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From global music stages to silent breakdowns behind closed doors, this week’s guest - Dr. Clarita De Quiroz - shares her powerful story of healing, identity and reinvention.
In this raw and moving conversation, Clarita opens up about the personal battles behind her success, including anxiety, chronic bulimia, childhood trauma, toxic relationships and the numbing effects of medication. She takes us through the mindset shifts that helped her rebuild from rock bottom, earn a law degree and doctorate and return to the stage sober, present and fully expressed.
This episode is a masterclass in resilience, emotional honesty and redefining success - from someone who’s lived through breakdowns and breakthroughs.
Whether you’re navigating burnout, starting over or struggling to trust your voice, this one will meet you where you are.
In this episode:
- Why Clarita left music (and what brought her back after a 10-year break)
- The truth about anxiety, antidepressants and emotional suppression
- How trauma shaped her inner world and the tools that rewired it
- Growing up with zero emotional support and learning to self-validate
- The moment she realised her environment was the problem
- From bulimia to boundaries: reclaiming her body, voice, and worth
- Why starting over isn’t failure and what success means now.
- 0:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
- 00:50 Clarita's Academic Journey
- 01:38 Life in Dubai and Business Ventures
- 02:24 Overcoming Personal Struggles
- 04:07 Impact of Medication on Mental Health
- 05:51 Music Career and Break
- 07:39 Childhood Trauma and Family Dynamics
- 13:28 Moving to Dubai and Personal Growth
- 15:57 Therapy and Healing
- 21:30 Setting Boundaries and Self-Worth
- 23:05 The Power of Starting Over
- 23:19 Embracing New Beginnings
- 23:49 The Journey of Self-Improvement
- 26:18 Redefining Success
- 28:29 Overcoming Personal Challenges
- 30:14 Finding Joy in Sobriety
- 31:34 Advice to My Younger Self
- 36:13 Defining Success and Happiness
- 38:34 Future Plans and Reflections
- 40:53 Key Takeaways and Conclusion
Connect with Calrita De Quiroz:
📸 Instagram
🌐 Website
🏨 Check out her Hotel here!
Clarita de Quiroz is an award-winning international recording artist, pianist, composer and entrepreneur, widely recognised as one of the Middle East’s most accomplished independent musicians.
She is the only artist in the United Arab Emirates to have achieved three number-one albums, including A New Key, which debuted at number one after a decade-long hiatus and marked her return as a classical-crossover pianist and vocalist. Her earlier albums, Speak.Delete.Repeat. and A New Key, showcase her distinctive fusion of classical piano, soul, and contemporary pop.
Clarita has performed on prestigious stages across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and has opened for global icons including Sir Elton John, Kelly Rowland, Gabrielle, and the Sugababes. In 2012, she was named “Best Singer of the UAE,” and she has since been featured in Ahlan! magazine’s Hot 100 list of influential figures in the region.
Beyond public concerts, she is frequently invited to perform at private royal engagements in the UAE, and recently received a formal award presented by members of the royal family - a rare honour that reflects both her artistic standing and professional reputation.
Alongside her music career, Clarita is also a highly accomplished academic. She holds a Master’s degree