We were lucky to catch up with Andy Estrella recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Andy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I think this was when I had picked up an instrument and saw someone using it beyond the normal boundaries of playing chords and singing over them. I’ve always been surrounded by music as far back as I can remember and to make a long story short, this is what led me to picking up the guitar. My mother enrolled me in classical guitar classes when I was 13 and to be honest, I didn’t find that interesting at first. It was when I started playing it to songs on the radio that I realized it could be fun. However, the precise moment I knew I wanted to take this instrument all the way to a professional capacity was when I saw a performance of Steve Vai on video at age 14. I saw him do things that I didn’t know was possible and ultimately led me to practicing several hours a day and to abandoning popular music.
Andy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
After several years of practice, countless private lessons, and teaching multiple students myself, I was able to realize my dream of one day attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts in 2020. I think my time there honed and refined my skills not only in music and in my instrument, but also in having a working knowledge of the music industry. I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work with former Boys Like Girls member Morgan Dorr shortly after finishing up my studies in Boston. I was able to work on several briefs and songs with him on the helm and it was and still is an educational experience every time. As of now, we are working together to open and operate a new recording studio in Highland Park, Los Angeles. Combining the hipster atmosphere of the neighborhood and a minimalist aesthetic, the studio is called the Zen Den and we offer recording, mixing, and mastering services among others. The studio is also located in a multi-use property that includes an events space where people can also stay and work. For more information, interested parties may visit thezendenla.com.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Although I was always interested in music, I was in a humanities and political economy program when I was in college the first time. My main reason for getting myself into this field was I didn’t think studying music in my native country of the Philippines was worthwhile because of the very limited career opportunities for musicians. After graduating from college I was managing a real estate business full time but most of my attention was still directed towards music. I was still practicing my instrument daily, writing new music constantly, and teaching guitar and music theory to multiple students. In 2018, I had an opportunity to audition for Berklee and fortunately, I was accepted. Despite this, I still had lingering doubts on whether or not I should pursue music professionally because of my perception of this career path’s instability. Frankly, it took the sudden death of a dear friend to realize that life is too short to not be doing what you love. It was because of this that I had to pivot professionally later in life.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I believe that I have two goals in my music career. The first is a practical one, I want to be able to support myself financially through music whatever form that might take. I’m well aware that today’s industry doesn’t necessarily make it easy for musicians, or any artist for that matter, to support themselves solely through their art. Although I try to diversify my musical skill set by putting on different hats to seize the most opportunities I can, I do know that in a perfect world, artists should be capable of standing on their own feet financially by creating art. Perhaps this is a conversation that needs to be had by young people and succeeding generations. The second and less depressing goal I have is being able to share the same sense of awe and wonder I had when I was watching my guitar idols and professors in my teenage years to people whether it’s through performance or teaching. These emotions I felt earlier in life are some of the most cherished ones I have and I think everyone should at least experience these at least once in their lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.andyestrella.net/
- Instagram: @andyetoile4
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andy.estrella.165
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conrado-andrew-iv-estrella-417424154/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kaliguitaracademy
Image Credits
Speve Kayne Timothy Mah Asher Thomas