I grew up in Albuquerque, NM, where I was extremely lucky to study fingerstyle and blues under William Brodsky, and then jazz under LA studio legend, Michael Anthony. I’ve been playing guitar from the age of 12, and have been playing bass for my reggae band, Eyes On Zion, for almost 1 year now. I also write original songs that I sing while playing guitar. I’ve been in love with the bass lately, however, and have taken a keen interest in jazz and fusion. I’m heavily inspired by Groundation, Weather Report, and Snarky Puppy. My band is based out of San Antonio, TX. You can find us on YouTube, and we have released one single, “Lifted,” so far via all streaming platforms.
Music is my favorite hedonic pleasure in life. I constantly sing to myself at work, and I am practically constantly listening at home. I’ve been in love with listening to rhythmic and melodically diverse music for as long as I can remember. I never really got into top-40 pop, but I sure as hell loved the Seattle grunge bands of the 90’s; especially Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots. Turns out both of their bassists are jazz heads. One of the first albums I ever bought was Bob Marley & The Wailers “Legend.” I fell in love instantly. I loved reggae long before I ever tried cannabis. To this day, the one drop is my favorite rhythm and I can’t get enough of reggae bass. Performing with my band is equally, if not more rewarding, than listening to a band I love play live. Feeling the energy given off by the crowd is ecstatic.
Personally, I’ve always dreamed of being a studio musician. I find that career more enticing than being a touring musician. However, another dream would be for my band to get signed by Easy Star Records.My goals are not entirely oriented towards music, either. I am also a strength althelete and a writer. I plan to open a gym that focuses on injury rehab and exercise therapy as an alternative option for recovering addicts, depression patients, and people with suicidal tendencies. This also compliments my dream to be a studio/ session bassist or guitarist. Ultimately, however, my dream is to continue writing, playing, and sharing music with my friends and community for as long as I’m alive.
Teaching people the power of altruism and selflessness, and that it is okay to desire wealth and self-satisfaction, as long as you’re sharing with your neighbors. That’s how we’ve made it this far as a species of civilization.
Bob Marley & The Wailers-Is This Love
311 Alice In Chains Bad Brains Alpha Blondy Bob Marley & The Wailers Cake Cultura Profetica Cream D’Angelo (primarily the records with Pino) Deftones The Dillinger Escape Plan The Doors Dub Trio Dubbest Easy Star All Stars The Fenicians Funky Knuckles Forq Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad The Gladiators Gov’t Mule The Grid (New Orleans) Groundation *** Hiatus Kaiyote Hirie Incubus Janes Addiction Jefferson Airplane Jidenna Jimi Hendrix John Mayer Trio Kid Cudi Led Zeppelin Lupe Fiasco Mark Lettieri Medrano, Martin, and Wood The Meters Michael Anthony Trio (Albuquerque) Modest Mouse Matisyahu Nas New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble Nx Worries Oddisee Passafire Periphery Primus Proof Of Life Rage Against The Machine Rebelution Red Hot Chili Peppers RX Bandits The San Antones Secret Circus The Smiths Snarky Puppy Soundgarden The Steady 45’s Steel Pulse Steely Dan Stevie Ray Vaughan Stone Temple Pilots Sublime A Tribe Called Quest Wu-Tang Clan
The rewarding feeling
Love One Another, and Love Yourself, in a healthy balance
Absolutely ecstatic. It’s almost as good as sex.
I think there is always room for improvement for every musician. The passion to get better should never die.
I think it’s a fantastic way to network and bring musicians together.
Practicing the simple things that feel tedious and boring, but I know that they are typically the most important things to practice.
Absolutely yes! I support by sharing on social media, showing up to gigs, and listening to their music on Spotify the entire way through, uninterrupted, in an attempt to get their songs on Discover Weekly.
Share, share, and share again. Talk to people. Send bars your songs. Send your music to college radio stations. Upload to YouTube.
Eyes On Zion (San Antonio, TX) The San Antones (San Antonio, TX) Saltwater Slide (San Antonio, TX) Capistrano (San Antonio, TX) Kaya Kotura (San Antonio, TX) Proof Of Life (Corpus Christi , TX) The River Tones (San Antonio, TX) Iriecation (Austin, TX) Satadaze (Houston, TX) Sharksuit (Albuquerque, NM) Dubbest (San Diego, CA)