Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Adrian Gonzalez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Adrian, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on to date is probably my first official album “universoul”. That album has a lot of emotion in it because it was written during a hard time in my life and was the one project I kept changing the release date because I needed it to feel perfect. I felt like if it didn’t make a statement to people or connect them with the art I create, then I would be a failure as an artist. The whole process from what inspired those songs, to who I had around me while I recorded them, to the picture I used for the album cover all have a personal meaning for me. And I feel like going through all that with this album prepared me to really start as an artist. And also showed my team what our positions would be to make this successful.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I feel like I am the perfect example of how your average everyday person with a burning passion to be different since a child can really manifest their dreams. I got into this industry by trial and failure, and just consistency to want people to hear what i’m saying. I didn’t have no industry plug ins or live in an area where you had many opportunities to express yourself as an artist. Me and my colleagues literally had to grind and make people realize there was talent in our city they were overlooking. As an artist I feel like I provide the most important thing you can, im nothing more than myself. Whether as a person or musician all I know how to do is express myself and what I feel on these tracks, and I feel thats what sets me apart from alot of people. I am definitely most proud of how through all the negativity and obstacles I’ve faced I am still here doing what I love most and creating music for people to relate to. Because in the end thats exactly why we create right? To give others that same feeling you got when you first heard a song or saw a painting. We all begin as fans and lovers of the will to create, and I’m just here sharing my perspective with the world. And whether my music blows up today or tomorrow or after I pass, I just hope the one thing people can relate to is how all I ever tried to do was put our regular folk problems and stress out into the open so other people know they’re not alone. In the end we’re all human and I feel music is the one thing that still brings us together now a days

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I would’ve taken more advantage of apps like soundcloud and youtube to find similar artists to me and network with them. As a young artist connecting with artist like you and more advanced than you are both very important. Also just posting your music on all platforms and investing in promotion is a huge help as well, you never know who is watching

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?

The will to create night and day without getting paid. Just that inner core feeling and belief in your art that no matter what people tell you or thing about you “wasting your time”. You know in your heart its what you love to do and you will continue to create even if you don’t see immediate financial benefits. I obviously pursued my musical career to create a better life for me and my family. But I also used music as my outlet to express myself and get through some of the hardest days of my life. When girls and friends weren’t there for me and I got tired of drinking and drugs, music was always the one thing there for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://drais520.wixsite.com/official
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draismusic_/profilecard/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drais.520?mibextid=LQQJ4d&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.tiktok.com/@draismusic_?_t=8s3RYjsaNXn&_r=1
• Twitter: @draismusic_
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@draismusic_?si=_Ibqm3FLJLA5BVWK
• Yelp: https://www.threads.net/@draismusic_?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/1keXrLN3FiYFcQMR8
• Other: Drai$ -on all major music platforms (spotify,apple music,tidal, etc..)

Image Credits

Calebthemysical
Isaiah Arana
Victor Gonzalez