We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Eduardo “Gualo” Jaramillo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Eduardo “Gualo” below.

Alright, Eduardo “Gualo” thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights 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.

These are all lessons I’ve learned in my personal life and career, some the hard way, some the dumb way and some the smart way thanks to mentors and good people along the way. When I was 25 I took the best risk I could’ve possibly ever taken, scary but exciting… After graduating college I took the first job available at a company doing nothing related to my profession since the bills needed to be paid and the urgent support for my family was inevitable due to the circumstances we were facing at the time. There was no room or time to wander until something “landed”. After years of knocking on doors while still working at this job, one finally opened with the opportunity to freelance for a television show as an entry level audio editor. At this point, anything with “audio” or “music” sounded golden. And though I would finally work in my field and the pay was significantly better than my full-time job, it was only a 3 month gig and chao! I had to believe in myself and in the years of preparation to not see this as a risk but instead see it as an opportunity to build a legitimate career with legitimate credits in a legitimate industry and prove to myself and those hiring me that I am worth the opportunity... Worth the call back when the gig was over.

I left the “secure” full-time job with all the benefits and took the “risk”…

NONE OF IT WAS EASY. But…Had I never made that decision 6 years ago, I’d today be 2 Emmy’s under, own no company, have a blank IMdB page and my name would be non-existent on the credits of internationally acclaimed productions by Netflix, Telemundo Global/Int. Studios, MVProductions and Lifetime among others and most importantly, I wouldn’t be surrounded by the bright minded colleagues that inspire and influence me on a daily basis to consistently grow and learn.

Eduardo “Gualo”, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

“Hard work!”

I grew up in Miami. And if you’re from the 305, you hear and see these two words, loudly, in your face, hourly, from your average mediocre “influencer” to the folks who actually own and have zero payments on their 78 ft. yacht.

From my high school football coach, to my jazz piano instructor in college, to my personal trainer today, I’ve had to unlearn the lesson that “hard work” is the answer.

The lesson I’ve truly had to learn is that “hard work” is simply default. “Hard work” IS mediocre. “Hard work” is just as normal and average as brushing your teeth, tying your shoes and taking a shower. The moment I realized and understood that “the answer” was really in the details that begin above average, above anything that had to do with “hard work”, was the moment I started seeing growth, real results, real action. It’s past that mediocre atmosphere where you can find and honestly identify legitimate opportunities. Personally and professionally.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I wish I had one simple answer but I have two and they’re not simple hahahah:

1. What can society do?

– Get educated. Start with a great story as every piece of art has one even if it is all subjective… It’s way more than just putting it on the gram.

2. What can artists do?

– The moment we fell in-love or connected with art was because someone GAVE us something. And I don’t mean literally:

When I first played “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” as a 7 year old kid, my notion of storytelling through music and much more was practically born. Did these wonderful creators in Japan know the exact impact their art was causing in kids on the other side of the world? Probably not to the finest detail but today in my 30’s, I’ve lost count on how many friends have images from this game tatted on their bodies and activate an automatic smile at the sound of the first three notes of “The Lost Woods” from the soundtrack of the game. Nintendo, yes, they make MONEY and they are a business, a big one. But it was never about them… whenever I picked up Super Mario, Pokemon, Donkey Kong, Super Smash Bros, Zelda… it was all about ME. They did that. Their art and creation was always about the kids, not them.

Artists, all kinds, we miss the point the moment we make it about ourselves. That we “deserve” some kind of entitlement in a society or a community and we belong in a creative ecosystem that is built around us in order for us to thrive. There’s always a need that we can give to as artists, creators, leaders. Don’t we have a responsibility to do so? Michaelangelo challenged our artistic potential as humans, Beethoven, legally deaf, gave us Für Elise, MLK gave us hope, James Brown gave us something new to dance to, Eminem gave us honesty, laughter and anger while revolutionizing an industry against every odd, Chappelle gave us laughter and opened our eyes, Netflix saved us money and simplified entertainment and Epic games are giving kids a joyful childhood without making them stupid. None of these game-changers depended on a society to give or owe them something. They found a need, took serious risks and gave. And they also make a great living themselves. Win-win.

What are we giving?

Contact Info:

• Website: gualomusicandsound.com
• Instagram: gualo_music
• Other: IMdB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8974647/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0