We were lucky to catch up with Ernie Garcia recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ernie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I grew up in the west Texas town of El Paso. I developed an interest in music via my uncle. He was a huge music fan. I stared playing guitar at about 12 and was in bands by the time I was about 16. I considered it a really fun hobby until I moved to Austin, TX in 1993. Wow. I had never seen such a vibrant music scene before. If you visited or lived in Austin at this time, you know exactly what I’m talking about. After seeing bands at The Continental Club, Antone’s, Steamboat, and Liberty Lunch I was hooked. It was then that I knew what I wanted to do with my life.

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

I grew up in West Texas and started playing music at around age 13. Guitar first, then drums, then bass. I moved to Austin to go to school in 1993 and then decided that music was my calling. I co-founded my first original blues/rock band, Sour Mash Jack. We released our debut and only recording, “Loudmouth Soup” in 1995. We played mostly in Texas with a few shows in New Mexico and Arizona. In the late ’90s, we had some interest from an A&R guy that worked for BMG. He strongly suggested we move to LA. I dropped out of college 1 semester shy of graduating with a music composition degree and took the leap of faith. On Jan 1st, 2000, we moved to LA to “make it.” The band broke up 6 months later.

I decided to stay in LA and wound up playing and recording with several bands. One of them was a rock en Espanol band that got signed to BMG Latin. I got to record in Mexico City, play shows in Mexico, and actually met Tommy Mottola once at a label party in Miami. That was fun. I also got to tour with a fairly well know Elvis impersonator that had a cool Latino social commentary twist to his Show. El Vez. But all good things come to an end, right?

I moved to the San Diego area in March 2006, shortly after my only child was born. I didn’t want to leave my life in LA but felt it was my duty to be as close to my daughter as possible. A decision I have come to appreciate more and more as the years have gone by. Musically, I had to start all over. I took a few years off from performing to spend more time with the kid. I then started writing and recording songs that would eventually become my current band’s debut album, “Dark Matter.” I started playing solo acoustic shows in about 2008 and within a few years, had my full band, Roger! Although it has gone through some lineup changes, the core members have been with me for about a decade now.

We have recorded 3 LPs, 4 EPS, and a live recording of a show. We recently released our latest LP, “Patterns.” We have toured the southwest quite a bit and have gone up the west coast a couple of times, as well. In 2016, my wife and I purchased a house that has a recording studio built into the garage. So, I now have my own studio, too! I generally just record my band or close friends but have recorded professionally a few times. It is called Foxtail Studios in Escondido.

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

Members of our society can best support artists, creatives and a thriving ecosystem by purchasing local art or music, going to see local bands or artists’ work, or creating art themselves. It is important to foster a creative community and be engaged in the creative.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me is the satisfaction of creating something that was not previously in the world. The most important purpose in life is to create art and it is a deeply satisfying feeling to accomplish that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rogerthebandsd.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rogerthebandsd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rogerthebandsd/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernie-garcia-966926b/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/rogerthebandsd
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrOfk8Df3S2ORVtU16XGYcw
• Other: https://linktr.ee/rogerthebandsd

Image Credits
Photos 1 and 3 by Chantianna Noelle. “Patterns” cover by Taryn Donath