Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jose Ignacio Santos. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jose Ignacio, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
I began my journey in both music and fine arts as a self-taught artist, learning primarily through hands-on experience. From a young age, I was surrounded by people who played instruments and engaged in artistic pursuits, which inspired my own interests.
Drawing has always been a passion of mine. I started by recreating my favorite cartoons and gradually progressed to drawing from life, including portraits. My fascination was not just in making the likenesses accurate but in capturing the essence of the subjects. I dedicated countless hours to honing my skills, reaching a professional level in drawing by the age of 16.
In music, my path was somewhat similar, but I was fortunate to receive guidance sooner. Within a year of starting the clarinet, I enrolled in the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo, which accelerated my learning.
Looking back, I recognize there are always ways to optimize the learning process. If I were to advise someone in a similar position, I would emphasize the importance of consistency and focused practice. For artists, mastering composition, form, and various mediums is crucial; for musicians, developing a strong musical ear, understanding harmony and harmonic rhythm, and studying orchestration is really important. And for both, making good, lasting relationships, which is something I struggle with even now.
In my personal experience, consistency has been key. I’ve never stopped creating since I started, and I’ve embraced the process of discovering new ways to approach my work. I’ve learned to be comfortable with repetition, knowing that it’s part of the journey toward improvement.
As for obstacles, while challenges are inevitable, I believe there’s always a way to overcome them. The key is to maintain a mindset that embraces learning, regardless of the circumstances.
Jose Ignacio, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a music composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, originally from Dominican Republic, but now living in Miami, Florida.
I’m working on a range of interesting projects right now, which I’d divide into a few main areas:
Composing: I’m currently involved in several music composition projects. One of my current projects is composing the music for a Nintendo Switch game, though I’m unable to share specific details just yet because it hasn’t been released. Additionally, I’m working on a soundtrack for Fably, an interactive stories app for kids. Recently, I completed orchestrations for a symphony orchestra in Sydney, Australia, which included pieces from video games and anime like Final Fantasy, Demon Slayer, Metal Gear Solid and Kingdom Hearts. I also have upcoming projects, including composing the music for an Xbox game and creating music and audio effects for a short film for Banco Popular in the Dominican Republic.
Performing: Performance plays a significant role in my career. I regularly perform across Miami, Florida, and even in other states and countries. I collaborate with various bands, such as Entourage, Monations, and JoyHorns, and I also work with artists like Los Wizzards, Alemor, Samy Hawk, Mechy, and Yani Martelli. Additionally, I co-founded Jogo Entertainment with my friend Diego Clavijo, a cover band that specializes in corporate events, weddings, and other special occasions.
Extra: In addition to my music work, I’ve recently completed several drawing commissions and have another one lined up for next month.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
After years of hard work and dedication, I was super excited to land a full scholarship to study classical clarinet performance at a university in Michigan. But then things took an unexpected turn. During the TOEFL exam, the testing center had a microphone malfunction, so the evaluators couldn’t hear my spoken responses. Instead of a score, I got a voucher for a retake for free, but by then, I had already missed the deadline to submit test results.
To make matters worse, my visa application got denied for reasons I still can’t figure out. Since I was planning to leave the country, I hadn’t registered for new courses at the conservatory, fine arts academy, or college, where I was studying advertising with a focus on illustration. Suddenly, I found myself without a clear path, and I felt pretty down.
But I wasn’t about to let all this stop me. I kept waking up at 5 a.m. to swim, then spent my entire day practicing at the conservatory. I decided to give music one last shot, both as a career and in terms of studying abroad.
After a year doing this, an amazing opportunity came my way. Berklee College of Music visited the Dominican Republic to hold auditions. I auditioned and was thrilled to receive a full scholarship to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Boston, Massachusetts.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is twofold. First, I genuinely love what I do—whether it’s composing, performing, orchestrating, arranging, drawing, or teaching. The fact that I can make a living doing something I’m passionate about is incredibly fulfilling.
The second aspect is the opportunity to bring other people’s visions and dreams to life. Whether I’m contributing to a film or game and helping to realize a director’s vision, creating memorable moments at a wedding for the couple and their guests, or delivering unforgettable experiences during a concert, it’s deeply gratifying to play a role in making those moments special.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joseignaciosantos.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jos3.ignaci0/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-ignacio-santos-56b70920a/
