Today we’d like to introduce you to Raul “Rulz” Martinez.
Raul, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in a family full of musicians and artists, so creatives were around me my whole life. However, unlike my brothers, I wasn’t any good at learning how to play an instrument so I settled on writing songs. I started out as a (Hip-hop) recording artist and that helped me understand the amount of time and investments it took in order to grow a brand. Unfortunately, it was difficult to keep purchasing original content due to the lack of funds, so I decided to teach myself how to produce my own records. Once I got the grasp of it, I realized how much more I enjoyed the “Behind the scenes” work rather than being the face of the music. Having already dabbled in so much that went into making a record, I decided to push myself once more and learn how to mix & master music. I instantly felt like that was what I was meant for all of this time. Best decision I’ve ever made. Now, I’m one of the guys in the city that can (single-handedly) take your record from point A to point B.
Has it been a smooth road?
Just like anything else you do in life, there is always ups and downs. If I’d have to say my two biggest obstacles, they would be Balance & Mental health. Balance, because apart from the music, I’m just a normal guy with a wife and kids. So, finding that balance between putting enough hours into my skill/business to properly grow and not missing any quality time with my family will always be my biggest battle. Mental health because as a creative, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR OWN BIGGEST SUPPORTER. If you don’t approach every day with a positive outlook, it will be nearly impossible to continue creating. So, it’s important to keep your mind right.
Tell us about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in?
I am a Producer/Mix Engineer and I specialize in the Hip-hop genre. Since I grew up around Rock and Cumbia bands my whole life I utilized the musicians that played in both of my brother’s bands in my productions now. So I have a nice rock influence in some of my works. I love collaborating with musicians. I recently put out an album titled “Crumbs” that is a perfect example of my style. I put together the music and featured some of my favorite artists from the city like Frank Rashad, Paris Pershun, and the late C-Struggs. It is available on all digital streaming platforms.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
It is probably the best time ever to be in the music industry if you’re from Dallas at the moment. Literally, everything is blossoming in our city and Dallas has always been a consumer-driven city, to begin with. People come here to do business. So, if you’re a hard worker and passionate about something, it shouldn’t be that hard to get in where you fit in.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 2146606083
- Email: Rulzproductions@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @Rulzm
- Twitter: @Rulzmusic
Image Credit:
@snapmeupservo, @the11thpower
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