We recently connected with Jian Salas and have shared our conversation below.

Jian, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Well, recently I was able to get 3 song placements in a Christmas movie that came out December of 2023. It was called how the Gringo Stole Christmas. I was slowing down with my music endevours and speaking engagements over the last few years because of my 9 to 5 job as a drug and alcohol counselor and honestly just trying my best to be a good family man. I was married in July of 2023 and I’ve been so used to the hustle and grind that I just wanted to try to enjoy things before jumping into any more big project commitments. A strange sequence of events occurred, I call it God, some people might call it the universe, I have no problem with either. But I got married and things were good, family life with my wife and daughter was great. My son from a prior relationship was getting into some trouble hanging out in Long Beach. I know this lifestyle well because I myself started going to jail at 16 and ended up in prison twice in my life as an adult. This is one of the reasons I strive to give back and help others and why I talk about the things I talk about in my music. But anyways, One day I get a phone call that my teenage son is arrested for a serious and facing very serious time. I was distraught. I thought to myself that I tried my best to make all the changes I needed to make to live a producful life and to give back to my community yet here it felt like I failed. I couldn’t just erase all the mistakes I made and gained too much in my life to allow myself to just self distruct even though I was in so much emotional pain. I remember praying to God one night in tears saying “I don’t want to hate you, I don’t want to be made at you, I don’t want to feel this way about you, take this away from me please!”I began having what I now know are panic attacks. My heart would be pumping so hard that I thought I was going to have a heart attack and it woke me up everynight for about 2 weeks. One day at work while I excused myself because I felt my right arm go numb and I thought I was having a stroke so I drove myself to the hospital and had tests done on me because I had abnormally high blood pressure. I checked myself out of the hospital to go to my sons court date the next day. I thank my wife and my family for being their for me during this time. Little did I know that things would work out for the best. Court date after court dated I didn’t know if my son would ever come home again.d During this time I got a phone call out of the blues of someone from Mexico named Arturo Arodrios. He was putting together music for a Christmas movie that was coming out starring George Lopez and he needed Latin hip hop music. He was interested in a song that one of our music contacts showed him. It was a Santana like hip hop salsa song/rap song. I thought it was strange how this came out of no where. I figured I needed to focus on my energy into ‘something else in between time and I decided to follow up on the request. I never had any movie placements before. The song was going to be the main song for the movie and credit roll. I called the singer that I did the song with and he did not want to allow me to put the song on the movie due to a few changes and creative differences. No hard feelings. I thought we might have been out of an oppurtunity, but the more I thought about it, I had a gut feeling that it wasn’t over yet. I called the Arturo the music producer and told him the situation and I asked him to give me some time to come up with a new song for the film. He seemed hesitant at first, after all he was on a time crunch, but he said ok go ahead and try but I need it soon. He sent me 2 intrumental tracks and he requested that I send any music I have that may be appropriate for the movie. I called my dad who was once a musician by trade and now producing to get his thoughts and support. His name is Julian Salas (spanish Rock band Radio Kaos-1990s). He knew I was going through it, especially because he was once on the other end of that situation with me being the son incarcerated. We also never lived together similar to my situation with my son. He told me to get busy and give it a shot. I wen to his studio took a day off of work and got busy. I wrote spanglish lyrics and was able to come up with a catchy hook. Everything was short notice so I asked my wife Lucy to drop the hook for me. lol. For that moment of time I felt that drive again. I was awoken. I felt like God new my pain and saw my sacrifices but most of all saw my heart. It was like he was saying “I got you don’t worry.” I called Arturo and I sent him the songs. he gave me a few critiques, good ones, and he let the rest of his team hear them. The best part is that he didn’t just select 1 song, he ended up selecting 3. 2 that I made that day I took off of work and one that I sent him from my previous work. Just like that it was placed in the movie. I remember taking my wife with me to the movie showing at patriot studio. My son ended getting a good deal as he was the youngest one of the group of kids who were involved in a crime that I rather not speak on. 2 of them are still fighting life. Its a sad thing all around but this is why its important for me to give back whatever I can so try to spread hope and positivity. Funny thing while my son got place at Dorothy Kirby corrections facility, they played the movie when it came out that Christmas and he got to see and hear our family’s work on the big screen. Things worked out all around. I got to visit my son every weekend and that was the most time I spent with him in many years and we’ve been able to grow closer from this experience. It was all a blessing in disquise. I didn’t understand it but I do now. I’m so thankful to God, My wife, my kids and my famliy who kept the faith with me during those hard times. thankful for Arturo for giving us the oppurtunity and for my dad Julian and ARKA Studio for letting me put together the music. It was Family business.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a drug and alcohol counselor and music artist/ artist coach. I work in substance abuse treatment as a group facilitator and case manager. I also make music and help guide other upcoming artists on their music production and projects at ARKA studio in Long Beach. I voluneteer as much as I can in the community, I done speaking engagements where I talk to groups of adolcents making music and making positive choices. I want potential fans to know that I’m here to serve my family and the community. I have to give back. its how I make my ammends for the poor choices I made in the past and I believe its nessessary to uplift families and the community. I’m most proud that I do prioritize being of service in the community whether it be through music or through drug and alcohol counseling or through the Church or even here in my apartment complex. As of right now I would like to share that me and my team are preparing to launch “ARKA Music Studio and Art center ” in the city of Long Beach. So stay tuned!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being able to express myself and make a positive impact. granted all my music isn’t happy music but its all real and based off of real life feelings and expereinces that we go through in the city and in the world in general. Its real. Music has allowed me oppurtunities to connect with people in a different way. I am appreciative of all the people i have met along the way. I recently was able to perform for activist and presidential cannidate Dr. Cornel West and it felt amazing to perform and share my upcoming song “peace Unity Love” with the audience. we collective share nothing but good vibes and a positive message of peace unity and love.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

My dad was base player for a spanish rock band called Radio Kaos in the 1990’s. they were signed to EMI capital records and he spent a lot of time playing and touring in Mexico. I never lived with my dad but I still took on a love for music. Over the years music was how we built a better relationship and now we can pretty much talk about anything. We built a music studio in Long Beach a few years ago and our vision keeps growing and evolving day by day. It really is Family business. My uncle Chalio was also a musician by trade, His son makes music, I make music, My son makes music and I can tell my daughter also has that appreciation and love for music. I think it somehow runs in the blood. Good Music is something we all can agree on.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jianxavier/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@jianxavier1224

Image Credits
Rose Solis- images.