1 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to mor Anita, a deep dive into the Latin 2 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: X experience. With mor Anita, we want to create a 3 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: community and a shared space with you while sharing knowledge 4 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: and inspiration. This show is about celebrating our culture with 5 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: guests who exemplify the best of us. I'm Darylene Gastillo 6 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: Ethane Vita. Hey everyone, as we continue to celebrate Black 7 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: History Month, Moanita, I want to thank you for listening 8 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: to our show. As I've said before, but it bears repeating, 9 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: we hear at Moranita are determined to celebrate this beautiful 10 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: skin of ours, not only this month, but all year round. 11 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: My guest today is Javier go Alongne. You probably recognize 12 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: that name from The Voice since he was the winner 13 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 1: of the first season. Today Javier joined me and we 14 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: talk about the journey before and after The Voice, the 15 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: ups and downs of music business, and what it's like 16 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: being Afro Latino in a music business that doesn't always 17 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: value diversity. Javier, Welcome to more Anita. My man. Wow, 18 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: it's been some time. It has been It has been 19 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: too long, um, but there's been a pandemic in the 20 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 1: middle of of the Between now and the last time 21 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: we saw each other. So I guess it's understandable. But 22 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: it is great to see you for sure. Good to 23 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: see you as well. And so I'm just really happy 24 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 1: to have you like here in this moment and where 25 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: we are right now. Beautiful. It's a beautiful thing. It 26 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: is a beautiful thing. It is a beautiful thing. It's 27 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: great to see you. So let's get started. Let's go 28 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: first off, let's let's go way back. Let's go way back, 29 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: way back. Let's go. I admire you so much, like 30 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: as a artist and as a musician and all those 31 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: factors and all those things, but like I wantn't know 32 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: about you, like, actually tell me about how did this 33 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: How did you catch the bug? How did this happen? 34 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 1: How did this thing for you? But like where are 35 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: you from originally? And how did music sheep you? That 36 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: could be a really long answer, but I'll try to 37 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: give you the cliff notes. Um. But basically, I'm really 38 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:25,839 Speaker 1: happy we have an hour. This is true. This is true. UM. 39 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: So you know I was born and raised in Connecticut. Um. 40 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: I grew up in Strafford, Connecticut, uh to a Puerto 41 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: Rican mom and a Dominican father. And my father was 42 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: in the radio business. So growing up, the radio was 43 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 1: always on, Like what I mean always, I mean always, 44 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 1: Um when he was at the radio station, my mom 45 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: I was listening to him on the radio, and when 46 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: he was home, he wanted to hear what was going 47 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: on at the radio station before you know, you know, um, 48 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: while he was while he was away. So he always 49 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: wanted to kind of get a you know, a feel 50 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: for for what was happening. And we could we weren't 51 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: allowed to touch to the radio. So it was it 52 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: was always on. Um from the moment I woke up 53 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: to the moment I went asleep. The background noise of 54 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: my my childhood was was Spanish, you know, was Latino 55 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: music because um, my dad was you know, he he 56 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 1: was a radio announcer for a little while and then 57 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: he owned he in eighty nine, he ended up partnering 58 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: with some other folks and bought a radio station, a 59 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: small a m radio station, and then he ended up 60 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: buying out his his partners and he became the first 61 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: Dominican um radio station owner in the country, which which 62 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: I think was pretty pretty awesome. Um he so yeah, Um. 63 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: So that's so that was the the background of background, 64 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: you know, noise of my childhood was the radio. And 65 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: I would you know, run around the house, you know, 66 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: mimicking the things that I here. You know. I was 67 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: always like a a ballad guy. So I would hear 68 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: like the this the sweet songs, and I would you know, 69 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: like the Kose Feliciano songs, and I would like sing 70 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 1: like the last the last notes if it was like 71 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: like a Camilo sisto or or um I mean just 72 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,840 Speaker 1: I mean everyone, I mean, anybody that that's saying that's 73 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: saying slow, you know, beautiful, you know, long notes at 74 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 1: the ends of their songs. I was, I was all 75 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: in um. So yeah, So that's kind of how how 76 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: it started. And uh, I went, um, you know, years 77 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: and years doing you know, singing in the house. Never 78 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: really wanted to sing in front of anybody else until 79 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:39,839 Speaker 1: my mom was like, you should sing out, you should 80 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:42,479 Speaker 1: go do some other things, you know, And in like 81 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: around sixth grade, like did you have some like stage 82 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: fright or big time? I didn't, you know, I like 83 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: to sing at home. I didn't really think about singing 84 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: out until like I got into you know, I was 85 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: doing some like summer programs they were doing like these 86 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: little drama performances like at the end, and my mom 87 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: wanted me to do them, and I'm like, I'm not. 88 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: I don't I don't want. I don't want to put 89 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: myself out there and sing in front of people and 90 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 1: draw attention to myself. Um. So I didn't want to 91 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: do them. And then eventually, you know, she got to 92 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: the point where she was like, you know, I really 93 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: want you to go and do this. I'm like, Mom, 94 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: I don't want to do She said, I'll give you 95 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: five dollars if you do it. And I said, where 96 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: do I have to go? Where? Where? Listen to bribing? 97 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: It works because when I got into middle school, I 98 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: had a uh my first day of school. I was 99 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 1: in a new school. I had going to to like 100 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 1: Catholic school before this, and then I'm my first year 101 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: in public school and I'm nervous, I know, literally like 102 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: one person, and I end up, you know, I end 103 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: up in choir class the first day of school and 104 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: the teacher hears me and she asked me to stay 105 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: after class, um because she heard me singing during warmups 106 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: or whatever, and she says, do you sing at home? 107 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: You have a really nice voice. I said, Um, I said, 108 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: thank you. I, you know, I just you know, I 109 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 1: play the guitar at home, you know, started writing some 110 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: songs and and uh and stuff like that, and she's like, 111 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: what kind of songs? This was when I was in 112 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,720 Speaker 1: I just got into seventh grade, so I was like twelve. 113 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: Um yeah, it was twelve or so. And she she says, 114 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 1: can you bring your guitar to school tomorrow? So sure, 115 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: So I bring my guitar to school the next day 116 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: and uh, she had me have to come see her 117 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: before home room. So I went to Uh, I went 118 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: to go see her and I sit down and I 119 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: play her this song. It was like Heaven by Warren. 120 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: It was like some hair hair band like song, but 121 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: it was about and I loved it. And that's just 122 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: kind of what was on the radio at the time. 123 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: So um so yeah. So I sang that for her 124 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: and she was like, I love that. Her name was 125 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: Mrs Patchina. She she was very influential in my life. Um, 126 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 1: she said, I love that. Listen, I'm gonna give you 127 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: a pass and you're gonna come back and sing that 128 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 1: song for the eighth grade girls choir at the end 129 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: of the day. They're gonna love it. And I instantly 130 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: wanted to throw up. I was like, there is no 131 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: way that I'm going to sing in front of all 132 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:12,679 Speaker 1: of these girls that I've been seeing in the hallway 133 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 1: for the last day. She just wanted to kind of 134 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: get me to to start, you know, to perform in 135 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: front of She just thought that they would like it, 136 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: and I was like no, no, no, no, no. I 137 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: I literally I felt so sick. I came up with 138 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: a plan that I was going to get out of 139 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: school and I was going to go home and then 140 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: that way I couldn't sing. So I went to the 141 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: nurses office and I told her how horrible I felt 142 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: and that I felt like I was going to throw up, 143 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: but which was true. And um she ended up, you know, 144 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: believing me enough to call my mom and tell her 145 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: to come and pick me up. And as she's on 146 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: the phone with my mom that you can't make this up. 147 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: As she's on the phone with my mom, Miss bad 148 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: Ms Batacino walks by the office and she sees me 149 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: and she's like, what's going on? So she opens this 150 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: She's like, it's everything okay, And I was like, yeah, 151 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: I'm going home because I don't feel good. She said, 152 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,119 Speaker 1: oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no, she said. 153 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: She she she asked the nurse to give her the 154 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: phone and she got on the phone with my mom 155 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: and she said, Mrs Cologne, do not come pick up 156 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: your son. Um. He is just a little nervous because 157 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: I asked him to do something at the end of 158 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: the day today that he is not wanting to do, 159 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: but he I want him to do because it's gonna 160 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: be good for him. And he's just gonna sing a 161 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: song for the girls class, and he doesn't want to 162 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: do it. So that's why he's asking you to come 163 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: get him. But do not come get him. He's gonna 164 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 1: be fine. Call out, called me out. And I was like, 165 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: damn it, um so I so that plan failed horribly 166 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 1: and I ended up singing before the girls class and 167 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: I sing this song and and they actually and they 168 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 1: loved it. And that was the first time that I 169 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: had really, like I had never sung in front of 170 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: anybody other like other than my family, like hearing me 171 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: in my room and even my family, like I never 172 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:04,719 Speaker 1: like brought them to the living room so that I 173 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: could like play them a song, you know, I mean, 174 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 1: like no one had ever heard me do anything really 175 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: until then so that was like my first kind of 176 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: I was thrown into into the lions then there um 177 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 1: the second day of school, but you know, it was 178 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: that was the first kind of validation that I that 179 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: I got. I didn't know that I was really good 180 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: at it or anything. I just knew that I liked 181 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: to do it. And so yeah, that was the first 182 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:35,080 Speaker 1: time I got. You know, I was kind of forced 183 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: to to sing in front of my peers. And from 184 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: there Miss Bad wouldn't stop. She was like, I know 185 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: how nervous this makes you, so I'm gonna make you 186 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: do it all the time. She said. The next thing 187 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: you're gonna do is you're gonna sing the national anthem 188 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: in you know, because they played the national anthem every 189 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: morning in the beginning of school. Um. She said, well, 190 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 1: instead of playing the national anthem, I talked to the 191 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: to the office and you're gonna sing it on the 192 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: on the microphone instead. And I was like, what do 193 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: you No, no, no, no, no, no no, no no no, 194 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: I can't. So literally, for like two weeks straight, every 195 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: morning I sang the national anthem in the morning um 196 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 1: of of our of our school, which was seventh and 197 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:21,079 Speaker 1: eighth graders and um, I come on consistent gig, insistent gig, 198 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:25,439 Speaker 1: non paying, but I got a great experience. It's a 199 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: great network. You gotta start somewhere. You gotta start somewhere. 200 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: You gotta start somewhere. Yeah, I just love people just 201 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: like see you going on stage and they see you 202 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 1: do the thing and see you sing, and it's like 203 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: just so amazing to hear the thing that inspired and 204 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:55,719 Speaker 1: started it, like really ignited it. So how did this 205 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: lead into you sharing your gifts with the world. It's 206 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: fun anything is uh. So after so I went to college. 207 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: So after going into you know, from middle school, went 208 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 1: into high school. I still loved music. I was, you know, 209 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:10,680 Speaker 1: the president of the choir. I did you know, all 210 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: the musicals and all the things that I could possibly 211 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 1: do because I just loved it. Um ended up going 212 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:21,079 Speaker 1: to the Heart School of Music, which is here in 213 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: in Connecticut, which I'm now actually you know, I have 214 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: some private students there right now because that I found. 215 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: Ended up kind of teaming up with them during the pandemic, 216 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: which was awesome. So it kind of come full circle. 217 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 1: But that's another thing we can talk about. UM. So 218 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: I ended up I was I was just gonna say, 219 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: I'm gonna I'm gonna stop there for a second, but 220 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: I was just gonna say, that's like, that's incredible. I mean, 221 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 1: that's like you're giving back your gifts. Yes, and and 222 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: you know what, and I and I couldn't be happier 223 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: about it because you know, my degree was in music 224 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 1: education when I you know, when I went there, and 225 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: I always knew, you know, because of my experience with 226 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:01,680 Speaker 1: Miss Bad and because of my experience with my high 227 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: school um band enquired teacher Jim Miller. Um, those are 228 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: folks who inspired me, like I wouldn't be doing what 229 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: I am doing now had it not been for them. 230 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: And I I you know, if I wasn't singing and 231 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: performing uh and traveling um and recording, that's what I 232 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:21,199 Speaker 1: would That's what I would want to do. I'd want 233 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 1: to be be able to inspire kids like I was 234 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 1: inspired by them, you know. I mean, Mispatch changed my life. 235 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,320 Speaker 1: You know, there's no doubt, there's no doubt about it. 236 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: So um, the influences she had on me, UM, I 237 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: feel like it's you know that I could I could 238 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 1: hopefully have that on on others as well. After high school, 239 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: went to the Hard School of Music and then I 240 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: got my degree in music kid UM. I was in 241 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: my last year of school. I was in a band. 242 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: We've joined a band UM. My good friend who's who's 243 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 1: not my good friend's name was Eric kras No. He's 244 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: the guitarist for UH for Soul Live. He heard us 245 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: opening for them, and I had to leave right away 246 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: because I had student teaching the next day, be up 247 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: at like five in the morning. And this was a 248 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: gig that there's like eight of us, and we were 249 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 1: getting paid a hundred dollars, like like a total. So 250 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: I wasn't gonna stick around for my my you know whatever, 251 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: ten dollars, so, you know, twelve fourteen dollars whatever was 252 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: that I was gonna get. So I said, let me, UM, 253 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:18,559 Speaker 1: let me run. So I ran and I didn't get 254 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: to talk to anybody afterwards. But he got my number 255 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: from UH, from my my keyboard player, and they ended 256 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 1: up sending my my name to UM. A guy named 257 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: Derek Chucks who is a UH guitarists and he had 258 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: been touring for a whole long time, but he was 259 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:39,319 Speaker 1: looking for a new singer and Eric Krasno sent my 260 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 1: name over said hey, this guy just opened for us, 261 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: and I think he would be really cool for you guys. 262 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:44,959 Speaker 1: You should check them out. So they called me and said, hey, 263 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 1: we'd like to, you know, send you some music. See 264 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 1: what you think, and you know, maybe we can you know, 265 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: we can link up and and you know, if you 266 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: guys jell, you know, maybe you know, let's see we 267 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: see you know, if you get you know, see what happens. 268 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: So I met up with Derek, and you know, I 269 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: ended up, uh you know, doing a like an audition 270 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: so to speak, for them in at the Bowery Ballroom 271 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 1: in New York. Um, we did. They were doing a 272 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 1: show there and they had me come in and sing 273 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:13,840 Speaker 1: a couple of songs, and the next morning, over breakfast, 274 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: they you know, offered me the gig. Is said, you 275 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: want to be our our lead singer. And I said, 276 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: I'm sure. So I that was my first gig right 277 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: out of college. This happened, uh um, I mean I 278 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: graduated in May and I was doing the first gig 279 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: with them in August. August six in Philadelphia was my 280 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: my first gig with them, and that was and that 281 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: was it. And I was with them for for two years. Um. 282 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: And there was just like touring. Touring. The first year 283 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 1: with them, I did a hundred and eighties shows. Um. 284 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: In the first year, it was it was a lot 285 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: of traveling. Um. It was two d and twenty two 286 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: days of travel in a hundred and a hundred and 287 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: eighties shows. I remember because I logged every single thing. 288 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 1: I have a book from back then that I kind 289 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: of It was my first tour, you know, so I 290 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 1: was like super exciting, but um, I had to leave them. 291 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: And they kept going for a little while, but then 292 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: they ended up, you know, going in different different ways. 293 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 1: And uh. The drummer ended up going to California and 294 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: he was working on project with some other producer. And 295 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: this producer they were working on a song with a 296 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: male vocalist and he said, Hey, this this guy is 297 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 1: really good. But you should listen to my friend Javier. 298 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 1: You know, here's one of our demos that we did, 299 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: you know, in our band. But you should call him 300 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: if you ever need any you know, vocals or anything. 301 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 1: And the guy his name was Kevin Cloud. He liked 302 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: what he heard and he said he called me and 303 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 1: and I ended up going. Um, I ended up going 304 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: to to meet him and I actually met him um 305 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: on September of two thousand one, which was the day 306 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: before nine eleven. UM. And I remember I was supposed 307 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: to meet him in the morning of nine eleven, but 308 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: with all of what that wasn't going on, we didn't 309 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: end up meeting until until the next the next day. UM. 310 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: But it was yeah so um so yeah, so I 311 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 1: I ended up meeting Kevin. He ended up getting me 312 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: my uh. He introduced me to a couple other producers, 313 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: Evan Rodgers and Carl Sturkin out of New York, who 314 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: ended up um getting me my first record deal with 315 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: Capitol Records. And that was when I ended up um 316 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: leaving the Derek Chuck's Band to pursue my own solo career. 317 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: Um after being with Derek for I think a year 318 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: in eight eight or nine months or so. UM. So 319 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: I'm I'm so curious, where does how how and where 320 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: does the voice fit into all of this? So the 321 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 1: voice happens later. UM. So this is all before the voice, 322 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: and it's something that because people like are like, oh wow, 323 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 1: American Idol, the voice like it's just something that like 324 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: you audition for like or this. But it's like it 325 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 1: seems like I mean you were already in the game. 326 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,719 Speaker 1: You were already doing your thing. You were already like 327 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 1: in the room with the right people and figuring out 328 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: your path in the music industry. And also like something 329 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: that I wanna um put out there is like music 330 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: industry is weird. It's like an ongoing journey and like 331 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: it never ends. Um. So I'm so curious for you, 332 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 1: Like why the voice. Um, you obviously were like signing 333 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: this deal. You were like in the room with the 334 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: the the white people. It was it was it very white, 335 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,919 Speaker 1: was very white. It was it was. Yes, we we 336 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 1: did have some awesome color at Capitoy had some some folks. 337 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:07,160 Speaker 1: But but I mean the people that were making the decisions, 338 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: you know, this is you would not have been incorrect 339 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: by saying that. But so I'm just I'm curious for you. Um. 340 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 1: I think somebody hearing your journey now is like, well, okay, 341 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: well then you just signed with Capitol Records and like 342 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 1: it sounds like this is going well, Um, how did 343 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 1: the voice play into all of that? What was that 344 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: decision making for you? So what happened with Capitol Records 345 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: was so I I signed with them. They promised me 346 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 1: the moon and the stars UM they always do UM. 347 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: And and with the way that it happened was that 348 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 1: because I had so the Evan, Evan and Carl who 349 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: are with Kevin and my producers. UM, we worked on 350 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,399 Speaker 1: a song and that helped me, you know, get some 351 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: interest but from different labels through our the lawyer that 352 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: that that I had then and I still have UM. 353 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 1: But you know, I ended up getting like five different 354 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:05,400 Speaker 1: offers from five different record labels UM to sign with. 355 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: It was like a bidding war. City was just like 356 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:11,399 Speaker 1: the best possible situation you can possibly have. And I 357 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 1: got to choose Capital because of all the I chose 358 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: them because of all the things that they were promising, 359 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: and you know, they you know, they just had a 360 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 1: better package deal UM than you know, we were able 361 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: to kind of basically cater the the contract a little 362 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: bit more because there was more people interested, you know. 363 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 1: So I chose them and then you know, things and unfortunately, 364 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 1: you know, didn't go the way we wanted them to go. 365 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 1: I ended up releasing a couple of albums with them, 366 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: but they weren't UM, they just weren't promoted, They weren't 367 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 1: marketed as well as as we would have liked them. 368 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: To be. There were some mistakes made, and um, you know, 369 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 1: I ended up getting dropped in two thousand seven, so 370 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: this was two thousand two. I got signed, I got 371 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: dropped and started in two thousand and six, and um, 372 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,880 Speaker 1: you know, from two thousand six to two thousand eleven, 373 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 1: I was trying to find a new deal. I went 374 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 1: back to those other four record labels that wanted to 375 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: sign me, you know in that meeting deal being more situation, 376 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: but none of them wanted to sign me after having 377 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: two albums that came out that didn't do as well 378 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:16,199 Speaker 1: as we all were hoping that they would. So I 379 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:19,199 Speaker 1: ended up uh you know, just you know, we were 380 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: trying to look looking at smaller labels, looking at you know, 381 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: trying to reinvent myself. I was trying to come up with, 382 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: you know, anything, and uh and you know that I 383 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 1: could possibly to get a new to get a new deal, 384 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:33,800 Speaker 1: but nothing, nothing was working. Um I had I remember 385 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: I did a showcase at Joe's pub for um Blue 386 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: Note Records when when Bruce Lanvau was still alive, and um, 387 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 1: Bruce l Vall found Nora Jones and and um, he 388 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:49,399 Speaker 1: just he was he just was an iconic record label, 389 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: uh genius UM, and I was hoping that that they 390 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 1: would sign me, but they ended up not They ended 391 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 1: up passing after you know, after a few days after 392 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 1: they decided to pass, And I just thought that that 393 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:02,880 Speaker 1: was like the dagger in my career. And at that time, 394 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 1: I've got my wife and I've got my two kids, 395 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: my girls that are like, you know, almost two and 396 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:11,440 Speaker 1: almost four. I'm so like, how do you keep pushing? 397 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 1: Like how how in that moment like that? That's something 398 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:18,679 Speaker 1: about the music industry that's always like, it's very it's 399 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: sometimes it can feel defeating, and like it can feel 400 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: like not even defeating, but like um, like you're you're 401 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 1: like swimming against the waves. Yeah. No, sometimes it feels 402 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:33,679 Speaker 1: hopeless that there's no no doubt about it. Um. You know, 403 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:37,439 Speaker 1: I had many conversations with my wife about this. Um 404 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: you know, maybe it's time, you know, we'd have that conversation. 405 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: Then maybe it's time to do something else, you know, 406 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 1: maybe it's time to um to get a real job, 407 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:49,679 Speaker 1: so you know, so to speak. But I you know, 408 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:54,160 Speaker 1: I know, I know and never said that, she never 409 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:56,640 Speaker 1: said those words. But but that's kind of where where 410 00:21:56,680 --> 00:22:00,679 Speaker 1: the conversation you know would would eventually go because you know, 411 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: there were there were moments where we would be struggling, 412 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: and you know, I would I would find myself without gigs. 413 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 1: There was some time like you know, after the Capitol 414 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: Records deal that I was I was trying to ride 415 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 1: that wave as long as I could, and I was 416 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: able to do some some some cool things. But um, 417 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:17,880 Speaker 1: but it was kind of you know, five years later, 418 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 1: you know, the options we're getting fewer and further between. 419 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 1: So UM, I knew that something needed to happen. And uh, 420 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: you know, beginning of two thousand eleven, I was like, okay, 421 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: so you know, I better start setting myself up to 422 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 1: you know, basically be teaching by you know, by the 423 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: fall if uh, you know, if I'm you know, I 424 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,720 Speaker 1: gotta maybe start getting my stuff together and start seeing 425 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 1: if I can find it, you know, a teaching job 426 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: because the music thing is not paying, you know anymore. 427 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: I'm not getting the gigs that I need to get 428 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,360 Speaker 1: and and and you know, it was always a day 429 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:55,120 Speaker 1: to day, a year or a year like you never know, 430 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 1: you know what what your next year is gonna look like. Uh, 431 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:03,120 Speaker 1: And it was very daunting at at the time. So Um, 432 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 1: that's when, you know, let's mid a mid January. I 433 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: get it an email from my manager saying, hey, you know, 434 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 1: and he says, uh, he says, hey, check this out. 435 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 1: And it was a forward from um Universal Republic Records 436 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:19,159 Speaker 1: that they said, they said, they're teaming up with this 437 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:24,119 Speaker 1: new show that's coming from Holland and it's called The Voice. 438 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 1: And they did it in Holland and it was you know, 439 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 1: number one, you know, ratings of any TV show they've had, 440 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: and it beat the Dutch Idol and the Dutch X 441 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,440 Speaker 1: Factor and they're bringing it to the US and they're 442 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,479 Speaker 1: looking for folks. Um, you know, they're they're you know, 443 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: kind of broadcasting their you know that they're auditioning for things. 444 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 1: And um, you know, if you like, you know, because 445 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:51,160 Speaker 1: you have a you know, when you have a manager, 446 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 1: you know, they can set up they set up like 447 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 1: private auditions for you to you know, to manage. You 448 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: don't have to do the cattle call auditions, so to speak. 449 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: And I it out and they had some video of 450 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,359 Speaker 1: the four chairs turning around when people were singing and stuff, 451 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:07,400 Speaker 1: and I thought it was it seemed cool, but I 452 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:10,239 Speaker 1: was like, it's not. I don't think it's you know, 453 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: it's not the thing. I don't think it's the thing 454 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:15,160 Speaker 1: for me. I'm like, I'm not a TV show guy. 455 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,919 Speaker 1: I didn't want to do it. Um, but uh, you know, 456 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,360 Speaker 1: my my manager was like, you should. You should totally 457 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:23,120 Speaker 1: do it. Listen, I'm gonna get you an audition time. 458 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: So just you're audition time is at eleven thirty on Saturday, 459 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 1: you know, um, whatever day. And I was like, I'm not, man, 460 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:33,919 Speaker 1: I don't think i'm gonna I'm not gonna do it. 461 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 1: And he's like, well, just you know, just think about it. 462 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 1: So I thought about it, and you know, a couple 463 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: days later, I said, listen, I'm not I'm not gonna 464 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: do it. So just call them and tell them that 465 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna go because I tell them that I 466 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:46,439 Speaker 1: can't make it because I don't want to you know, 467 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 1: burn a bridge and like I end up not showing 468 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:50,680 Speaker 1: up for an audition and then that would make them 469 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:53,199 Speaker 1: upset that I didn't show up. So please just let 470 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: them know that I can't. I'm just not going to 471 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 1: be able to make it. And uh. In that in 472 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 1: between that time, I had told my my family, had 473 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:01,480 Speaker 1: told some friend ends I had told some folks about 474 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:04,400 Speaker 1: this possible opportunity, and they were all saying, oh my god, 475 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 1: how do you have to do this thing? And I'm like, no, 476 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,479 Speaker 1: I don't. I don't want to do this thing. I 477 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 1: just I don't. I just wasn't feeling you were out 478 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 1: here back in the nurse's office. That's right, that's right. 479 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 1: They were telling me, telling me I should do it, 480 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: and I'm like, no, I don't. I don't think I 481 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: should do it, but I was. I was kind of 482 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,439 Speaker 1: putting the feelers out. And then I had talked to 483 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:27,679 Speaker 1: my brother about it. My brother's four, four years older, um, 484 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 1: and I talked to him about it, and he said that, uh, 485 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: you know, so you know, he he definitely thought I 486 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 1: should do it. But then, you know, two days before 487 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:39,200 Speaker 1: the audition, he says, you know, he calls me and 488 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:40,639 Speaker 1: he said, say, so you're gonna do that audition. I 489 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: said non, No, I'm not, I'm not going. And he 490 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 1: was really quiet on the phone, and I'm like, oh, 491 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:47,920 Speaker 1: and uh, he says to me. The next thing he 492 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:50,239 Speaker 1: said to me was changed my mind. He said, how 493 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: your what do you have going on in your career 494 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 1: right now where you feel like you can miss this opportunity, 495 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 1: and I was like, touche. So I said, you know what, 496 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:01,600 Speaker 1: You're right I've got nothing to lose, I guess by 497 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 1: by checking this thing out. UM, so let me okay, 498 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 1: let me see if I can get my audition spot time, 499 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:11,119 Speaker 1: you know whatever back. So I don't know with him, 500 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 1: and I called my my agent manager and I said, hey, 501 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:18,199 Speaker 1: did you cancel that audition? He said, oh, man, I 502 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 1: completely forgot. I'm gonna call him right now. And I said, 503 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:24,679 Speaker 1: you know what, don't cancel it. I'm gonna go. And 504 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,920 Speaker 1: he said, oh, okay, great, and I went. It was 505 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,639 Speaker 1: in New York UM, and I think it was s 506 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 1: I R in New York UH, and I auditioned. They 507 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 1: asked me to go to UM. Actually they didn't ask 508 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:40,480 Speaker 1: me once once I auditioned. They just gave me a 509 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 1: piece of paper that said you may be contacted about 510 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 1: going to the next level. But if you didn't get that, 511 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 1: that meant you definitely weren't going tonight. So I guess 512 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:52,400 Speaker 1: there was a maybe that I was. There's a maybe, 513 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:53,879 Speaker 1: but there's nothing definite that I was going to go 514 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: to the next round or whatever. But then like a 515 00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 1: week later they reached out and said, um, we want 516 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: you to go to California and we want you to 517 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: do you know, uh, go to the to the next 518 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:10,400 Speaker 1: part of the process. And I was like, okay, um, 519 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:14,000 Speaker 1: and you know, I guess there's I mean, there's a 520 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 1: longer story in there about how I even ended up 521 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:20,160 Speaker 1: not almost not doing it after that, but um, it's 522 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 1: I finally eventually ended up auditioning. I ended up going 523 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 1: to the California part of the audition where there was 524 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: like five or six or seven different auditions before you 525 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 1: even get onto the television show. And then UM got 526 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 1: on the show and it was you know, nerve wracking 527 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 1: the entire time, but I was able to and then 528 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: you win. Then you went and I did spoilers, and 529 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 1: then you won the voice spoiler earlier guys, he wins 530 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 1: the voice. He's the first voice winner. People don't really 531 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:01,399 Speaker 1: get what we do because they're like, the rejection is 532 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:05,200 Speaker 1: something that's really hard. You have to be a certain 533 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:08,200 Speaker 1: kind of person. Um, you have to really love what 534 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 1: we do, uh, in order to kind of take the 535 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:14,439 Speaker 1: rejection that that we that we take in. You know, 536 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:16,959 Speaker 1: I'm not saying feel bad for us, because you know, 537 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 1: I mean if we're lucky enough. Feel feel bad, feel 538 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:23,639 Speaker 1: bad everybody, because I mean, listen, if we get to do, 539 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 1: if we you know, ultimately get to do what we 540 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:27,359 Speaker 1: get to do. I'm I mean, I'm I consider myself 541 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:31,639 Speaker 1: blessed every day. UM. And the rejection you know, in 542 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 1: the long run was worth it. But going through it 543 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 1: is not um, it's not fun. And as far as 544 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 1: the Voice goes, UM, I mean, it was a great experience. UM. 545 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: I at the end, I wish things you know, could 546 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:45,720 Speaker 1: have gone you know a little better if I wish 547 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 1: that there were certain things that were done that that 548 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 1: weren't done. I mean, I remember being on the red 549 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:53,800 Speaker 1: carpet um the day, the night that I won the Voice, 550 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: and and someone said to me, you know, man, I'm 551 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:02,840 Speaker 1: so happy for you. You're your life is changed forever. UM. 552 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 1: You know, you'll never um, you'll never have to worry 553 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,880 Speaker 1: about anything ever again. And I was like, man, this 554 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 1: person knows nothing about the record industry, because if you're 555 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 1: telling me that, you know. And but that was me 556 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 1: having already been through two two albums and a record 557 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:23,160 Speaker 1: deal and knowing what was coming, you know, after the 558 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 1: show ended, and knowing that the record deal and I 559 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 1: was gonna have to deal with record labels and you know, 560 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:30,239 Speaker 1: all of the stuff that is entailing, and a lot 561 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 1: of it that you don't have necessarily a say about 562 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 1: in your own career. So so I'm curious, did you 563 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: find yourself in like some cultural struggles and like and 564 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:45,520 Speaker 1: and and what was that avenue for you? Like? Was 565 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 1: there this I'm thinking, I'm looking at you, and I'm like, 566 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 1: why haven't we had a Do we have a Spanish 567 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: single from you? Do we have some Spanish music? Listen? 568 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 1: I tried, So, I tried so hard. Did I trigger? 569 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 1: Did I trigger something? I mean, I always you know, 570 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 1: from the first record, you know, I told him, I said, hey, listen, 571 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 1: we should do like a sister album in Spanish. You know. 572 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:10,880 Speaker 1: I told that to the Capitol Records folks and said, listen, 573 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:12,840 Speaker 1: you know, you know what we can We can do 574 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:16,520 Speaker 1: both um, both markets. It would be great. And they're like, yeah, yeah, 575 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:18,560 Speaker 1: that's that sounds that sounds awesome. But then once you 576 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 1: sign the dotted line, they're like, no, let's focus on 577 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:23,240 Speaker 1: this one first and then maybe we'll do the other one. 578 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:25,080 Speaker 1: And then, of course, if the first one doesn't do 579 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:27,239 Speaker 1: what they wanted to do, then they completely scrap, you know, 580 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 1: everything else and they don't want to they don't want 581 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 1: to spend any money on anything. Yeah, but I got out, 582 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:35,720 Speaker 1: as they say, um so you know, yes, I mean 583 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: even from the get when I signed with Capitol Records, 584 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:41,960 Speaker 1: I knew that there was gonna be some some cultural 585 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:44,200 Speaker 1: thing that you know. They didn't want me to necessarily 586 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:46,680 Speaker 1: do the Spanish thing because they didn't want me to 587 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:49,080 Speaker 1: use my full name. I was just my If you 588 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: look up my first albums, it's just Javier, as I 589 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 1: would say, but it was just Javier. They didn't want 590 00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 1: Javier cologne to be that. They're like, it sounds too 591 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 1: literally literally they said it sounds too Spanish, and we don't, 592 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 1: we don't. They're like, well, Javier could be anything, and 593 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:10,200 Speaker 1: this is the ignorance. They're like, Javier could be kind 594 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:12,160 Speaker 1: of anything, but you know how your cologne sounds like 595 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 1: you're a Spanish artist and we want them to like 596 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 1: be open to you being you know, an R and 597 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 1: B kind of pop artist and not a Spanish artist. 598 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 1: And I was like whatever, Um so they made me 599 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:28,400 Speaker 1: drop my my last my last name, so I was 600 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:30,480 Speaker 1: just Heavier. But yeah, so that you know, and then 601 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: in recording the albums and trying to do some stuff 602 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 1: we did end up. I did end up getting them 603 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:39,800 Speaker 1: to make a Spanish version, uh of one of the 604 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:43,520 Speaker 1: songs actually I wrote with Neo called Dance for Me, 605 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:48,080 Speaker 1: and we did a Spanish version of that, but they 606 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: ended up never uh never doing anything with it. They 607 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:54,640 Speaker 1: barely you know, tried it on a couple of places, 608 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 1: and um, we didn't get any radio play on on 609 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:00,720 Speaker 1: the Spanish version of it because they never they just 610 00:32:00,760 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 1: never tried. They admittedly they didn't push it. That was 611 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:07,720 Speaker 1: always a um I struggle. I've wanted to do the 612 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 1: Spanish side of things for so long, and it's time. 613 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: It's time for me to kind of do it on 614 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:15,480 Speaker 1: my own. At this point where you know, we're in 615 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:18,000 Speaker 1: a in a world where you can, you know, you 616 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 1: can record your own stuff and do your own things. 617 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: I think it's it's it's gonna be on me to 618 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:25,440 Speaker 1: to record something, you know, in Spanish. I lost I 619 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:30,040 Speaker 1: lost my father this this past year, um, and thank you, 620 00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 1: and uh it's something that he always wanted to to see. 621 00:32:33,880 --> 00:32:36,320 Speaker 1: So I feel like it's you know, so I feel 622 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 1: like I owe that to him at some at some 623 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 1: point I have to do that. So I'm gonna do 624 00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:55,640 Speaker 1: another full circle for you. But like, and we know, 625 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:59,960 Speaker 1: the pandemic was like weird, and it's weird. It's still weird, 626 00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:02,920 Speaker 1: still weird. We're and we're we're still trying to figure 627 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:07,920 Speaker 1: all of this out and and and remotely working and 628 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:12,400 Speaker 1: refinding our creativity in like different ways. Um, what are 629 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:16,640 Speaker 1: you working on now? That is? And I just brought 630 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:19,280 Speaker 1: the pandemic up because it's such as it's a heavy 631 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:22,200 Speaker 1: thing for us artists. We're trying to work around it 632 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:24,920 Speaker 1: and we're trying to work with it and figure out 633 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:27,400 Speaker 1: what this new normal is. But like, what are some 634 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 1: of the things that you are currently, um currently cracking at? Well? Um, 635 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:38,600 Speaker 1: I am uh So, the twenty anniversary of the release 636 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:41,960 Speaker 1: of my first album on Capitol Records is coming up 637 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:46,320 Speaker 1: next year, and I think, I know it's crazy, I'm 638 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 1: old feeling some just I just I literally was like, wow, Darylyn, 639 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:57,320 Speaker 1: twenty years where has the timeline? Yes, years has gone 640 00:33:57,360 --> 00:34:02,000 Speaker 1: by since this album came out, and and I you know, 641 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:03,640 Speaker 1: I want to I want to release it. I don't 642 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:06,360 Speaker 1: own those masters, and I wish I did because I 643 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 1: just kind of remix it and remastered and release it. 644 00:34:10,640 --> 00:34:12,319 Speaker 1: But I can't. I can't do this. I'm gonna pull 645 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:14,600 Speaker 1: a Taylor. I'm taking a page out of Taylor Swift's 646 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:19,480 Speaker 1: playbook and a Swift. I'm such a fan. I love her. 647 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:24,000 Speaker 1: Um so, um, I'm going to I'm gonna read I'm 648 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:26,759 Speaker 1: gonna re record the album, and I'm gonna read I'm 649 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:29,960 Speaker 1: gonna re release that that record. I think that's Uh, 650 00:34:30,080 --> 00:34:32,080 Speaker 1: I think I've decided to do that. I mean, if 651 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:34,279 Speaker 1: I haven't decided by saying it to you now, it 652 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 1: kind of means I have to I have to do now. 653 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 1: Now we're all waiting, We're all waiting. But uh, but 654 00:34:40,560 --> 00:34:42,000 Speaker 1: I think I'm gonna do it. There's not so folks 655 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:45,200 Speaker 1: that that have been uh that to have seemed really 656 00:34:45,200 --> 00:34:48,080 Speaker 1: excited about the idea of of doing that. And and 657 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 1: so I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna record it. So 658 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:54,799 Speaker 1: that's gonna be my my project for the for the year. Um. 659 00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 1: I've also been I've I've jumped on on TikTok, which 660 00:35:00,239 --> 00:35:07,319 Speaker 1: which has been talk and absolutely you're doing I'm having 661 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:09,720 Speaker 1: a blast. It's been. It's just so such a fun 662 00:35:10,280 --> 00:35:12,400 Speaker 1: thing to be able to go and like just do 663 00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:16,799 Speaker 1: it with anybody and everybody honestly like, bless bless you, 664 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:20,920 Speaker 1: because I literally just was talking to a twelve year 665 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:24,520 Speaker 1: old to take over my content for ticket really because 666 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:28,000 Speaker 1: I mean, I've lived it, is it is. It is 667 00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:31,560 Speaker 1: a lot um But I I mean, I I like, 668 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:33,640 Speaker 1: I like it. I like I like doing it. I 669 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:36,080 Speaker 1: like interacting with folks. And there's so many folks that 670 00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:37,759 Speaker 1: are on there like us, that are just kind of 671 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:40,799 Speaker 1: you know, finding their way through the music business and 672 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,919 Speaker 1: trying to get some eyes on them. And and uh, 673 00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:47,040 Speaker 1: there's some great folks that I've met that uh that 674 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:49,000 Speaker 1: you know, we're just all kind of supportive of each 675 00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:51,839 Speaker 1: other and and happy when you know when you see 676 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:55,319 Speaker 1: great things, you know, coming out of it. So um, 677 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:57,520 Speaker 1: you know that you know, I'm I'm I'm thankful. My 678 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:00,920 Speaker 1: wife is like, listen, I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna explode 679 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:04,520 Speaker 1: your phone one day because the TikTok is taken over. 680 00:36:05,160 --> 00:36:07,080 Speaker 1: And I said, baby, I said, listen, I promise you, 681 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:09,879 Speaker 1: at some point, you know this TikTok, there will be 682 00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:12,080 Speaker 1: some money or something is going to come out of this, 683 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:16,279 Speaker 1: whether it's you know, whether it's a you know, just 684 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:17,920 Speaker 1: not only just a fan base. I mean going to 685 00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:20,959 Speaker 1: fan base in itself is it's worth something because when 686 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:23,719 Speaker 1: you go when you're touring like myself, Um, you know, 687 00:36:23,719 --> 00:36:25,319 Speaker 1: you go to different parts of the country, different parts 688 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:27,160 Speaker 1: of the world. You know, there's people that will come 689 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:29,120 Speaker 1: and see you if they you know, if they know 690 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:31,960 Speaker 1: about you now through TikTok so. But that's you know that. 691 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:36,400 Speaker 1: But but you know, recently, just there's a television company 692 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:38,839 Speaker 1: reached out to me to uh to write a song 693 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:41,840 Speaker 1: for one of their one of their television shows. I 694 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:43,960 Speaker 1: can't tell you which one it is yet because we're 695 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:45,759 Speaker 1: still in the in the works of it, but that's 696 00:36:45,760 --> 00:36:48,600 Speaker 1: something that that's that's amazing. So I'm writing the opening. 697 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:52,239 Speaker 1: It came from them watching my videos and saying, hey, 698 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:54,600 Speaker 1: you know, we're gonna ask him to to write a 699 00:36:54,640 --> 00:36:57,880 Speaker 1: song for one of our shows. And I think that's 700 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:00,920 Speaker 1: that's awesome. And that's the thing out our industry. It's 701 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:03,440 Speaker 1: like you have to keep on it. You've got to 702 00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:06,279 Speaker 1: keep like you have to keep I don't want to 703 00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:09,960 Speaker 1: say like reinventing yourself because that's so like the but 704 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:14,080 Speaker 1: like you have to keep yourself aware, like what's the 705 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:16,160 Speaker 1: word I'm looking for. I think you have to just 706 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:18,200 Speaker 1: kind of remain in the game. You just have to 707 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:21,240 Speaker 1: be present, like you have to be on people's minds, 708 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:23,160 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. You can't disappear because if 709 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:29,120 Speaker 1: you disappear, um, you know, then those things everything you've done, right. 710 00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:31,200 Speaker 1: But I you know, when people when they ask me 711 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:34,080 Speaker 1: for um for advice, you know, and how do you 712 00:37:34,160 --> 00:37:36,440 Speaker 1: get started? How do you you know? What do you do? 713 00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:39,240 Speaker 1: I said? You know? I tell them the networking is key, 714 00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:42,759 Speaker 1: and that you have to do everything and anything that 715 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:44,239 Speaker 1: comes your way. I mean, when you get to a 716 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:45,960 Speaker 1: point where you don't have to do some of the 717 00:37:46,239 --> 00:37:48,720 Speaker 1: little things, what everything, you don't do them, but until 718 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:51,080 Speaker 1: that day, you have to do everything and anything because 719 00:37:51,080 --> 00:37:53,319 Speaker 1: you don't know where your opportunity is going to come from. 720 00:37:53,960 --> 00:37:56,400 Speaker 1: The best example I have for that is that that 721 00:37:56,600 --> 00:37:58,839 Speaker 1: silly program that my mom wanted me to do. When 722 00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:01,439 Speaker 1: I was in sixth grade, Um, I met this guy 723 00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:06,320 Speaker 1: there that was a He was the assistant to the 724 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:09,880 Speaker 1: drama teacher there, and he was just cool. He was 725 00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:12,120 Speaker 1: like eight nine years older than me, but he played 726 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:15,080 Speaker 1: the guitar and he sang and he just was awesome UM, 727 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:16,759 Speaker 1: but we ended up keeping in touch. And then when 728 00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:20,239 Speaker 1: I was in high school, he had me um come 729 00:38:20,239 --> 00:38:23,840 Speaker 1: out to a local neighboring town to do a musical 730 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:27,880 Speaker 1: at at their at one of their UM schools in 731 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:31,839 Speaker 1: one of their you know, teen theater programs. And I 732 00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:35,120 Speaker 1: did that and that's where I met the guitarist who 733 00:38:35,160 --> 00:38:38,960 Speaker 1: helped me, who started that that first band that I 734 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:40,680 Speaker 1: was in, that funk band that I was in when 735 00:38:40,719 --> 00:38:44,080 Speaker 1: I was in uh in college and you know, after 736 00:38:44,360 --> 00:38:46,680 Speaker 1: the band broke up and then all of that stuff happening. 737 00:38:46,880 --> 00:38:48,479 Speaker 1: If I was not in that band, if I don't 738 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:50,879 Speaker 1: do that little thing in sixth grade that my mom 739 00:38:50,960 --> 00:38:53,200 Speaker 1: made me do, I don't get my deal with Capitol Records, 740 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:58,880 Speaker 1: literally because those people don't align. And that drummer that 741 00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:01,200 Speaker 1: I ended up meeting, UH, that ended up, you know, 742 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:03,719 Speaker 1: like he wouldn't be like I wouldn't have known him 743 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:08,160 Speaker 1: had I not done that thing, because this, uh, this 744 00:39:08,320 --> 00:39:10,640 Speaker 1: mentor of mine would not have been a mentor because 745 00:39:10,640 --> 00:39:12,680 Speaker 1: I wouldn't have met him. He wouldn't have pulled me 746 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:14,520 Speaker 1: into those things. So that's why I tell everybody, so listen, 747 00:39:14,520 --> 00:39:16,120 Speaker 1: you have to do all of the things because you 748 00:39:16,120 --> 00:39:18,680 Speaker 1: don't know who your ally is going to be down 749 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:21,080 Speaker 1: the road, somebody who thinks highly of you, who's going 750 00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:24,719 Speaker 1: to just mention your name that might trigger something and 751 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:26,680 Speaker 1: end up getting you a record deal like it did, 752 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:28,880 Speaker 1: like it did me. You have no idea, so you 753 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:30,120 Speaker 1: have to do all the things. You have to be 754 00:39:30,160 --> 00:39:33,319 Speaker 1: at all the places and meet all the people. That's 755 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:37,000 Speaker 1: that's what you never know. What I admire hearing you 756 00:39:37,040 --> 00:39:40,600 Speaker 1: speak is um that I don't know about you, but 757 00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:43,440 Speaker 1: like I wanted to be an artist, right, You want 758 00:39:43,440 --> 00:39:45,960 Speaker 1: to be an artist and you want to work on 759 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:49,279 Speaker 1: this craft, and but then you have to remember there's 760 00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:52,560 Speaker 1: a business side to it. There's a business aspect and 761 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:56,040 Speaker 1: finding your worth to do that, and like you can't 762 00:39:56,040 --> 00:39:58,840 Speaker 1: forget that. It's not just about sitting in a corner 763 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:01,399 Speaker 1: and like writing songs, right, It's there's so much more 764 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:04,880 Speaker 1: to it, so much more it is. It is a business, 765 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:08,200 Speaker 1: it's and you have to treat it as as such, 766 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:10,320 Speaker 1: you know, and you have to kind of line yourself 767 00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:13,680 Speaker 1: up so that you can create more business. I want 768 00:40:13,680 --> 00:40:16,240 Speaker 1: to ask you something, um, something that we do here. 769 00:40:16,840 --> 00:40:19,600 Speaker 1: Can you share with us one thing that reminds you 770 00:40:19,719 --> 00:40:23,200 Speaker 1: of home? However, it is that you define home. I 771 00:40:23,200 --> 00:40:27,520 Speaker 1: mean home can mean many different things. Um, I mean 772 00:40:27,560 --> 00:40:29,359 Speaker 1: home is my family. You know, home is my face, 773 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:33,120 Speaker 1: is where my where my wife and my kids are. Um, 774 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:37,040 Speaker 1: you know that's the home is is uh is here 775 00:40:37,280 --> 00:40:39,120 Speaker 1: in you know in Connecticut. When I think of home, 776 00:40:39,360 --> 00:40:42,920 Speaker 1: I think of you know, you know all the time 777 00:40:43,640 --> 00:40:46,360 Speaker 1: that I that I travel, in the time that I 778 00:40:46,640 --> 00:40:48,560 Speaker 1: you know that i'm you know, as much as I 779 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:54,000 Speaker 1: travel and as much as I love doing what I do, Um, 780 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:58,080 Speaker 1: coming back home is always the best part for me. 781 00:40:58,560 --> 00:41:01,640 Speaker 1: You know what I mean? Um, I do know what 782 00:41:01,680 --> 00:41:05,120 Speaker 1: you mean. It's just you know, home is I mean, 783 00:41:05,160 --> 00:41:06,920 Speaker 1: it's it's true. And they say home is where your 784 00:41:06,920 --> 00:41:09,560 Speaker 1: heart is. It's funny. I tell one of my friends 785 00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:12,080 Speaker 1: told me this, and and this is how I how 786 00:41:12,160 --> 00:41:15,359 Speaker 1: I say it now to everybody. But um, you don't 787 00:41:15,360 --> 00:41:17,080 Speaker 1: pay me to play music. You pay me to leave 788 00:41:17,120 --> 00:41:21,040 Speaker 1: my family, you know. So it's it's it's one of 789 00:41:21,040 --> 00:41:23,560 Speaker 1: those you know, the music is free. You know, you're 790 00:41:23,560 --> 00:41:25,520 Speaker 1: paying me to to leave my house, you know, to 791 00:41:25,640 --> 00:41:28,480 Speaker 1: leave the ones that I have to leave behind in 792 00:41:28,560 --> 00:41:31,160 Speaker 1: order to do to do my job. I feel that 793 00:41:31,239 --> 00:41:33,920 Speaker 1: like because that is like that's why I'm not on 794 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:36,640 Speaker 1: the road right now. And I'm I decided to like 795 00:41:37,080 --> 00:41:39,800 Speaker 1: stay home because I'm like, I don't want to I 796 00:41:39,880 --> 00:41:42,799 Speaker 1: don't want to just be gone for a year, you know, 797 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 1: Like I want to have a family, I want to 798 00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:48,640 Speaker 1: have my home base. I want to all these things. UM. 799 00:41:48,680 --> 00:41:51,680 Speaker 1: So thank you for sharing that, that vulnerable, beautiful answer. 800 00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:55,560 Speaker 1: Thank you. How do we how do we continue following 801 00:41:55,600 --> 00:41:58,680 Speaker 1: your journey. I'm gonna come out and see you in Connecticut. 802 00:41:58,680 --> 00:42:01,080 Speaker 1: We're gonna go golfing. Let's go, We're gonna hill. I 803 00:42:01,160 --> 00:42:03,719 Speaker 1: want to meet the babies. I want to meet the wife. Yes, Um, 804 00:42:04,600 --> 00:42:07,080 Speaker 1: how do we follow you? How do we? Where do 805 00:42:07,120 --> 00:42:10,319 Speaker 1: we find you? Um? If you want to see me 806 00:42:10,440 --> 00:42:14,160 Speaker 1: make a acting a fool, you can find me on 807 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:18,960 Speaker 1: on TikTok just heavier Cologne music. Um, I'm also have 808 00:42:19,120 --> 00:42:23,920 Speaker 1: your Cloe music on Instagram, heavier Cologne music on Facebook 809 00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:25,960 Speaker 1: as well, if that's if you do that as well. 810 00:42:26,480 --> 00:42:28,600 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for being a Moneta. Thank you 811 00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:31,600 Speaker 1: for coming and spending the morning with us. And I'm 812 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:33,920 Speaker 1: just course thank you for having me. I'm just grateful. 813 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:37,959 Speaker 1: I'm grateful and and I'm excited. Listen, this industry can 814 00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:41,560 Speaker 1: really test you and like, I just love meeting people, 815 00:42:41,760 --> 00:42:46,960 Speaker 1: meeting fellow artists who persevere and come on top and 816 00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:51,280 Speaker 1: continue and push and continue to be like their authentic selves. 817 00:42:51,400 --> 00:42:54,040 Speaker 1: And I really, I really love that about you. Well, 818 00:42:54,120 --> 00:42:58,000 Speaker 1: I appreciate that. It's uh, it's it's definitely you know, 819 00:42:58,120 --> 00:43:01,480 Speaker 1: it's not always easy. Uh, but you know, I still 820 00:43:01,520 --> 00:43:03,840 Speaker 1: tell myself that I'm you know, like I said before, 821 00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:07,120 Speaker 1: I consider myself blessed. So I look forward to our 822 00:43:07,320 --> 00:43:09,160 Speaker 1: next conversation where I get to ask you all the 823 00:43:09,239 --> 00:43:12,279 Speaker 1: questions and um, and we can do some we can 824 00:43:12,280 --> 00:43:15,520 Speaker 1: do some singing and and have some have some you know. Yeah, 825 00:43:15,560 --> 00:43:18,960 Speaker 1: we'll make some some nice Latino music for everybody. Yes, 826 00:43:19,280 --> 00:43:20,640 Speaker 1: I love it. I love it. I love it. Thank 827 00:43:20,680 --> 00:43:22,880 Speaker 1: you so much, Javier, thank you. Love. We'll see you. 828 00:43:26,800 --> 00:43:29,320 Speaker 1: Do you let nerves get in your way. When Javier 829 00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:31,439 Speaker 1: was young, he didn't want to sing at school because 830 00:43:31,480 --> 00:43:34,000 Speaker 1: he was nervous, and then when he was offered the 831 00:43:34,080 --> 00:43:37,520 Speaker 1: voice audition, he almost turned that down. They say, follow 832 00:43:37,560 --> 00:43:41,160 Speaker 1: your gut and go with your instincts. But sometimes you 833 00:43:41,239 --> 00:43:43,959 Speaker 1: need to overcome your fears and push yourself to where 834 00:43:43,960 --> 00:43:47,040 Speaker 1: you are uncomfortable. If you stay in your comfort zone, 835 00:43:47,200 --> 00:43:50,120 Speaker 1: you'll never find change or growth. Get out of the 836 00:43:50,200 --> 00:43:57,680 Speaker 1: nurse's office. Mona Nita is a production of Sonoro and 837 00:43:57,800 --> 00:44:01,560 Speaker 1: partnership with I Heart Radios Michael up podcast Network. For 838 00:44:01,640 --> 00:44:04,480 Speaker 1: more podcasts from I Heart Radio, visit the I Heart 839 00:44:04,560 --> 00:44:07,680 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your 840 00:44:07,719 --> 00:44:15,080 Speaker 1: favorite shows. H