We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Daniel Torres. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Daniel below.

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

By day, I enjoy my role as a public engagement manager. I work closely with the community and connect residents with opportunities for success and wellness. I get to use my background in graphic design occasionally though flyers, photography and presentations but what still keeps my creative spark lit is the freelance work I do away from my nine to five.

I can’t play an instrument, but over the last two decades I’ve had the pleasure of managing several bands. From booking tours and hotels to posters and promotions- I had my hand in it all. But my favorite non-music music task was creating album art. I’ve had the opportunity to do this for a handful of bands but the most recent have been the most important to me.

I recently attended the album release show for the band Brightwire. This was the third album in a row that I was able to work with them on, attempting to capture their audible art with my visible creations. And to see it all come together and reproduced on vinyl makes it that much more special. Although all three album covers have nothing in common, they act as a personal triptych of therapy- reminding me that I have value and something still appreciated.

The mediums range and often were combinations of photography and painting. The most recent album music reflected that growth that happens when you finally exhale and move forward. Where you try to find the sweet in a long sour. I wanted something warm. Something familiar. And something to heal me while I shared a bit of myself. As a child, I loved playing with HotWheels cars but never had enough track. So at age 5, I improvised by using strips of construction paper taped together and strung all over the living room; through curtains and tables and consoles, over couches and chairs and up the walls. I created vast networks of tracks for me to escape in. Imagination is powerful and I thank my parents for giving me the space to be messy and weird.

I look at these album covers I created and hope that one day I can create the music as well as the cover art. But for now I’ll just be thankful for the opportunity to create and an audience still receives it.

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

I grew up on an island off the coast of Texas. Galveston. You might have heard of it- thanks Glen. Before my job as the public engagement manager for a nonprofit, I was afloat for years, wearing many hats. From pharmacy tech, brewery manager and designer to elementary educator and band manager. I was 70% good and 50% of things. But each one was a skill or challenge that led me to where I am now.

In one of my floating states, I met a woman who managed a farmers market. She commented on my hat that said FAILURE, the band not a self loathing clothing statement. We became quick friends and she knew my creative past and public facing experience. I’ve put every ounce of my creativity into this job and haven’t looked back. As the public engagement manager I create and coordinate events, act as a community connector for other nonprofits and produce most of the social media output. We recently partnered with a local brewery to create a limited release beer, Hoptimism! And of course I got to create the can art.

It’s not a design job but it does often ask of my creative skills. I like to think that all my past jobs have helped me by so successful at this one. We keep learning and I hope my career keeps growing!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

While my day job pays the bills, I have a crazy dream to get recognized on a national level for my creative output and adventures. The Grammy Awards recently added a category for Best Album Cover. It’s something I’ve done and only gotten better with over the years. The award would be a nice experience but to be seen by my heroes and have opportunity to work with more artists is the real win. I have grown up following the album art of Storm Thorgerson. I am capable of that caliber of greatness, just need a spark to get me going!

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

There is so much not seen in the process of creatives. Each of us have a method to our madness. I am always working. I may not have a bands album to work on but I will always snap photos and sketch ideas that could one day be the inspiration for greatness. Some of us plan and story board and analyze while the rest of us wait until 9 minutes before a deadline to execute art. Regardless of the method, none of it easy and I don’t take the madness for granted.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @createdbynine

Image Credits

ALL IMAGES BY DANIEL TORRES