We recently connected with Dominick Martinez and have shared our conversation below.

Dominick, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I have taken many risks in my lifetime, the first time I took a big risk was in the name of passion for my art. I was just 18 years of age when I drove to a city two hours away from where I was based at (Tucson, AZ (my home town)), with no drivers license. It was to perform for the whole city of Douglas at my first ever concert. I was referred by a friend and fellow artist/mentor, to an organization known as B.A.C (Border Arts Corridor) to perform for the whole city of Douglas, AZ. It was my first concert ever attending, and my first concert ever performing in. I knew that if I wanted to grow as an artist, I needed to be able to perform with excellence under pressure. As well as, networking for personal and professional exposure. I am grateful to have had the people around me that I did at the time, networking is vital for reaching any desired goal. I was the opener for the show, I was a little tired and more than a little nervous. However, the love, energy, and overall hype we had at the show made me realize that making music and performing it for the people was what I needed to do. A larger part of my souls mission. I remember I passed multiple highway patrol officers on my way to Douglas and with each one my confidence only grew, I drove there with my brother/fellow artist. He helped the process a lot because I had never made such a long drive before. I did my best and learned a lot from that show, and I must say that the experience I gained payed off greatly. I got a check for a hundred dollars in the mail a month after my performance, but the experience and the knowledge gained, is completely invaluable. The support I had at the show was incredible as well, I am forever grateful.

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

For me my music interest/fixation, started when I was in middle school. I began exploring different sounds, genres of music that I had never heard before. Back then my grandfather would mostly only listen to older stuff, like Bon Jovi, Clear Water Revival, and some times pop when I got tired of hearing the same oldies. My grandmother on the other hand listened to modern country music. I definitely got some good exposure to those genres, but I knew there was something more for me. When I heard Ed Sheeran on the radio for the first time, I was so curious and in awe of his guitar melodies and singing cadences that I was then prompted to learn the guitar. I got my first guitar from my Tia that same year for Christmas, I think it was a $20 guitar from Lowes or something. It was cheap piece of plastic the size of a ukulele but I carried that thing around with me everywhere (a habit that persisted until I graduated high school). During this time, I had found a few artists/groups that I became mesmerized by. Eminem, N.W.A, Big Daddy Cane, Slick Rick, Yelawolf, Snoop Dogg, and a few others. This, sparked something. An undying flame of inspiration and genius. I went on YouTube and began my journey. Mostly writing to Eminem type beats. I would write at school, in my classes, in my notes, staying up late laying by my nightlight writing songs in my note books. It wasn’t until I hit the 9th grade that I began to record myself in my notepads on my phone, I would freestyle and write different songs and music genres with my guitar. Staying up late and waking up late, breathing, and living, just to record demos and hear them back. It was amazing to me having this capability and talent. The love I had and continue to have. I uploaded my first song to SoundCloud In 2021, when I was in the 10th grade. It’s still up to this day it’s a track titled “This Life(demo)” I made it on bandlab for the price of a little willingness to learn and some free time. It is an acoustic track that I produced myself but shortly after I started experimenting with drum pads, I made loops and my brother/artist hopped on one with me, the track is called “Half & Half”.

I do currently make beats for a few artists including myself of course, I also provide studio time. I produce, record, engineer, master, write and co-write, for artists. I also do filming and directing. As well as, editing, mastering and producing footage (Shorts, Reels, TikTok’s, Music Videos, Visualizer’s, etc.) and photoshoots. photography is another thing that I have been doing since middle school. Most of the artists that come to me often complain that their previous producer(s) were very unprofessional and or not willing to work with them on certain projects. But I am. When I conduct my sessions, I don’t like to start right off the bat, in short, my process is very laid back, we feel out the energy and vibe to get a connection established first off. Then we work, this helps with the work flow and trust tremendously. I credit myself on my professionalism and my quality of work that is achieved during sessions and even solo studio time when it’s just me. My studio etiquette is very highly prioritized and disciplined. Professional in everything we do.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to guide, protect, and adorn the youth. Young adults and children, to teach and encourage them to think freely for themselves, to accept and believe in themselves. To not be sheep. To question everything. Be a blessing and then disappear.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

People often think I’m crazy, and that I will fail. To be on honest, you can’t really be 100% sane to achieve the goals that I am aiming for. Open your mind, be open to receiving new perspectives and knowledge. I can and will impact the world and the causality that will follow suit will ultimately change the world. If you do not believe that is possible, if you do not believe that you hold the power to change and impact any and everything that you desire to, then you too, are lost in the crowd. Be a Shepard and think for yourself, why do you think you are here? It goes much deeper than you could ever imagine.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dom_martinz/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuXvZdhoAOSYyGb7Fckrv6Q
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-596630845
• Other: https://linktr.ee/dom_martinz

Image Credits

DOM MARTINZ

LOVEZEDIALLC TM