We recently connected with Eric Chacón and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Eric thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

From a very young age, I embarked on my journey in music, beginning my formal studies at the age of 8. As I grew and matured both in age and experience, I transitioned into a professional career around 18 or 19 years old, right after completing my studies at the Conservatory of Music of Venezuela. In my view, the true foundation for building a career in music—or any artistic or professional discipline—lies in a steadfast commitment to continuous learning and personal development.

Art, like any other profession, demands unwavering dedication that goes beyond live performances or recordings. It’s crucial to engage in the constant creation of new works, to mentor and guide other artists, and to maintain ongoing connections with colleagues who share your passions and goals. Perseverance, daily discipline, and the ability to surround yourself with people who nourish and elevate your work are the essential pillars that allow you to fully live from music or the art you’ve chosen as your vocation.

Only through this hard work, accompanied by consistency and interaction with a vibrant artistic community, is it possible to sustain a full-time career and enjoy the fulfillment that comes from living off your art.

Eric , 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?

I started in the music business at a very young age, initially through training and then moving into professionalization. I studied at university and earned a bachelor’s degree in flute performance, specializing in academic music. In addition, I have advanced studies in jazz, focusing on both the saxophone and the flute.

The most important thing I can offer to those who listen to me is originality and the unique music I create. I’ve deeply connected with the folkloric music of my country, Venezuela, but I’ve also explored jazz, particularly in fusing it with Latin American music. Recently, I’ve been diving into creating lo-fi music and exploring new trends like R&B and neo-soul.

Listeners of my music can experience many facets of my work over the years, as musicians naturally evolve and change with time—something that has certainly been true for me. I always strive to create new things and am consistently working on almost monthly projects. I’m developing a personal project centered around my brand, my music, and the distinctive sound of Eric Chacón. People have been hearing this sound for a while now, and there’s been a positive response and a good understanding of what I aim to convey through my music.

Over the years, I’ve achieved significant personal milestones. My albums have received recognition, especially in Venezuela. Two of my albums, including *Mestizo* (a collaboration with Tony Succar), and my album *Flautístico*, have won several Pepsi Music Awards, which are among the most prestigious music awards in Venezuela. Additionally, I’ve been connected with the Latin Grammy Awards, participating in a significant number of albums—approximately ten—that have gone on to win these awards.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me as an artist is witnessing how people have gradually embraced my projects and the music I’ve been creating over the years. My journey began with my first album in 2008, *Choroni*, a Venezuelan music album. Since then, a lot of time has passed, and I now have eight albums and two EPs, along with various collaborations with other artists. The fact that so many people have joined this journey, listening to my music, sharing it, and using it as a reference, means a great deal to me.

However, what holds even deeper significance is the legacy I hope to leave for future generations. I want my music to be something they listen to, something that becomes a reference point for them. Just as we listen to the music of the past, I aspire for my work to become part of that lineage, so that in the future, people can enjoy and share my music. I want it to become a standard, a piece that musicians perform, remembering that I was a composer and interpreter of jazz and universal music with a meaningful influence on future generations.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

This is a complex issue because, for artists like me who create music that isn’t mainstream and is more organic, many things would need to change for us to have more opportunities. Radio, television, and advertising would need to shift their approach, and social media could play a crucial role in better educating the younger generation about the auditory content they consume. It’s not just about the images they see, but also about what they hear.

Today’s urban music, with all its characteristics, influences the subconscious mind, and in many cases, it doesn’t convey positive messages. I believe that if we start there, we could give more opportunities to artists like myself and others who are searching for a more genuine impact. It’s especially important to capture the attention of young audiences, who are eager to hear new music, but are often offered lower-quality content or with misleading messages. The industry, by focusing on what it believes people should consume, limits the available options.

If this dynamic were to change, we could have more space to hold concerts and gain greater global prominence with high-quality music that offers valuable content and reflects values closer to what the world used to be.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://ericchaconsanchez.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericchaconsanchez?igsh=dzUwMmlxZmg5ejNs&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/xn82YGoFfcRNDY2B/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://www.facebook.com/share/xn82YGoFfcRNDY2B/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ZiQIMVzOvDwR4mKPLMNRR?si=K4RnyZiaQIKnWnTi1_pbnA