We were lucky to catch up with Fernando Bandin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Fernando, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents gave and taught me everything I know today. My Ambition, determination, hard work and honesty stems from the roots who are my mother and father. My father is ambitious as they come, because of him I believe if you can dream it, you can do it and you can make time for anything you love and need to do. I watched him seamlessly juggle more responsibility than one should ever have in a lifetime and still make time for his family. My mother did more than her part day in and day out with zero complaints. She always been my anchor in determination. I watched her get up before the sun every day to ensure my father and brothers were taken care of and fed. She is a real-life super woman and some when it comes to caring for her family. Im lucky to have had such role models in my life and I pray I never take it for granted.

Fernando, 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?

My names Fernando Bandin. I’m as humble as can be but I admit there’s times when I can be full of myself. I’m from a small town that grew before my eyes. I’m not the smartest, strongest or even the most popular guy in the room but I am one of the most genuine. I started paying taxes at 16, didn’t get my license till I was 18 because my parents believed if I wasn’t doing good in school i didn’t deserve the privilege to drive (which now, I can’t argue with). I was on track to NOT graduate, I almost dropped out of high school but instead transferred to a charter school and graduated with decent grades and on time.

I’m currently 28 years young. It’s ironic I’m working towards financial security and stability but currently I have everything but that, I have all the time and flexibility in the world. I could drop everything and take trip to Paris, but I’ve learned you are stuck in place without the proper funding to fuel your ambitions.

I used to make decent money, enough to have bought a house and have had a family but for whatever reason that’s not what was on my mind. I do know the more money I made as I got older, I became deeper in debt. Eventually I reached a point where I was making more money than I had ever made all that was left was to become a manager or supervisor. I didn’t want to take on that responsibility and income because I knew the moment, I took that position I would settle in and never look back.

One day I was working from home during the covid era, I remember I completely shut down mentally. I was unable to move forward I was ready to quit at that moment in time. I remember my wife trying to calm me down. After some a few minutes I ended up pulling my self together enough to get back to work and the first thing I did was txt an engineer (KillaKiengOnDaKeyz) I had recorded with in the past who had mentioned he was looking for an engineer to rent out his studio (IDDC Studio).

the rest is history.

I’m a freelance Audio Engineer. Professionally (full-time) for 3 years but I’ve been recording and mixing for over 12 years. I currently offer recording, mixing and mastering services at South City Studios owned and run by Stan.

I help artist on all levels from local to touring by providing a safe a secure space to create. I give creative guidance and feedback to let you know I’m engaged throughout the session. If you’re trying to write, produce (I outsource to quality producers), record or get a certain sound I work tirelessly to make sure your music is what you hear in your head. I’m most proud of being able to make it this far. I couldn’t tell you what that means in one sentence even if I tried. I will tell you I have had just about every reason and some to go back to work and these reasons are completely justifiable but what sets me apart is that I haven’t succumb the reality we’ve been doctored to be afraid of I’m the definition of epic dreams over plain visions (EDOPV).

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Its starts with sacrifice. If anything, in the music industry there is not an in between. You are either making it (this doesn’t mean famous I mean financially stable) or you’re not. If you think, there’s an in between your struggling. It’s the sad but known truth. It’s not an unpopular opinion either sadly it’s actually a wildly accepted opinion. Why do you think there are not more people pursing a future built off living their dreams? The reality of it is chasing your dream is not as easy nor particle. If you want initial capital, you need to understand it starts with sacrifice. You already have the initial capital you just need to be prepared to invest where it has value.

I gave everything and anything I had to give which was time. For a whole year I would sacrifice my sleep for experience. I would leave for work at 8AM and get home by 7PM in order to take care of anything that needed to be done just to turn around to drive 50 mins back out to the studio for a recording session. Keep in mind this studio that I had access to I did rent monthly (some months I didn’t even make my rent back) with money out of my own pockets. Most nights I would get back home by 3AM-4AM. Granted I had a couple hours of sleep and I believe that’s what helped me do it all over again the next night if I had the opportunity.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Social Media, as it is for anyone in this day and age. I believe my main source aside from word of mouth has been Instagram. I’ve had my Instagram account since 2019 and just recently hit 1500 followers. I have only a few followers, but my presence is there and known. I’ve been able to cultivate meaningful relationships and obtain valuable information which has helped me work with or be in the same room with the likes of Ill Mind the Producer, The Game, Mark Battles, K-Camp and in contact with many more.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Edopvest2013

Image Credits
Personal photo: IG @teryntinooo