We recently connected with Kevin Sauceda and have shared our conversation below.

Kevin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

That is truly a loaded question for me, but I am definitely happy as a creative.

You see, before fully committing to being a touring musician, I spent a long time juggling Ratchet Dolls and my education which limited the band. I eventually earned a degree and worked as a professional Graphic Designer for a few years, managing regional newspapers and magazines.

I sure enjoyed collaborating with my editorial team, but my passion for music overshadowed and eventually led to me leaving my nine-to-five to pursue music.

The leap to focus on music full-time was risky, but it’s the best decision I could have ever made for myself. Ratchet Dolls has been a wild ride, but has allowed me to see the world and connect with people through songwriting and performing. Something I could never take for granted.

After years of hustle, things are finally falling into place. We released Bring The Noize, signed with MR Records in Melbourne, and we’re actively touring. These are opportunities I would have missed if I’d stayed at my desk job. It’s been hard work, but I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. It hasn’t been easy, but knowing I’m working toward my own creative ambition makes it all worthwhile.

Kevin, 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?

Howdy, Folks! I’m Kevin Sauceda, producer, singer, and songwriter for the rock band Ratchet Dolls. We’re proudly based in San Antonio, TX, but we’ve been lucky enough to tour all over the country with big artists and recently signed with MR Records out of Melbourne, Australia.

I started Ratchet Dolls about 10 years ago as a way to express myself and blow off steam from “life.” I always wanted to make music that people could connect with and have a good time listening to. Over the years, this simple passion turned into something much bigger—but it hasn’t been easy.

We all know building a career in music is tough and that you have to be willing to do it all. Being the introvert that I am, I had to push myself to learn how to network and be comfortable with being uncomfortable—which is a huge part of working in the music industry. It is what makes or breaks most artists, regardless of genre. Thankfully, each member of Ratchet Dolls is very comfortable with being uncomfortable (dreadful drives, unhealthy gas station food, sleeping in a van, etch) which is how we’ve managed to make big things happen for ourselves all these years.

Thankfully, we’re past many of these “uncomfortable” times, and our representatives make sure we’re well taken care of today. However, the experience of struggling together as a band is what keeps us stay all humble… a trait many artists fail to remember while they move up in the industry.

Throughout the years, we’ve kindled many amazing relationships with our friends, fans, and industry professionals all over the world, which is something we are extremely grateful for. Truly, we couldn’t be where we are today without their support and I just want to make sure I let everyone know. Thank you for always being there for Ratchet Dolls—wherever you may be tuning in from!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Absolutely! Early on, we had managers and agents who manipulated the band into believing “we needed them” to create opportunities for Ratchet Dolls. We eventually found out they were siphoning money from the band without our knowledge and I fired them immediately.

Friends, I am here to tell you that the best resource available to all of us is ourselves! You and I both are capable of securing the same opportunities as any manager or agent. Industry professionals are people like you and I, so go out there and shake their hand. Make the phone call. Send the email.

I wont sugar-coat things for you… You’re going to get so many “no’s” before you land a “yes,” but when you do I promise it will be far more rewarding down the line. This is how Ratchet Dolls operated for just shy of 10 years. Trust me, it works and you can do just the same.

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.

Creativity doesn’t happen on demand. This is something most non-creatives fail to understand, which many times is the biggest reason musicians, along with most other creatives, are underpaid and many times not even paid at all.

For musicians, the creative process behind songwriting and producing can take hours, days, weeks, and sometimes even months… but even then, there’s no guarantee it’ll resonate with an audience. This only involves the creative process of music making, not the performance, which is an entire different form of expression and vulnerability.

While on tour or performing locally, Ratchet Dolls always puts on the best possible show to create a genuine connection between our music and audience members. We pour our hearts out on stage and it means the world to us when fans show support by purchasing our new album “Bring The Noize” because it tells us we’ve done our job.

To us, they’re not just buying a product—they’re investing in the countless hours of creativity and passion we’ve poured into what we do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ratchetdolls.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ratchetdollsofficial
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ratchetdolls
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ratchetdolls
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7JzFdDbciaDgopkfcec6x8?si=VK5nduBwSQW__nvsfJ1urw

  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/bring-the-noize/1761098054