Today we’d like to introduce you to Saul David Clavano.

Hi Saul David, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

Life often has a way of pushing us toward unexpected paths. For me, that shift happened in 2022, when I decided to dive into the world of songwriting and artistry. But my decision wasn’t just driven by a desire to create—it came after one of the most emotionally intense and challenging years of my life.

In 2022, I found myself at a crossroads. Despite years of hard work and striving for independence, I felt like I had hit a wall. I had always been motivated by the goal of becoming self-sustaining—a person who could stand on their own and, one day, support those around me. My dream has always been to create a safety net for anyone who needs it, no matter the circumstance.

That year, I secured a full-time job as a graphic artist, started a relationship with my now-fiancée, Sabrina (shoutout to my beloved!), and began to understand what it meant to be a responsible adult. I was proud of what I had achieved—yet, beneath it all, there was an unsettling feeling I couldn’t shake.

Despite checking all the boxes of “independence,” something still felt missing. I couldn’t understand why I felt incomplete, especially after seemingly reaching so many milestones.

Then, one night, after hours of gaming on an old favorite (Destiny), I finally put my computer down and decided to sleep. It was late, around 12:30 AM, and I was ready to rest. But as I lay in bed, trying to quiet my thoughts, something happened.

For the first time, I experienced sleep paralysis.

It was an overwhelming feeling: a tightening in my body, an inability to move, and a flood of realizations and emotions that I had been avoiding. I was suddenly confronted by everything I hadn’t fully processed—the grief of my grandfather’s passing, the time I felt I had wasted, the world’s constant state of turmoil, and the nagging feeling that I was a burden to those around me.

In that vulnerable moment, everything shifted. It was as if I was waking up to the reality that life was moving forward, and there was no going back. The memories I cherished were just that—memories. I was no longer living in the innocence of my youth, and I realized how much fear and external pressure had shaped my choices. I had allowed others—family, friends, and even society—to influence who I was, often stifling my true, authentic self.

The experience of that breakdown, while frightening, became a turning point. It led me to some powerful realizations:

Life is fleeting, and one day, we all will pass, leaving nothing behind.
The sun will eventually burn out, and the earth will no longer exist.
So, what’s the point of it all? What is the purpose of existence if it’s all destined to end?
Why do some people live in suffering while others seem to have it all?
I wrestled with these big questions, and in doing so, I realized what truly mattered to me. The little sufferings and struggles in my life? They’re not just things to endure—they are lessons, moments that can be shared and turned into something meaningful. I realized I had the power to create something from these experiences, something that could connect with others.

Music has always been a part of me. I grew up singing along to the songs my dad would play on the radio. I didn’t realize then, but I had a natural ability to pick up harmonies quickly. I discovered I had perfect pitch in music class, yet I never pursued it. But now, with a deeper sense of purpose and a more capable mindset, I’m channeling those talents into creating music that reflects my journey.

I’m no longer waiting for life to “make sense” before I act. I’m using my experiences to fuel my artistry, to turn pain and self-doubt into something that resonates with others. It’s not about avoiding the hard truths—it’s about facing them and making something beautiful from them.

Sorry for getting a little deep on you, but I felt it was important to share this. Life can be unpredictable, but we have the power to shape it, to create, and to find meaning in the moments we often overlook.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

The road to making music has been anything but smooth. One major downside of turning your life experiences into art is that you have to confront your memories—and sometimes, those memories bring up emotions you’d rather not relive. But it’s all part of the process.

When I first set out on this music journey, I decided to approach it with a sense of freedom. I told myself, “No one will care, I’m still learning,” and with only a small audience, I figured people were just checking me out out of curiosity. This mindset allowed me to be experimental and carefree with my work, which was freeing—but it also meant I was delving into some uncomfortable, raw territory.

My plan for the first three albums (a trilogy, perhaps?) is to use them as a reflection of my past mistakes. I want to acknowledge how those mistakes shaped me—how they’ve turned me into a person capable of hate and insecurity—and how those feelings affect everyone around me. It’s not easy, and it’s definitely not the most fun topic to explore, but I believe it’s something that needs to be said. I want to sing about it because these experiences aren’t just mine; they’re universal.

Writing about these difficult subjects isn’t easy. It forces me to confront not only the ways I’ve been wronged but also how I’ve wronged others. There’s this duality—acknowledging the pain others have caused me, and recognizing the ways I’ve hurt people in return. In these moments, I find myself asking: how capable are we of forgiving others? And more importantly, how capable are we of forgiving ourselves?

There’s a bigger reason behind all of this. Before I try to create something beautiful, I need to make something ugly. I want to understand the darkness before I try to shape the light. Writing and singing about my struggles gives me a way to release the intense emotions I can’t always speak about. It’s a process of catharsis, and it’s one I believe is necessary for my growth as an artist and as a person.

Of course, the road isn’t without its challenges. One of the biggest obstacles I face is imposter syndrome. That feeling of being a fraud? It’s real, and it’s crippling. But even in those moments of self-doubt, I keep pushing forward, because this journey is mine to make. And I know that in facing these difficult truths, I’m making art that’s authentic and real.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

Yes, I am Saul David Clavano, I’m an artist/musician based in Las Vegas.

In high school I was the annoying swagapino kid walking around school with his ukulele singing songs by Aj Rafael! :( I was really good at singing and playing and I was unfortunately super annoying about it too, you could catch me playing a tune before school started, at lunch, and after school.

I loved playing and singing music from Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson & The Weeknd. I also grew up on lots of Queen. I’ve listened to and heard many strong and powerful male vocalists and I really aim to reaching that bar with my music.

Fast forward to the last year, and I’ve released two albums: MEN’S WRONGS and HORROR HOUSE. Both projects dive deep into intense, personal themes, and I’m proud of how they’ve shaped my sound and storytelling.

MEN’S WRONGS came from a mix of media that had a significant impact on me. Films like 500 Days of Summer, Beach Bunny’s Emotional Creature, Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour, and the Barbie movie (yes, I said Barbie) all taught me lessons that, when combined, made me realize something: Men, especially young boys, often take too long to learn how to respect the boundaries of the people they pursue. The media and real-life conversations—hearing friends share their struggles—made me want to address this directly in my music.

I crafted this album to guide listeners through the journey of a selfish, adolescent boy, someone who fails in a situationship and ultimately learns that growth is about doing better moving forward. If you can’t forgive yourself for past mistakes, you can still make amends by paying it forward and doing better from now on.

The sound of MEN’S WRONGS blends punk, grunge, emo, and pop—definitely not your typical love song territory, but it’s an album for anyone who’s felt the sting of their own mistakes in relationships.

I figured a situationship was something that people my age either have experienced or are only experiencing, it is time to break that cycle my friend.

The vibes for “MEN’S WRONGS” are punk, grunge, emo, pop.

HORROR HOUSE deep dives into the difficult emotions and thoughts of a child in/escaping from/experienced in their life aspects of an abusive home. It is very difficult to come out with subject matter like this and say it out loud, maybe the anxiety and difficulty is just in my head, but I’m sure it’s not fun to hear when I hop up on the stage and talk about “HORROR HOUSE” at the open mic and then sing the most gut wrenching emo song about how I love and hate a person at the same time.

But I once again feel resolved in that I make this music because I simply haven’t found any music out there that relates to exactly how this feels while sounding the exact way it sounds.

“HORROR HOUSE” was heavily inspired by 2 of my favorite artists, The Weeknd & Billie Eilish. I took a completely different direction in the sound style from “MEN’S WRONGS” by doing a more alternative synthy-dark-pop sound, its a sound I’ve always wanted to try and experiment with! I made songs in there that sound like Billie and ALSO The Weeknd and that’s what I hoped to accomplish. Moving forward now I know I can do that, and make it even better! :)

Released on Halloween last year, HORROR HOUSE is the perfect soundtrack for anyone looking for something new. Load it up on Spotify, turn up the volume, and dive into the dark side!

Outside of producing 2 albums from my little office room, I also started doing the thing of going out every week to play at an open mic throughout 2024! I bust out my cool Fender Jazzmaster, I introduce myself and I get to playing and singing! The ukulele singing in high school really payed off!

The first songs I played at an open mic were “Dirty Diana” by Michael Jackson & “Grenade” by Bruno Mars.

I’m incredibly proud of both of the works I’ve done so far and I’m even more excited in remixing and remastering them in the future to make them sound way more professional.

What was your favorite childhood memory?

My most favorite childhood memory is of when I was back living in New Zealand, in the 2000’s.

Specifically when I was 4 years old, my mom would take my sister and me, and we would go out and buy fish and chips and bring it to the beach and have our meal while watching the seagulls and the people play and the waves crash.

The sound of crashing waves has since been something that always comforts and relaxes me.

Pricing:

• $69 – this is how much I’ve paid distrokid since I started using them!
• $420 – this was how much my Squier Affinity Jazzmaster was
• $100 – this was how much my audio interface was
• $250 – this is how much I earned from my first show with a band!
• $1300 – this is how much my ox blood jazzmaster cost

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sauldavidclavano.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sauldavidclavano/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sauldavidclavano

Image Credits

Sabrina Reyes