Unveiling Musical Dreams: A Heartfelt Conversation with Andre Martin on His Passion, Vision, and Future Aspirations
By. Alicia Zamora
A Conversation with Andre Martin
In a recent exclusive interview by Alicia's Studio, the remarkably talented artist Andre Martin opened up about his deep passion for music and his ability to balance his studies, work, and caring for his grandmother with his pursuit of musical excellence. Martin's passion for music shines through as he delves into the challenges and triumphs of his journey as an artist. His dedication and resilience are truly inspiring, and it's evident that he is destined for great things in the future.
The interview with Andre Martin offers a rare glimpse into the life of a young artist who is determined to make his mark in the music industry. Martin's commitment to his craft while managing various responsibilities is a testament to his unwavering dedication. His ability to articulate the challenges he faces and his unwavering drive to overcome them is a testament to his maturity and artistic vision. It's clear that Martin's passion for music is not just a hobby but a calling that he takes very seriously.
Throughout the interview, Andre Martin's genuine love for music and his unwavering determination to succeed are palpable. His ability to balance the demands of his personal life with his musical pursuits is truly commendable. As Martin continues to navigate the complexities of life while pursuing his passion for music, it's evident that he is on a trajectory to achieve remarkable success. His story is not only inspiring but also a powerful reminder of the transformative power of music in the hands of a dedicated artist.
Diving In
Alicia: To start the interview, please introduce yourself and what you do. Then, we can dive into the questions.
Andre: Hi guys! My name is Andre Martin, and I’m doing this beautiful interview with Alicia.
Alicia: Diving into the first question, How did you get started in music? What or who inspired you to begin your musical journey?
Andre: It’s such a cliche to say this, but I’m Filipino, so music has been around me, and I have other family members who also do something in music, whether it’s as a hobby or something they're really passionate about. But yeah, I was just always surrounded by music.
Alicia: What emotions do you aim to evoke through your music, and why?
Andre: Just a really clear connection whenever it comes to performing. That's my favorite part of music. I know many other artists enjoy the creative process or like the connection to work with other artists. I do enjoy those moments. I find it more like I benefit from singing in front of people.
Alicia: Okay, so that's something you've enjoyed for a while already. When did you start all this?
Andre: Like Singing in front of people? Based on your first question, I think music has always been part of my life. From age eight, my parents put me into an after-school choir, the All-American Boys Chorus. There, I learned so much about different genres at a young age, from, you know, rags music to, you know, jazz, like Duke Ellington, to Chinese music. There are a bunch of different genres at a very young age, from eight to twelve or thirteen. From thirteen to eighteen, I was in my high school choir, and there, I also learned a lot of choral types of music that you would sing, that you get scored on, etc. That was my, I guess that was my actual like background in music was being in a choir, and so you know, being able to perform in front of people is something I really enjoyed.
Alicia: Okay, yeah, nice. Then, can you describe a moment when a piece of music you created changed your perspective on something in your life?
Andre: it was probably when I was 16 and had a crush on this girl, and you know, I really liked this girl at the time, and I remember the one thing that we really connected was with music as like high school kids do you know oh you like this. I really like you because we like the same artists. I remember there was one song she wanted me to learn or she wanted to hear from someone, and I was like, all right, let's try to learn this song.
Andre: It was Fly Me to the Moon, so I remember I pulled out my grandpa's guitar, which I inherited after he passed away my freshman year of high school, and I started playing and teaching myself on YouTube. Then I told her, " Oh, I wanted to show you something. I sang that song, and the reaction I got was very genuine, so from there, I remember I created a song not too long for her, and it was obviously the first time someone sang to her because we were both like, what sixteen and fifteen. It was the energy I could see and that I've received that I really liked about singing or doing music.
Alicia: What drives you to create music, and how do you stay motivated during challenging times?
Andre: My family's work ethic is really strong. My mom and aunt helped me with, like, even if it's a really, really hard time or, like, extremely rough time. You could complain about it and then vent about it. But once it's that third time you complain about it, then it's like, stop doing it, so I think, you know, I've definitely complained and vented out about wanting to be somewhere in music or be in a certain place. I feel like everyone does with their careers, you know, so I tell myself to just keep going because if I do stop, it really will stop.
Alicia: Right! What is a song you’ve written that feels the most personal to you, and what’s the story behind it?
Andre: Does this mean, like, unreleased too?
Alicia: Yeah, it can be unreleased.
Andre: There are many unreleased songs with a lot of potential. My favorite one might have to be; there's a song I wrote, this is called 'Dear Six-Year-Old Me.' Basically, it just talks about, you know, how life is going to get so much harder, but it's okay. I mean, if I release the song, maybe you will get it, but I think it is one of my favorite songs because it was one of the first songs that I wrote to myself, and when I wrote it, I was in the Philippines at the time so I was like nineteen.
Andre: Fun little fact: I moved to the Philippines when I was nineteen to be able to do music out there. I had a label come out and talk to me, and I was about to sign the contract, but it looked sketchy. It was a time when I was so confused about why I was where I was, and I just wrote to my six-year-old self because I remember being six; it's like it's so easy.
Alicia: Yeah, being a child was easy.
Andre: yeah, exactly so easy, and I just wanted to let that younger person prepare.
Alicia: Can you walk us through your songwriting or composing process? Do you start with lyrics, melody, or another element?
Andre: I'm very melody-based first. What I tend to do is, you know, listen to whatever track or if I could play a core progression on the guitar, I'll be able to mess around with melodies, and then I what I tend to do is like be very courageous and like say whatever comes out, even if it's so cringe, and then you'll get all that like weird energy out and then boom, the lyrics or the certain words will come out. Then you can start writing off that. I've been writing with two other writers I think are so talented. One is one writer who helped me with “Back Here Again.” His name is Jared Scott, and Jared's amazing Jared's a very like, oh, let's make up stuff like we will probably hate it, but let's, you know, be goofy and like makeup stuff, and like that work ethic is, I think so fun, and I think that's something for me that. I really need a lot of fun moments. It can’t be so serious because if it does, it feels like a job, and then when you feel like it feels like it’s going to get overwhelming.
Andre: Then I’ve also met artists like Keoni, which you just had an interview with him.
Alicia: I did. I interviewed him on Monday!
Andre: Keoni is really special like I can tell he’s going to go far. He knows what he wants in his world that’s what makes a lot of this different, he knows what he wants on top of that when he does create because I’ve witnessed it like three times, like it’s insane, I think for him lyrics. I don’t know if he talked to you about that but when we talk lyrics for him it’s just such an easy thing to do, and so we've worked on a few songs where it's like I came up with like my lyric or my melody. I had a few lyrics I would sing him, my lyrics, and his mouth with these melodies, and then he'll just like add on that I'm just like whoa!
Alicia: He did mention that he did!
Andre: He's a talented guy. I know we're the same age, and it's so cool seeing someone like Keoni also doing this work. To be able to see someone, you know, that looks like me, my age, and with the same background-ish. It's really nice; it's nice to see that and I'm happy you also did an interview with him!
Alicia: It was so last minute, too. His manager texted me to ask if I could do it at 6 p.m., and I was like, okay, I got that. So I rented the studio and we did it.
Andre: But yeah, Keoni’s dope.
Alicia: Going into your most recent release, “Back Here Again,” what's the story or inspiration behind that single?
Andre: That was a co-write with Hayden Duncan, Jared Scott, and I. I was introduced the track with like half the song written. I remember when I listened to it, I was like, wow, like this is such a throwback or like it feels good, you know. I thought it brought me back to like when I was like Six, you know, oh it's like a summer song, oh it's like every, like all your friends, high school friends, hanging out with during like a really, you know, nostalgic summer. And I remember when I started writing my part for it. I started thinking, yeah, like I want to return to a really fun and enjoyable moment. And that's what I meant by the song. I've yet to ask Jared fully because it's not very much his forte when he writes this type of style. The meaning for him is that he'd have to look back at that moment, like why he wrote it, but it's the same with Hayden. But when I wrote it and heard the tracks, I was like, okay, this is really a nice sound that I want to release right now.
Alicia: I saw the music video yesterday. It was crazy; it's so good.
Andre: Thank you so much. Shout out to Xander! Xander is such a talented kid. I'm going to start name-dropping but to name-drop the stuff that he's done. He did a little promo video for Gunna, and then he's done stuff for, like Grent Perez.
Alicia: Yeah, that’s how I found him. He did a recap of his tour last year, and I started following him. His work is crazy.
Andre: He did it for Grent, then he did it for Lynn, and then just to be able to work with Xander, off of a chance, is such a… how we met was, I guess, organic in today's world, like social media, and then you meet in person. But when you meet in person, it can either be so good or so bad.
Alicia: Yeah!
Andre: So I remember I was like, okay, like the interaction on online is like really good, like we're both like complimenting each other's art, you know, and then it's like, oh let's meet up, and then we met. Up at this event, it's an event like it it's on Tuesdays in LA; it's called LTTT, it's like little table tennis. So we met there, talked about like, you know this is what this is the song, I showed him “Back Here Again,” he's like all right, let's do something with this. I was like, wow, you really want to work on this? Yeah, let's really work on something. Okay, let's do it.
Alicia: It was so good!
Alicia: Can you discuss a time when you had to make a difficult decision regarding your career or artistic direction?
Andre: I'm still on a tough grind that I have to be on right now to be able to move on to the next chapter. Like right now, I'm in school. I still go to school. I go to IBC. I'm a server at a Korean barbecue restaurant, and I'm also, you know my grandma's legal provider, meaning if she needs to go out to get groceries or she needs to go to the doctor, I have to take her legally, and so I'm doing a lot of work on top of that trying to be an artist so it's like I'm so much time, and I don't question myself like, 'Why am I doing this to myself?' I'm more about trying to keep busy; I don't know if that answers your question, but it's a tough moment. I'm living it right now. The work is like it's a lot of work, getting home late and sleeping a little bit.
Alicia: It's probably super overwhelming, like doing that and then making music.
Andre: It really is, but you know, I think if you could find one reason to keep going, which is like this dream and a little bit of delusion, then you can really go far.
Alicia: That's a good mindset. To have, though, I feel like that's really important because if not, you just put yourself into a really bad slump.
Andre: Exactly, and you're doing it like I really love what you're doing. I mean, you said you're in school. I don't know if you're working.
Alicia: Yeah, I am. I’m a student aide at a daycare.
Andre: Oh my goodness, so you understand the grind
Alicia: Yeah, it's a lot. That's a good mindset to keep because I've been in LA for a week, so I've lost a week of work and lectures, but luckily, I keep up, so it's okay. But it's hard going back and forth to things. It's overwhelming, for sure.
Andre: Like, I've told so many people this, but it's a really clear way to notice, like, you're putting a lot of hats on. Like, all right, today I'm going to school; this is my school hat. Oh, after I'm going to take it off, I'm putting my server hat on or, like, work hat. Let's put the artist hat on or, like, family... hat on. You know what I mean?
Alicia: Yeah, it’s a lot
Andre: Yeah, it's like for me, every day I feel like I've changed my hat, probably three times each day, and it's like so... ah! But that's where it's going to be worth it. That's what I tell myself; it will be worth it. You know
Alicia: You see, that’s a good mindset to have because for me, I'm like okay, if I'm doing all this and it doesn't work out, then it's like damn, it's kind of like… because I'm pushing everything in between.
Andre: yeah, but you're doing it, you know I'd rather regret that I’ve done it than have the oh, I wish I could have done it.
Alicia: Yeah, that’s true
Andre: That's the worst feeling I have. Every artist that I've met that have seen success they have all said that, you know, so even if you're starting out like I know I'm very much like a starting artist, you know, developing artists and all my common artists like I'd say right now Keoni and I, you know, we've talked about just sending it, you know, I'd rather do it now regret about it later than like twenty or thirty years from now. I could have asked the question, what if this worked out?
Alicia: Yeah, that's right, that's right
Alicia: What are your goals or aspirations for the future, both personally and professionally?
Andre: So personally, in the very, very far future, when I believe that music will take care of me, I want to be able to venture into different, you know, dreams. I guess I have the weird of wanting to sail around the world like I haven't been sailing, but I'm very big on going to the water, that type of environment, like beach life. I see myself doing that or on a farm.
Alicia: Oo okay, that's nice, that's nice.
Andre: That's like, personally but professionally, I see myself doing more shows, bigger venues, and having a nice, loyal fan base. Seeing myself work with artists I really admire, like Daniel Caesar, is one of my biggest inspirations. I think he was my high school artist, you know, that one artist that every kid in high school can say, like, 'Oh, this is my ride or die,' you know, so um. Daniel Caesar, I'd love to work with that guy; that'd be so nice. That would be such a full circle. Being able to say to people that music financially supports me. And to be able to say that it's very, it's a stable way of living. That's my goal in the future.
Alicia: What’s a musical idea or concept that you’ve always wanted to explore but haven’t had the chance to yet?
Andre: I think… can it be not music-related or does it have to be music-related?
Alicia: No, it doesn't have to be
Andre: I'm really into vlogs, like documentaries about an artist or a process. I'm really into that. I've been trying to figure out how to do it. It’s so hard to edit these videos because for the past seven months, I've just been recording on this camcorder, and many people in my inner circle have seen this camera, which was gifted to me by my older brother. My older kuya, I call him kuya even though we're not related, but yeah, he gave me this camera because he noticed that I was always on the move or something. I’m always somewhere, and he pointed that out, and he's like, yeah, man, you just gotta start recording. I think having a YouTube channel in the future, like the near future. I already have a YouTube channel, but like consistent videos, and I think showing myself more. I'm really doing my best to show myself more or share more about myself I think if I were to do that, it could help with like engagement.
Alicia: No, yeah if you start posting more on social media, you’ll definitely see it.
Andre: So yeah, if I could venture out to another, like creative, visuals, it would be something really nice.
Alicia: Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next few years?
Andre: I see myself fully being independent, like through music. Independent, like, living by myself, like okay, like wanting to do whatever I want, like if I want to go to a session today, I'll have that happen. If I want a meeting to figure out visual stuff or figure out the next step, next chapter, or the next project, blah blah blah, I could do that. If I need to meet up with any, you know, other artists in any country, I would have to do that. I've been writing down that in my journal to be a successful artist. Whatever that means, it's like music is taking care of me fully more than it should. I was told by these two artists that I was associating myself with them, or they were mentoring me. I've been very fortunate to be around artists named Iz and Bobby Avila. They are, you know, artists who have worked with Usher, Janet Jackson, Terry, and Jam Lewis. I don't know if you know those are ancient heads. Oh yeah, um, but they're the ones who told me, like, you know, you can love music for, you know, x amount of years when you're this age, right? It could be two years or ten years, and it'll feel like music is not gonna love you at all, but when you get over that wall to where you know you're starting to see the music, you know, showing you love back. That moment of knowing when music is beginning to love you back is when you will see the love of how great the love is that music can give you. Does that make sense ?
Alicia: Yeah, I get what you're saying, kind of
Andre: Oh my goodness, let me see, I could say something easier. They said, yeah, like when music loves you, it really will show, and I mean, I'm seeing it through. I'm seeing it with their career because of the stuff they get to do, and it's not the money thing I care about. I think it's just being able to work with incredible people, go to amazing places, and do many unique things only artists get to see. I didn't want to name-drop drop, but I had to credit that little quote from those guys
Alicia: Looking back, how do you feel your music reflects your growth as a person?
Andre: I mean, I guess like I told myself I wanted to do this when I was eighteen. I'm twenty-one now, so like three-ish years, and I still feel like there's so much I have to do. I've been receiving a lot of amazing support from a lot of people right now, just like you know the sweetest messages, the kindest interactions with people, even having people like you wanting to do interviews is such a new thing to me.
Alicia: Wait, is this your first interview?
Andre: This is my first interview.
Alicia: Oh wait, that's actually crazy! Thank you so much!
Andre: I've never been interviewed in my life as an artist, how I see it's like this is my first like outside of like school. Like it’s not for the school but this is for someone's publication. I told my family like yeah, I have an interview today and they're like, well, that's cool, that's so cool.
Alicia: That's so cool! Thank you for letting me interview you!
Andre: No thank you!
Alicia: Have there been any moments of self-doubt in your career? How did you overcome them?
Andre: Oh my god, every day that's me being real, like every day I'm dealing with self-doubt, I think that's normal though really normal and I think a lot of artists are going to tell themselves that it’s normal. Like you're not gonna have a great day the next day after like the biggest high of your life in your career, like whether It's working with a great artist, having the craziest creative days, like the next day is not going to be the same and I think when you feel like you keep leveling up and when you don't surpass the next bar of where you put yourself creatively. That can really create a lot of doubt. I think what I do is distract myself; I don't know if that's a healthy thing to say but I distract myself with really good hobbies, so one thing, if I'm not doing music, I'm very much like looking at, like a big body of water.
Andre: I'm usually at the beach, you know, I really, I practice a lot of breathing. Right now, I could say, like, I really need to practice that more, but yeah, breathing, like going to the beach, swimming. I also like surfing, so, like, that's another thing I can do. Um, and if not surfing or if not at the beach then I'll do a whole other thing. having my family, like, I mean, I am Filipino, so, like, my family is like a really big thing, and they ground me, like, they can be so honest with me at times, and they can Be so like supportive and you know, just anytime with them, like I forget that like I can do music at times, and I think that's okay, that is really like it's good for me, it works for me. You know, I know there's going to be some people that are like, 'Oh, that's not going to work' or like people that are going to say, 'Like I relate to that.' But for me, those are my I guess two ways to get over something really, really tough.
Alicia: As an artist, what would you like people to think when they hear the name “Andre Martin”?
Andre: I don't know, like a cool guy you can listen to. I had the craziest story about how my music brought two people together it was crazy like I had a DM from this couple in Italy and they said how I think my second song “Love With You” brought them together. I was their high school song it was crazy. I think they're still in high school but they reached out and they said yeah your song like brought me and this person together I was like that's crazy.
Alicia: Wait, that's insane. Oh, right. And then, what do you hope listeners take away from your music, and how do you achieve that in your work?
Andre: I hope my listeners, if they can, use my music to cope with whatever I think that's what I do with music. If I have a really tough time or if I want to feel a certain way, if I don't want to feel a certain way, I'll listen to music and so, if my music can you know help you through a tough breakup, help you through like you know, a transition in your life, whether like you're moving somewhere, or if like you just want background music, you know, just to play like I think that's what I strive for when I write music. I try to channel it. There's this artist that like recently I've been really, really into, and her name is Olivia Dean don't know if you know Olivia Dean.
Alicia: I don't.
Andre: She's a British soul like R&B artist. But like her energy that she gives out you know from her performances from her like the way that she creates her music and like her visuals I think like I try to channel that not copy I like channeling that energy, but yeah I think having like people like if they need if they really need a moment to like process and if they can use my music.
Alicia: Out of all your released tracks, which best describes you as an artist?
Andre: There are only three, so it's hard. I'm always so involved when I make the song, and then once it's out, it's like it's not mine anymore. You know what I mean?
Alicia: Yeah, I get you.
Andre: Before 'Back Here Again' was released, it was low-key and finished for two weeks, and during those two weeks, I was playing that song over and over and over and over again. I don't know if anyone can relate to who makes music, but I was just like, for two weeks straight, not listening to any songs, just listening to them in different ways, trying to see if we can improve it. But then, when the other two artists I was working with, Hayden and Jared, were like, 'Yeah, it's done,' I was like, all right, it's done, you know. I think having a team makes it a lot easier, and, to answer your question, the song that I relate to the most or that I want artists to really see is 'Lovely'; believe it or not, yeah, I think it's a really good song. My very first song, the background story behind that song, was, I don't know if you know, RC Avenue.
Alicia: I do, yeah
Andre: This was when RC was living in New York, and I remember contacting him through my sister because my sister was in New York for school, so they knew each other. She told RC that I did music. I got a follow from RC. This was when RC had 3,000 followers on Instagram, so we were low-key. Then he hit me up; he's like, oh yeah, I'm a musician from New York. If you are ever in New York, come out. At the time, I was nineteen, so I was broke - still broke, but so broke. And I was like, 'You know what? Fuck it. Let's go... I was like, 'Let's go to New York.' I Remember I was like, dude, I'm coming next week. You better be ready.
Andre: He's like, 'all right, ' and then I flew out to New York and spent five days there. For the first two days, we explored New York. RC had lived in New York for about two months when I met him, so he was still new. Just imagine an eighteen and nineteen-year-old just doing the most random side quests in New York, hopping on the subway, you know, just going everywhere talking about life and what we want to do like what 18-year-olds, 19-year-old guys would do at that age. And then I remember it was like our last day, and he's like, All right, we got to actually finally like make a song before you leave, and I remember we just he like produced a beat, and within four hours, we came out with 'Lovely,' and I was like wow, that's really cool.
Andre: And that was my first 'Aha' moment when I could get music going like that. In a quick and fun way, like short and sweet moments where it's like, oh, that's a beautiful song, that... and then I've learned from that, but I'll also have moments where the music will take me forever. Still, if I can say my fans or like the audience, that's like watching how I am as an artist, then I'm good. My music can come out in a day, or it can come out like it could take a while.
Alicia: What's the longest a song has taken you to write?
Andre: I think close to like three months, and it has to do with the fact that I'm from Orange County, so I have to drive up to LA to meet my producers, so I'm always driving like an hour and a half just to be able to record for two hours, and that's what I've been doing for years now just like driving to producers and then going back home. So that can be like a big reason why the creative process is so long. I plan to move to LA soon, hopefully next summer. I'm on the grind, making you know whatever I need to make to be able to afford rent because rent's so high right now.
Alicia: No, yeah, LA is expensive. I feel like everything is now.
Andre: But it doesn't have to be expensive. You know, we make it expensive, and I ask myself, "Why do we have to make everything so expensive?"
Alicia: What's the best advice you can give someone trying to go down the path of being an artist?
Andre: You're going to be one of one, and if you like that, then continue whatever you're doing. What I would tell myself if I were to start with music at like sixteen or like even younger would be, how would you like knowing that you're going to be a person who is going to have experiences that people can relate to but won't be able to say that they can do? You can be like the person in the dark with the flashlight, and then you have people falling into your back. Like, how would you like that? It could be really scary, or it could be so fun. And when I told myself, 'I want to do that,' I want to be the person like we're going through the dark trying to find whatever melodies or visuals I see. I think that's what all artists can say about how they feel about art.
Andre: I don't know. I've been reading. I'm not reading; I'm trying to finish this book, but The Creative Process or The Creative Act by Rick Rubin was a little I forgot what chapter, but basically, he was saying how for artists it could feel like when they make music or whatever they make it's like it's like if you can imagine a circle and like in the circle, there's a bunch of dots that were that represents like the everyday person. Then, for artists, it's like they're outside the dot trying to grasp whatever they can, but the people inside the circle can relate still. Still, the people outside the circle can't explain.
Andre: So, this interview is like, oh, getting out of your comfort zone is a big thing to do. It's okay. If you need to be lazy because you work so hard, do it, but keep on going. Take a step forward, and keep taking your steps.
Alicia: Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you're excited about?
Andre: I’ve Been saying, you know, trying to drop this EP.
Alicia: Nice okayyyy!
Andre: I don't know if it's smart to drop it during the election, but at the same time, I have artists' friends telling me, 'Oh yeah, I'm not dropping because of the election,' or 'I'm dropping, I don't care.' So I'm like, 'I'm in the middle.' So, hopefully, an EP soon, if not another single…what would you like to hear? Would you like an upbeat song, uh, a very intimate song, or an acoustic-based song?
Alicia: Probably intimate, to be honest. Or something like 'Back Here Again,' like when you sent me that... I'm telling you, I kept replaying it like it's not even funny; it's been stuck in my head for so long. On the day I had the interview with the band West of Eden, I played it the whole time while setting up, and my friend was like, "Why do you keep replaying this song?" and I was like, shhh, but no, yeah, it was so good like truly!
Andre: Oh my goodness, I mean, this is surreal to be able to say that I'm doing this interview or to say I've been doing music, I guess, for this amount of time, and to be able to do this is such a like whoa, like this is so cool, like this is what I've been watching as other artists do. I'm thankful to spend time talking to you right now.
Alicia: No, thank you! It would have been so much better in my studio.
Andre: I know I'm just like, I remember I texted you, 'Oh, do you want to do it in the studio?'
Alicia: Yes, it was last minute, and she had it rented because I rent so...
Andre: Oh, you rent out the studio, I'm so sorry, but I would love to be able to do another interview.
Alicia: I'm so down. Like, you can just let me know.
Andre: Are you open to doing interviews in the open? Like at a coffee shop like two mics just sitting across from each other
Alicia: I’m so down. I have all the equipment for it too so I’d be so down for that.
Andre: This is off-topic. It's supposed to be low-key, but I'm just going to tell you, you can choose to keep it in or not, that my mom and I have been talking about doing a podcast.
Alicia: Wait, oh my god niceeee!
Andre: I do know, like the stuff that we need, obviously a camera, but how to set it up to make it look professional,
Alicia: Do you have the equipment, or how you want the setup to look like?
Andre: We're gonna buy it all, because we really want to get this idea going. My mom is like, 'Oh yeah, I want to do it!'
Alicia: You actually should. That would be so cool.
Andre: I've brought this idea up with a lot of other kids my age. I'm like, what would you like to see from mother-son podcasts? There are many mother-son podcasts, but I think my mom and I's dynamic is so unfiltered that it's kind of funny. I would love to talk about this after the interview, too.
Alicia: Yeah, for sure. I can send over the stuff I have, like what I've bought so far, or if you ever need to use anything, you can let me know because when I'm back in college, I leave everything back here, so like.
Andre: You're from SJ, right?
Alicia: I'm from LA, but I go to school in Merced
Andre: Merced, and that's like San Jose. Is it it's like the bay
Alicia: No, it's not really. It's about two hours from San Francisco and close to Fresno. Let's say that.
Alicia: Yeah, so I'm always out there, but I'm never in LA unless it's for my publication stuff.
Andre: Wait, off-topic, were you at Pamilya Jam
Alicia: I was, yeah, I was
Andre: Man, I could have met you… I mean, I love your stuff.
Alicia: No, yeah, I'm super awkward, so I was just in the corner—literally in the corner doing my thing.
Andre: Did you get to say hi to RC?
Alicia: I didn't. I didn't say hi to anyone. I was in the corner.
Andre: How was it when you saw RC, though
Alicia: At the concert or?
Andre: RC was at Pamilya Jam
Alicia: Yeah, so was Rocco. I saw both of them. I was just like, oh, cool, and stayed in the corner.
Andre: Rocco and RC are the boys, you know. When I told them about my showcase, they said, "All right, we have to go."
Alicia: Yeah, you did so good; I had to follow you right After I was like, 'There's no way, yeah,' and even like when you did the cover, I was like, 'What the fuck"
Andre: That was my first show, my first time performing as a solo artist.
Alicia: You did so good, like actually so good.
Andre: That means so much because I don't know what I'm doing on stage. I had a second. Showcase, which was so much cooler because I could perform in front of more artists like Lynn Lapid. She has an event at her place called Mooncake Time. The next time there is one, I'll bring you for sure; you'll see a lot of people.
Alicia: Oh, nice! That's where you met Thomas, right?
Andre: Yes, that's where I met Thomas
Alicia: Yeah, we were talking about it because he asked me, oh, who's your next interview? And I was like, oh, Andre, and he was like who, and then I was like Andre, and he's like, wait, I met him, and I was like, oh shoot, nice.
Andre: Oh man, it's like, I guess getting them, like, other artists' respect is such a crazy thing because I tell people, like, I feel like I'm convincing a lot of people that this dream of mine is something I'm making happen. So the respect I get from others, like Thomas, when I saw him practice, 'I was like,' yo, that's a different level, you know.
Alicia: He's he's so extremely talented, like everyone I've met so far, it's crazy; I'm like whoa, like his live performance at my studio, it was insane like his vocals were crazy, I was like whoa whoa whoa.
Andre: When I listened to him, I was like, bro, this is unfair.* laughs* And then what was cool was that after my set, he and Echo came up to me saying how I killed my set. But yeah, it's just cool to be able to have other artists, you know, tell you to keep doing it. Keep going. It's so nice. I'm sure you have other people who do the same thing as you and tell you to keep going.
Alicia: No, yeah, definitely.
Andre: Your way of words, oh my goodness, like how you like. Whenever I read your interviews, I'm just like, wow
Alicia: Thank you so much! I work a lot on improving myself,
Andre: You're really good at what you do, and you're going to go so far.
Alicia: Wow, thank you like that means so much to me
Andre: What's your dream? Where do you want to see yourself in two years? Let me switch the roles right now...
Alicia: Um, I don't know, I feel like hopefully .. let me think about this
Andre: In two years, you're going to be working for the New York Times.
Alicia: Dude, that'd be so cool! I want to work in an actual magazine. Oh my god, I feel like, just like writing because I started with, like, a small magazine, which they created like on Instagram, but then they were not giving me opportunities, so I was like, I'm going just to do my own thing, and then I ended up like doing what I'm doing now. And then It ended up working out. I think it's working out kind of.
Andre: It's really like, okay, think about what just happened from what I'm seeing from you. You just had a week full of different interviews,
Alicia: Yes, it's been back-to-back.
Andre: You're doing it, you're really doing it. I'm having a lot of people ask me who you are. I'm like, 'Bro, it’s just a really, really talented writer.' You're really good at writing. Oh my god, like, oh my god
Alicia: Oh, thank you! I try my hardest to put into perspective where, let's say, someone didn't know who the Artist was. I want them to understand through my writing, 'Oh, this is who he is and like, this is what they create or like, even if it's like a concert review. I want them to feel like they're in the crowd with me. I kind of just put that into my head when I'm writing, and it takes me a while, though, to write the way I want to, so that's why sometimes it takes me like a whole week or two to push out reviews, but I swear things are coming I just, I'm the only one doing it so yeah
Andre: Basically, how fast it comes or how at times it’ll take awhile right.
Alicia: Yeah, basically
Andre: That’s how it is when I make music. It’ll either come or it won't
Alicia: Yeah, and I often reach writer's block, so it's hard. Like after the last review I wrote, my brain stopped functioning, so I haven’t written anything since.
Andre: Take the time. If I could tell other artists who have moments like that, take time. Don't take too much time, but take the time that you need, not what you want.
Alicia: Yeah, that's the problem because the last time I hit a writing slump, I didn't post reviews for like two months, and that was so long, but then I kind of like got out of It, and I was like, all right, cool I’m back.
Andre: If it makes you feel better. I've had a moment where I didn’t touch my guitar or sing for four months. That was a tough moment. That was a tough time to add on to that. During that time, I debated whether I wanted to go back to school or if I loved music that much because there wasn't any motion. I just felt really stuck.
Alicia: I get that. I understand exactly that. I felt stuck for a while because it gets super demotivating when you don't see yourself growing or you just see yourself stuck in the same place for a while.
Andre: Yes and then when people tell you do something it’s like…
Alicia: Yes, I'm like okay, let me just…
Andre: Especially when family is like how's your your music doing and you're like it's doing great
Alicia: Yeah, that's how I feel about what I do. It's just a little different, but yeah, I think it’s going somewhere. I don't know.
Andre: It is going somewhere like you're having an interview right now. When did your dream of being a writer, creating a journal or journalist-type account come to you?
Alicia: It was after a Wave to Earth concert
Andre: Did you watch them?
Alicia: No I didn’t get to this time but I went to their first tour. No, you know what I have beef with Thomas because on Tuesday, I had a shoot with him, and he literally told me he wasn't going because he didn't get tickets
Andre: And then he went and got a photo with them
Alicia: yeah, exactly! No, I literally was like…No, me and Thomas have beef
Andre: Hey, Thomas, you're watching this interview, man...
Alicia: But I was like, all right, cool, I guess, but yeah, it was after the concert that I wanted to write. And then I wrote something and deleted it because I didn’t like how it came out. Then I took a break, came back in February with five more reviews, and then that's when I just started going.
Andre: How long ago was that the concert? You said last year.
Alicia: Yeah, but I didn't officially start writing and creating my website until April.
Andre: So like, okay. Imagine it took a year's worth of like just thinking and dreaming and being delusional to get motion, which is right now. Like props to you, congrats on all the work that you've put in
Alicia: Ahh, thank you!
Andre: Your studio. Like Keoni, I. Remember, I saw him, like, I think, a few days after his interview, and he said, 'Yeah, man, like the studio is sick. Really professional. Like what you're doing. I think the biggest thing for smaller artists, writers, or whoever it is. If you can convince people that you're doing it, it will really come out, and you'll end up doing it. You know, even if you financially can't do it or if you don't think you are talented, you have people who believe you're doing it.
Alicia: No, yeah, I try to make my studio setup homey, at least.
Andre: It's so cute. That's why I wanted to go to the studio
Alicia: No if you would have let me know earlier I would have had it but next time for sure . But yeah I just try to make it yeah homey and I just try to bring things people like and then that's it
Andre: I would love to, besides this whole interview have another talk like I would love to work with you!
Alicia: Yes, I would love to, too. Keoni said the same thing. He mentioned co-hosting. I was like, dude, just let me know, like I'm down. You guys literally give me a day a time, and I'll have my studio ready. I swear, I just need to know in advance, though.
Andre: Yeah, I'd love to work with you more. Besides doing reviews on artists, what’s another thing that you love to do creatively
Alicia: I like to shoot. I've been getting into that. I've been shooting concerts, and today, I have one. It's for a big group called—I don't know if you listen to them—a Mexican band called Fuerza Regida, and it's my first arena show. I do a lot of concert photography and then I'm getting into shoots with just the artists, like Thomas was my first… Shout out to Thomas for trusting me, for real.
Andre: Lets gooo
Alicia: But yeah, Thomas and Seph, those are my two right now that I have, like, and I'm still editing, but yes, I'm trying to get into that more;
Andre: I'm privileged to say that I have a lot of photographer friends that you know get their money off of doing concerts.
Alicia: Oh, that's nice, nice.
Andre: You know, I would love to connect you with them if you ever need any advice
Alicia: I feel like I'm really introverted, so it's hard for me to talk to and meet people, which is funny because what I do involves talking. But I feel like I don't even talk that much because I'm kind of like... I don't know
Andre: If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?
Alicia: I'm nineteen
Andre: You're 19. Nineteen to twenty-one, like you're going to learn so much about yourself, so much. When I was nineteen, I was afraid to talk to a lot of people in high school I really think what you're doing right now like you're getting out of your comfort zone. You're talking to a lot of people like you're just so talented. That's why I’m really excited for this interview.
Alicia: Oh, thank you so much. That means a lot because I have a lot of moments where I'm like, “Am I doing the right thing?” especially because, for me, at least, my family isn't that supportive. They're like, “What are you doing?” because this has nothing to do with my major.
Andre: That's why you have to be like, wait
Alicia: That's what I tell them, but then they're very…
Andre: hey, listen, you're doomed if you don't, and you're doomed if you do. That's how I see it. Okay, so I'm guessing you have a Latino-like background.
Alicia: Yeah, I do.
Andre: Okay, so I think Filipinos and anyone that's Latino are kind of similar - family-oriented. Family can either like talk hella shit on you, or they can talk they can praise you.
Alicia: Right, right
Andre: So yeah, you're doomed if you do, and you're doomed if you don't. So it's like do whatever you want to do, I don't know if that makes sense to you
Alicia: It does either way, whatever they tell me I still to do it like this week. They've been mad at me because I've been here like for a really long time, but It's like I can't just let the opportunities go
Andre: Exactly, exactly; they won't get it, they won't get it, because they can only give you advice on things they've done. And I'm sure you can relate when I say what you're doing right now is you're the first, you're the first in your that, and you know, and it's not because they're mad at you or because they, you know, don't want you to fail; it's because they're afraid that they won't be able to give you the advice that you need, or they want to give you And imagine when you become a parent, right, and your son or your daughter wants to pursue something that your pursuing. Imagine how safe that feels for you as a parent so we could change that perspective. Oh my, my family hates what I do; blah, it's like, 'nah, yeah.' You could feel that way, but you can also change the perspective a little bit.
Alicia: No, yeah, definitely
Andre: I don’t want to sound like a smart-ass
Alicia: No, you're good. Like I ignore them, I just put a wall, to be honest, because I'm like, 'fuck it” because I have too much to do ..' uh, no, I can't have that in my head because then it really fucks with me, but then I'm like, nah, I just ignore it. To be honest, I'm like, all right, bye, and I leave to my interviews
Andre: Word. That's another way. How long have you been in LA?
Alicia: I've been in LA since Thursday of last week, so I've been here a good minute
Andre: Thursday of last week, so you're like, you're going back and forth
Alicia: Usually I am, but this time I just stayed because usually I'll like come back, I'll take the train, and then come back and take the train and come back, but since everything was like, a little too back to back. This time around, I just said fuck it and stayed the whole time.
Andre: That's what's up. That's where the grind begins and fun stories. You get to say that after two years and how that was a big moment for you.
Alicia: No, yeah, but September has definitely been full of opportunities, so I’m always thankful that people let me interview them. Even right now, thank you for letting me sit down and speak with you. Like thank you so much.
Andre: No, thank you for, I guess, the spotlight and making me feel special. I mean, I think when you can make someone feel special, that energy will carry that person out for long you know.
Alicia: Yeah. I get it.
Andre: I think that's something I like doing with my music if I can make someone feel special. Yeah, I think that's my biggest takeaway, like performing in front of someone or having people listen to my music during a hard time if I can make you feel special,
Alicia: yeah, okay, nice, oh yeah, it's like connecting, right.
Andre: Exactly
Alicia: Okay, that's good, that's nice. Oh, we're on the last question. Ending the interview, is there any message you want to tell your listeners?
Andre: So, I'm starting out right now, but all the nice people, you know, the sweet people that have been, you know, supporting me saying the nicest things, like thank you so much to all my two thousand monthly listeners thank you so much for listening to me. I still think I'm a kid with like the biggest dream, and you know, I'm doing my very best to turn this dream into you know like to have it fully be there and if this journey is like inspiring for you also to do your creative dream or whatever dream that you have that you think is so big like I'm happy to be that for you know like oh my goodness so much work is being put into just the quickest 10 minute or ten-second video that you see or each two-minute song; a three-minute song like takes so much work at this moment it's like a lot of dedication to put out you know all these you know these long drives late night drive, you know, a lot of events just to meet certain people to work like it's… I'm putting in that work, so I'm happy that you guys are receiving it.
Andre: Everything, you know, in a very positive and accepting way, so um, yeah, I hope to make you guys proud of the future, and hopefully, this won't be like our first interview. Hopefully, each time we interview, there's a level-up for both of us, you know?
Alicia: Yeah, definitely,
Andre: But no. I hope… I keep telling myself, I really hope this works out.
Alicia: No, you got that. I'm telling you it's in the bag for you; it just takes time, but you got that.
Andre: I hope so, I'm really. I'm just trying to find the crowd. I hope the crowd finds me soon, you know. But yeah, just putting in that work, that's it.
Alicia: Thank you so much. Actually, thank you for just letting me sit down and interview you.
Andre: Doing stuff like this makes me feel like I’m taking a good step forward
Alicia: You are. I’m telling you, you're going to skyrocket. You got that!
