We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leopoldo Montemayor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leopoldo below.
Alright, Leopoldo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?
If I could go back in time, i would definately start making music sooner. DJing also.
I started making music kind of late in life, after I started college, I was about 21 years old.
Being in my first year of college, I really had no clue what I was going to do with my life. I just felt really restless, like something felt incomplete. I started to realize how accessible music making was, so I decided I wanted to really learn how to make beats.
I wish I had really started in highschool. I was so deep into my favorite music around then. It was everything. It helped me make sense of myself.
That was also when I initially gained an interested in making music. I was in choir, where I performed pretty well. Once I got in-school suspension, but was still allowed to compete in the state Choir competition. Maybe I was that much of an asset.
The biggest reason I didn’t really start in high school, was because I had no confidence.
Making music was always a secret thing I did with other close friends. I was always too embarrassed to show a lot of people. Looking back, it would have been a great time to work through my bad ideas to develop the good ones.
Time would have to be the biggest reason I wish I started sooner. Time is the ultimate asset for a lot of situations, but for me really, I just want more time to enjoy this and perfect it how I feel I should.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Third Lion. I am a Music Producer and open format DJ. I started producing because I wanted to make songs like the ones I was obsessed with. I started DJing because I wanted to share all the music I’m obsessed with to big crowds.
As a producer, I bring taste, honesty, and individuality to the table. I have a great way of articulating why I think something may not work and often can provide a fix or adjustment. With both production or DJing, Im very confident that my taste carries me.
I never cared about chasing trends in my production or DJing. I don’t need overcomplicated effects, production or mixes because those dont always tell the story. Story telling is big for me on both production and DJing.
On the technical sense, my production have a natural feel and swing. One thing I get compliments on is that I play alot of the melodies and chords by hand, so they reflect me and my energy. I like deep feeling sounds and chords. Sonics that make you feel something, maybe contemplative or happy, sometimes sad but always groovy. Im very proud of my sound. It took alot of working through doubt.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The biggest thing I love about being a DJ/Producer is when I can talk to people about music or things I’ve learned.
I really do obessess over finding new music or samples, or even recognizing production. It’s the spice of my life.
Too many DJs are more focused on looking cool or effortless. I care about passion.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to stop being afraid of rejection. Thats ultimately why I had no confidence.
I had to gain confidence through my friends and coworkers telling me my work was good. Showing people my work helped me gain more confidence. Always press play when you have the opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @third.lion
- Twitter: @3vrdlyon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thirdlionproducer4392
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thirdlionproduction
Image Credits
CameraChy
ShotByPreston