Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cj Alicea. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Cj, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
Learning really came natural. God was the one to bless with me with my gift of drumming and music. For music production most of it was just sitting there and doing trial and error. Surrounding yourself with people who can push you and expose you to bettering your craft is important too. Speeding up the process in a sense I don’t like that. I feel like everyone has their own pace and how you wanna learn depends on your dedication to what you do. Everyone has their own journey and people are always comparing their journey to someone else when really we are all walking this road at different paces. The journey and how you get there is better than the destination sometimes. Pick up what you can from people along the way. Be a sponge to knowledge. Skills that were most essential for me and still is is really finding your own sound. Having your own uniqueness to yourself is a skill in itself. The skill of discipline to sit there and in a sense not be satisfied with mediocrity. For me I be sitting on beats until they are to my level of satisfaction. Even when it comes to drumming when I record there has to be a level of okay this is what I feel is good for me. You are your biggest critic so hold yourself to that standard. The obstacles that stood in my way is really my own mind. What I thought of myself and what you think of yourself leaks out to what you do outside. Another obstacle was time. In a sense you make time for what you want but sometimes life does get in the way so those are the two biggest ones for me.
Cj, 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?
So my name is Cj Alicea I am a drummer and music producer. I been playing drums since I was 1 and been producing since 2018. Music has always been a part of my life. I been playing drums in church since I could remember. It’s always just been a part of me growing up and has never really left me. Once I finished high school I wasn’t planning on going to college cause it really wasn’t for me but I ended up finding out about SAE which is an audio technology school in Miami. It was there I got introduced to production and just fell in love with being able to make my own tracks and put my feelings on a song.
For me what sets me apart honestly is that God has my back and knowing the fear and love of God has given me a blessing that I can connect with people through life and build more than just a business relationship but as a child of God that I can introduce you to something else that will benefit your life and make you a better person throughout your life. A lot of people play drums and produce but they are just there for the money sometimes. It’s deeper than music we have to walk this road together.
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Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Being yourself. Be true to who you are. A lot of people put on a face to get what they want. Most people are looking for genuine people. Not saying don’t have your guard up and you’ll know if people are for you or not. True colors always show up sooner or later but as long as you have stayed true to yourself and what you know is right. Quick come ups often lead to quick falls as well.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In this current season of my life I feel I’m pivoting the most. I have been letting go of a lot of things that have to do with my career but I’m holding on to the fact that I’m not letting go of all of this for no reason. In case you haven’t noticed God has a lot to do with where I’m at and how I move. So really trusting in God and his plan that I’m here now but he has something greater in store. I can’t say much because there is a lot of things in the works that I can’t speak on yet but I know that as you pivot into his plan and you let go of things you thought were the best for you little doors start to open up and lead you through a whole different road but I’m here and I’m enjoying what is happening. Sometimes a pivot is what really pushes you into your destiny.
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