We were lucky to catch up with James Centeno recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi James, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Learning music was quite a ride for me! I mostly picked up my skills from high school music classes, diving into YouTube tutorials, and just experimenting on my own. YouTube was definitely the game-changer. There’s an abundance of good content out there that helped me dive into techniques and styles that I was curious about.

Knowing what I know now, I’d definitely set clearer goals and have a more structured practice routine. Sometimes it felt like I was just wandering around and skipping steps here and there. Having a better practice schedule and tracking my progress would have helped even more.

I would say that nailing down rhythm and having an understanding of basic music theory were essential. Understanding how scales, chords, and progressions work are beneficial for writing and improvising. Also, ear training—being able to pick out notes and chords just by listening—was crucial. It made learning new songs and improvising way easier.

Sometimes, I struggled with motivation and at other times progress just felt super slow. It’s important to remind yourself that music is something you love and have a passion for. No matter how many times you fail, never stop believing in your art. Overall, it was a mix of exploring, learning from mistakes, and just sticking with it. Every obstacle was a lesson in itself.

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

Hey there! I’m a native Angeleno who grew up in Silverlake/Echo Park. Music has always been a part of my life, starting from a young age. My dad enrolled me in choir classes at the Colburn School of Performing Arts when I was around 6 or 7, and I immediately fell in love with it. My passion for music has only grown stronger over the years since.

It wasn’t until high school that I really started diving into songwriting. That’s when I picked up classical guitar and began exploring the process of writing songs. Looking back, I can definitely say that the band Coldplay played a huge role in inspiring me. Their music had a major influence on my decision to further pursue songwriting.

At Cortines High School of VAPA, I was immersed in a vibrant and diverse community of fellow artists. Before high school, my music tastes were pretty limited to whatever was on the radio and the 80s hits my dad played on repeat. But my friends introduced me to a whole new world of bands and artists I’d never heard before, and it completely transformed my vision for the kind of music I wanted to create.

Over the years, after plenty of trial and error, my passion for songwriting and music was solidified. Fast forward to today, and I’m still doing what I love.

My main focus is on creating heartfelt songs that connect and resonate with people. I blend influences from my background and experiences with 80s and indie rock/pop music to create my sound. Whether it’s writing original songs or performing live, my work is all about creating genuine connections.

What sets me apart? I think it’s the fusion of my personal experiences and cultural influences with a passion for storytelling. I try to bring a fresh perspective, reflecting the universal themes we all relate to.

I’m really proud of how my music resonates with listeners and how it’s evolved over time. It has definitely taken me quite some time to reach the sound I have now. I want fans to know that I’m dedicated to creating art that not only entertains but also provides some deeper meaning.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I’ve come to understand just how crucial social media is for connecting with fans and reaching new ones. Over the past few years, I’ve been ramping up my activity and engagement on social platforms. I try to post twice a day. One of my videos went viral and racked up nearly 800,000 views, which brought in around a thousand new followers. Another received nearly 200,000 views and brought in a bit more. My advice would be keep creating and posting content consistently. Create good relatable content that relates to your niche. You might lose some followers initially, but that’s totally normal! Your REAL fans will come from your posts and videos, and you’ll start to see steady growth over time.

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

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is seeing how my music resonates with people. There’s something fulfilling about creating something that touches others on a personal level or makes them feel a certain way. Whether it’s through a song that helps someone through a tough time or a performance that brings joy, knowing that my work has a real impact is what keeps me motivated and passionate about what I do. It’s those moments of connection and the emotional feedback that make all the hard work worthwhile.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pacific.palaceee/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pacificpalaceee?mibextid=cr9u03
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaz43nlJcffHX9T56tNdPLw
• Soundcloud: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rBKJhlJI8u3OFwglQGjcU?si=i75oYvspREiwP569aWKGgg
• Other: https://linktr.ee/pacificpalaceee

Image Credits

Chris Cabrera, Michelle Munoz, Juan Renteria, Cota Estrada