We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yosmel Montejo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Yosmel , appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
Yes, I’m definitely happy as an artist, but like everything in life, it comes with its pros and cons. Let’s say it is a lifestyle: instead of working only 9-5 like a “job” you end up working almost all day long. The creative process now-a-days is only a portion of what you have to do if you don’t have a team. Now you have to be also a manager, social media wizard , producer , booking agent etc … it could be a lot.
I’ve been lucky enough to live off doing music all my life but I did work at a regular job when I first came to this country. Imagine being on stages all around the world and then the next day you’re replacing windshields for a living… that’s what it was like for me when I first moved here. So, yes, I know what’s it’s like and I can say that I learned a lot (especially English, lol) but I wasn’t happy so I went back to music. Although I felt miserable at that job, it had a propose at that time and I don’t regret it.
Yosmel , 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?
I’m a cuban born musician who studied at a Music Conservatory in my hometown of Camaguey, Cuba, starting at the age of 9. I spent around 11 years playing classical guitar and piano and studying composition while being a conductor of small ensembles. After that I taught guitar at the Elementary Music School in a different town where we got the opportunity to work with kids from 9 years old to 16 years old. During this time that I was working as a professor, I taught myself and started to play the electric bass in local bands and I learned how to develop the Musical director roll. Imagine a 20 year old kid telling older professionals musicians what to do to, lol. At that time I also realized that I had a career as a bassist and I loved it. Honestly, there’s was more opportunities to find work as a bass player than a guitar player.
After finishing my contract as a teacher, I decided to keep pushing and try my luck at the capital of the music in Cuba ” La Habana”. Before I moved there I auditioned for several bands and surprisingly they all loved me so I chose the one more near to what my goal was at that time. By 2008, I was officially part of the circle of musicians where all the country knew who you were, and with that came also the big responsibility to represent and defend our music at the highest level. I turned 22 years old and I started traveling outside of Cuba. This is a big deal and one of the most desired dreams of my cuban people so it was for sure an eye opening, life changing event. I could live all kinds of experiences from personal dreams to playing at the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals. In 2011, I came to the US on a tour that lasted 3 months so here I go again, having the opportunity to stay. I took the risk to leave everything I knew behind and start from zero.
Three years in Albuquerque ( New Mexico) learning everything I could , missing my country and asking myself if I made a mistake, I was determined to keep moving forward.. So once again, I made the decision to risk it all for a dream so I packed up my things and drove to the most beautiful city in the world: Los Angeles. I’ve been now 10 years here in the city of angels and that was one of the best decisions of my life. I’ve been exposed to a high variety of culture, music, and people and live in a city where I can drive to the beach whenever I want to escape traffic or simply walk down the street and recognize the person I just passed by is famous. It’s a daily reminder that one day that can be you.
I’m still learning. This industry changes constantly and you have to keep up, but there’s definitely some steps that will help you to get where you want. Number 1: Be yourself. The industry could be full of bad and good surprises but being yourself as an authentic individual will keep you standing up and out. Number 2: Be consistent and disciplined with your craft , I know sometimes it can be a blurred idea of what your goal is or where you’re heading but you need to be focused and determined to accomplish your purpose. Number 3: Don’t be afraid to try new things. Take myself as an example if you’d like. Who knew that a boy from a little town in the middle of Cuba would be playing with rock stars (Men at Work) or have his own music company, offering services in both English and Spanish..
On top of that, I finally have my own band “Yosmel Montejo & la Caliente” where I can express through my music my roots and at the same time push music boundaries. This would be between traditional latin music and latin jazz and American music. My clients know that I can help elevate their projects and help show them there is no limit to creativity, along with not betraying their roots. I am known for being consistently professional and artistic and understanding of traditions and my clients can rely on me to always be there for them.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Joy – the joy that I can see in the crowd’s faces and how they feel inspired to sing, dance or express themselves. Only music can do that.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Now I have a family so it’s a different engine that pushes me towards my goals and my goals have changed. My goals have to be more realistic at that same time that they don’t compromise my dreams. I have to not only be the creative artist changing culture and music but also the responsible provider where I cannot waste my time. That is a key factor: time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://oye.montejomusic.com/auuu
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yosmelbass/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yosmelmontejobass/
- Youtube: https://www.facebook.com/yosmelmontejobass/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/ym_lacaliente/?hl=en Yosmel Montejo & La Caliente IG page https://open.spotify.com/artist/5XQkHDRPAVci6LZjQ7JDGA. Spotify