded in my bedroom became such an important part of my career. Flight didn’t just support me as an artist — they opened a whole new path for me. Through our work together, I discovered how much I love teaching and helping others experience the joy of making music. One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been seeing people from all over the world pick up a ukulele because of a video they watched online. Reading messages from people who tell me they learned their first song through one of my tutorials, or finally felt confident enough to start playing, is something I’ll never take for granted. The ukulele has connected me with thousands of people around the world, and that’s something I’ll always be grateful for. Beyond the collaborations and opportunities, Flight became part of my musical journey and helped me realize that teaching someone their very first chords can be just as meaningful as performing on stage. Seeing people discover music through the ukulele has become one of the most fulfilling parts of my career, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.

Do you have a favorite Flight model, and what do you like about it?

Of course, my signature model! It still feels surreal to say that. In 2023, I had the incredible opportunity to work alongside Frank, Juliana, and the Flight team to create the Flight Sunflower Mariana Galbani Signature Ukulele. Their trust, support, and belief in my work helped make one of my biggest dreams come true. Becoming the first Latin American artist to have a Flight signature model remains one of the greatest milestones of my career.
More than having my name on an instrument, it represented years of hard work, creativity, and believing in a dream that started when I was just a teenager saving money to buy my very first ukulele. Receiving my own signature model made me realize that everything I had been building through music, social media, and education had truly made an impact.
I wanted the instrument to reflect my artistic identity, so every detail feels personal and tells part of my story. I also genuinely love how comfortable it is to play and how warm and balanced it sounds, which makes it perfect for the kind of music I love to create.
One of the most meaningful parts of this experience has been seeing people not only in Peru but also in different countries choosing to play my signature ukulele. Knowing that someone is making music, writing songs, or beginning their own musical journey with an instrument that carries a little piece of my story is something I’ll never stop being grateful for. It’s a reminder that music has the power to connect stories across the world, and I’m incredibly proud that mine has become part of someone else’s.

Can you share a memorable moment from your musical journey?

It’s honestly very difficult to choose just one because each stage of my journey has meant something different to me.

One of the most emotional moments I’ve experienced as an artist was being nominated and selected to perform at a festival in Ayacucho. It was the first time I performed my original music in another city, and seeing people of all ages genuinely connect with my songs, sing along, and share their emotions with me reminded me why I started writing music in the first place. That experience gave me the confidence to keep composing and sharing my own stories.
Another experience that deeply impacted me was working alongside Lourdes Carhuas and being part of the team behind her music. Contributing to a traditional Peruvian music project that was nominated for a Latin Grammy opened my eyes to the richness of my country’s musical heritage. It inspired me to learn even more about Peruvian music and made me realize that my own artistic path with the ukulele can also become part of that story.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out on the ukulele?

Something that I would say is to take it easy and enjoy the process. I think nowadays we see a lot of people sharing their ukulele journeys, their progress, and the amazing things they can do, and sometimes it’s easy to compare ourselves and feel like we should be learning faster. But every person has their own path, and your ukulele journey should be something that makes you feel happy and proud. I always remember that when I started playing ukulele, it was simply because I wanted to connect with music in a different way, and that little instrument became a huge part of my life. Looking back, I realize that every small step mattered: learning my first chords, playing my first songs, and sharing music with other people. So my advice would be to be patient with yourself and celebrate every achievement, even the small ones. Don’t focus only on becoming “better” or playing the hardest songs — focus on enjoying the feeling of playing music, expressing yourself, and being part of this beautiful community. Everything takes practice, but the journey becomes much more meaningful when you allow yourself to enjoy every moment of it.