Today we’d like to introduce you to Alejandro Rodriguez.
Alejandro, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In middle school, sitting last chair struggling to play my saxophone. It was rough, but my love for music was strong plus percussion was already full. Fast forward to high school and they decide to give the whole district iPads. Was it the best idea? Probably not, but it having GarageBand was the best thing that could’ve happened to me.
My best friend (Alex Torres a.k.a. AT) and I would spend days and nights making beats and send them to each other through our emails. It was my first taste of producing music and it only made me want more. I picked up piano from YouTube as well as guitar from my uncle Joe, who I would say along with his brother Dennis was are some of my biggest inspirations. My uncle Joe has been in plenty of bands and has experienced everything I’m aspiring to do. So, I usually go to him for any advice about music, life, and anything else really.
But the first time I actually started to record vocals on a track was with my brother Chance our senior year, we never pushed any of it so it kinda just lingered the SoundCloud world for anyone who stumbled on it. I was hesitant to show people in fear of judgement as well as not wanting to fall in the category of a SoundCloud artist. So, with no real motivation for making music, I just had snippets of me singing, playing my guitar, and piano trapped in my phone for me to see only. Until one day, I showed my friend my music plus the snippets of me playing, and to be honest, if it wasn’t for her I do not know if I would be writing this right now. Seeing her reaction to my stuff and all the things she had to say gave me that push I needed to just go out and do it. A few songs and couple thousand plays later, I ran in with Matt and everyone at OTGU. The rest after that is history in the making.
Has it been a smooth road?
For the most part, I would say yes. As for the rest of the parts, I would say it has definitely been a learning experience. From relationship to friendships as well as dealing with some anxiety-related setbacks, it hasn’t been the smoothest of rides. To compare, I would say it is like driving on the highway, then you start to steer out the lane a bit and hit those bumps near the shoulder lane. I know where I want to be and I am working hard to get there but I tend to get off track a bit, although my family and close friends tend to get me back where I need to be.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am part of a collective called On The Glow Up (OTGU). I am an artist and produce most of the music I make as well as contributing to some of the producing for the group. The thing I am most proud of is to see where the group and I started from and where we are at now, I believe it speaks numbers not only to me but to anyone who has been following us since day one.
As to what sets us aside, I think that’s for everyone to decide.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
It has the potential to be a great place to start. But for anyone that is just starting, I would say not to worry about where you are or what you wish you had. Work with what you got.
Contact Info:
- Email: rodriguez7alejandro@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capnalex/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nohrvrd?lang=en
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3nMDDgGFDGM5xqXTsaI4Sj?si=u2TYejTOS222wx39yYgJgg
Image Credit:
@kylecortez @daniela_wolfff @kumarvisuals @omega_sere
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