About The Author
I’m an independent Musician/Songwriter based out of Los Angeles, Miami and in/out of NYC. I graduated from the University of Miami with my Master in Fine Arts and since have been performing music full time. My primary band is The Westar www.thewestar.com, but I also perform with many other acts such as Paulina Rubio, Innes Gravina, Monterosa, Merlinmoon, Tavern, and a few other projects. I also compose a lot of music for my band and for other artists such as Alejandra Alberti, Paola Beschin and others.
I’ve been playing music ever since I can remember. My first guitar came at the age of 8, but I didn’t start playing seriously till I was 13. When I was between the ages of 6 to 10, I used to visit my uncle’s house where he would stand me up near the piano and have me harmonize with him as we recited the entire Beatles’ Catalogue. I guess I would say that singing is my first instrument and I would also say that The Beatles were my first favorite band. My first full-bodied acoustic came one Christmas and changed my life. I would play for hours, mostly Beatles and Nirvana songs. By the time I got to High School, I was composing my own songs and starting bands. It seemed that in my area, If you wanted to play in a band it had to be either Punk Rock or Hardcore, so I went with Pop Punk. The first serious band I played in was called A-OK, maybe you’ve heard of us. We played a few Warped Tours and all around South Florida. Then something pretty amazing happened, I attended a Coldplay concert. I’d already been a huge fan of brit-pop, so I knew all the groups (supergrass, The Verve, Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, etc…) but I hadn’t dared play that music myself. I remember as I left the Coldplay show, I made a decision to never play music I didn’t truly enjoy. The next day I put together an Oasis-esque band called NOVA. Haha, I won’t bore you with my whole story, but that was the beginning of my musical career.
Live at The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood
The style of music that I listen to now ranges from Progressive Rock to Hillbilly Country, but here are a few of my favorite groups: The Band, Neil Young, My Morning Jacket, The Temptations, Wilco, Kings of Leon, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, and the list goes on…
Aside from music, I love to write. I worked as a copy-writer for a Marketing firm in Spokane, WA and since have dabbled in writing professionally. I’ve published several pieces of poetry throughout the years and although I haven’t pursued a career as a published writer, I will commit more time to that idea in the future. I had the pleasure to study under one of the nation’s most experimental poets, Walter K. Lew. He introduced me to many different styles and encouraged me to find a unique voice. Under his wing, I worked on multi-media arts, in-depth research on Surrealism in art, and honed my Cuban-American style of poetry.
On my blog I want to focus on American Music; where its going and where its been. I recently read a book called It Still Moves by Amanda Petrusich, which gives a lot of insight on the orgins of American Roots Music. I highly recommend you check it out! This leads me to say, that this blog is going to be all about music, literature, films, art that I’m experiencing and that I want to recommend to you, or simply get your opinion on.