We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erik De La Cruz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Erik, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I have ever worked on is my third poetry book, Between Human Hearts.

At 20 years old, I started a brand that would be clothing, media, and arts, mixed with environmental consciousness, I had hopes that I would become successful, people would immediately love it, and I’d be the next Walt Disney. I would change the world with clothing and my ideas. I failed for years with mediocre sales—won a few pitch competitions—but the one thing that gained traction was my blog. I was reaching thousands of people with my writing. I’d known I wanted to be a writer since I was nine, but I didn’t see it as a viable career. I loved Hip-Hop and romantic Spanish music, which opened the door to try poetry. I graduated from my university but was still unsure what my purpose was. I was my family’s role model; I accomplished what I was expected to do. Therefore, it didn’t mean much; it was an obligation given to me as the oldest brother of my family. After the novelty faded, I was hit with the deepest depression that had me bedridden for days at a time. I studied entrepreneurship… What was I going to do? What was I going to create?

In 2016, I started a website under the alias Erik The Genius. Who was I to call myself a genius with nothing to show for it? But deep inside, I knew I was intelligent enough to reverse engineer genius. To create a grand storyline and tackle future topics that aren’t even set in reality yet. I knew my brain was unlike the rest and my genius was deeply hidden within me, I just had to extract it through writing. I came up with the idea to write a poetry book after a muse stoked the flame of my creativity. After that, I read a book called, “Stoking the Creative Fires” by Phil Cousineau. I was sitting at the La Jolla Cove when I read a sentence that consisted of three words: ‘between human hearts’ — and it’s as if the words glowed divinely. My heart began beating rapidly; time stood still, and my soul immediately knew that that would be the title of my first book (which ended up being my third). I looked around at the park towards unsuspecting tourists, reflecting on the grand moment that had just happened—like the inception of Steve Jobs coming up with the idea for Apple or Ed Catmull with Pixar.

At the time, I was unaware that I had opened the portal to an excruciating yet rewarding eight-year cycle of strife to complete the book. I began it with the pure intentions of a fun and cool project, but little did I know that I would become the subject of a trilogy that would show me the entire spectrum of human emotion to serve the world better. Once I set the intention of writing a book, life tested my mental fortitude, and my (mental) health collapsed. Feeling like a failure after months of writer’s block, I wanted to end it all. I was on the brink of jumping into the end of my life’s story. I didn’t. I couldn’t do my family or the world a disservice by not fulfilling my destiny. I had to touch the bottom and see the darkness to be an example for others and show them that you can persevere. I started as a boy who would die for love, and by the end of it all, I was a man who would die for his art.

The process of Between Human Hearts was a journey where, in my head, I had completed the book over a hundred times. There was constantly more to say when I reopened the book to finalize it and I knew I’d discover more about myself each time I dove in. It’s the most meaningful creation to me because not only was it the most strenuous but it was catharsis in real-time through an art piece. It’s my magnum opus while understanding I’m far from finished impacting the world. This book starts as the cycle of love but is about understanding human connection in a digital age. By starting it, almost ten years ago, the landscape was vastly different. I was predicting the negative implications of phones, social media, and their addictions. As I was finalizing the book, I could see the positive tendencies it has to connect us to people outside of our immediate perimeter. That was a radical shock in the tone and story which was the final piece of the puzzle. Once I could see the full scope of the topic, the book wrote itself. The intention of technology or the use of it became a vital realization that made me reflect on the purpose and why I wrote the book in the first place. I understood the meaning of social media, how it draws us closer or separates us, and the ability to harness memories in pixels.

There’s value in discovering meaning and with Between Human Hearts I found the meaning to my life and my purpose in this world.

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 am a self-taught, self-published, first-generation Mexican-American writer and poet. My trilogy is an odyssey, not an epic poem, but an epic story of inspiration. A journey back to self, healing from the hurt and pain, understanding life, and bettering yourself towards shaping your reality with thoughts.

My first book, “Hert” is the awakening from a life of fairy tale ideals, a release of anger toward the world, the realities of heartbreak, and making yourself your mental point of origin. My second book, “Paint” is the residue of healing from heartbreak, attaching yourself to nostalgia, wanting to obtain mastery in my writing, and offering the world beauty. My third book, “Between Human Hearts” is the understanding of the cycle of love, overcoming reality distortion with self-identity, and human connection’s place in our world of technology.

I am most proud of my resilience in finishing my trilogy because no one expected it of me but me. No one ever imagined I’d become a published author, let alone in poetry, but I figured it out. I studied the craft, learned the tools, and wrote my heart out. I’ve changed lives with my writing and will continue to do so as it is my calling. My style of poetry is unique, it’s short stories in the form of poems. Each poem tells its own story while driving the narrative forward. I’m a creative who immerses himself in extreme situations and lengths for art. Whether it’s fasting for days, pulling all-nighters, or losing myself for hours writing, I give it my all. I care deeply and intently about each detail. There are countless layers of meaning and references beyond the surface that many people will never catch but the depth adds to the art; it allows for discovery evermore.

I want to revolutionize poetry and make it an art form that is not only respected but also consumed by the masses. The Shakespeare of this generation, the Mexican-American one.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission since I was a young kid was to change the world. Over time through anguish and hardship, I realized that I could only change myself. In the process of learning and changing internally, I can influence the individuals who watch me. I can do it by altering minds with my art and my words, that’s how I inspire change, I can impose a new reality onto the world.

Tupac Shakur said, “I’m not saying I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.” I took that to heart and have been chasing that ever since. I want to give unfiltered truths in my art—be an embodiment of truth and shock the world.

I want to inspire people to chase after their dreams because they saw me make mine a reality. I want to make people feel in a world that numbs them.

The main driver is to obtain freedom from the shackles of society which includes thought and the need to play the game(s) designed for us. I create art through my lens of reality and share the codes I’ve obtained on my journey. In hopes that those words fall into the right minds to make them see for the first time.

I want to inspire Mexican-Americans like me. I want to show my family that all is possible with your ideas if you desire it enough and act. I want to put San Diego on the map, culturally. I want to retire my parents. I want to change poetry forever and be regarded as one of the greats. I want to expand creatively beyond poetry and overtake all types of art that I choose. I want to be the greatest.

Each of those things is a flame that burns within me and I’m stoked every day that I have the chance to accomplish them.

My creative journey is a reflection of my internal growth. Art is my catharsis. Art is my alchemy. Art is my heart. Whether it’s on paper, in pixels, frames, pictures, or art installations, I give my soul to every medium.

I will continue to create because I never want to be stagnant, every cell within me is constantly battling me to move forward. Hence why depression can hit so profoundly because I’m not doing enough or moving fast enough. But, I also understand that everything is on God’s time, I just have to do my part.

All change starts with the seed of an idea. My goal is to leave as many seeds as I can that will feed generations.

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.

Artists often use masks or create aliases in their art to protect their self-esteem, ego, and/or inner child.

When I started my creative journey as a writer of poetry, I developed an alter ego named DELACRUZ who wrote my first two poetry books, “Hert” and “Paint.” That is why that name is on the cover of those books and not my full name. I went by my last name, connected as one word, bolded, and all uppercase — my stamp on the world. I was radicalized by the world, internet, and media that idealism was a set up towards heartbreak.

I thought “goodness” was rewarded by society when evil is often what prevails (even if temporary). This sent me into a spiraling and depressive episode which caused me to push people away and destroy relationships. My reality was collapsing, everything I ever thought I knew was a lie, and I turned numb. I wanted to understand the evil and by living in Hollywood… I discovered that essence. I saw the ugly and superficial. I wanted to portray a dark side in my books that was unlike most mainstream poetry and who I was as a person. To understand the harshest reality, I had to method act in the form of poetry. I had to create narratives in my mind and travel within the darkness to see light.

I’d seen my idols do it. Eminem had the controversial Slim Shady then he blew up. I thought I could emulate that formula towards success. I chose to be cryptic about it versus blunt and many didn’t bother to look beneath the surface. When you only see the face value, you confuse the mask with the actual person.

Non-creatives often don’t see artistry as an expression of truth or an idea to get them to reflect. When they don’t like to see themselves reflected: they lash out, demean the art, or attempt to smear the person. Many also live in a lie or aren’t aware that they’re being lied to. This causes them to impulsively react and be harsh toward the honest artist.

An artist channels ideas and sculpts them into art… sometimes they’re not the consensus of the masses. This causes one of two things, either the artist cowers to the audience into irrelevance or becomes callous to critique and becomes great despite them.

Those who are labeled as crazy are often the ones who are right early. The geniuses see and connect what is invisible to the masses. Creatives feed the non-creatives and those who eat sometimes don’t fully understand the process or the ingredients used because they don’t cook.

Many didn’t understand the journey I put myself through for the art. Art is sacrifice. I suffered so I could alchemize my pain and help others who needed a hug within the darkness.

I had to lose myself in the world of DELACRUZ to find out who Erik De La Cruz is.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://erikthegenius.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikthegenius/
• Twitter: https://x.com/erikdelacruz/
• Other: Between Human Hearts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733436545

  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erikthegenius

Image Credits

Twisted Fate Photography and Erik De La Cruz