We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael Martinez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?
As I age out of being a young artist to being a working musician in my thirties, I notice that trends change and being timeless, having the personal density to withstand changing tastes is important and takes precedence over trying to be cool. This is stuff they try to teach you when you’re in kindergarten. Be true to yourself. There are folks who are good at playing the game, the trend-game. Hats off to them, but you have to know what you’re getting into. Be honest
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a singer-songwriter who works in English and Spanish.
I started out as a typical little Bob Dylan-kid when I was about 14, taking my guitar with me and learning as many old folk tunes as I could. The folk-revival of the sixties has a strong lingering presence in my hometown. I loved the blues. I began to play on the street and realized how much more money would come when I sang old Mexican songs. Next thing you know I’m being asked to play in Mexican restaurants and I took on the role more seriously. Local cultural organizations began to have me play for picnics and dinners. The music is heartfelt and I mixed the songwriter folk-tradition of the United States with the troubadour tradition of hispanic culture,
I went to San Antonio and I still work on blending these sounds and styles
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Almost two years ago I almost got killed on the road on the way to a show in a little theater in Terlingua, TX. I got hurt really bad and to be honest it had me rethinking my whole life, not to mention afraid of traveling the way I was. I just love the music too much to stay away. It rattled me but the music and the crowds keep me in it.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
People romanticize this a lot, because it makes them look cool. There are elements of truth to holding creation up as a sacred act, art for art’s sake, etc. etc. But we live in reality, and art is a product. You have to make money off it. You can’t cling to fanciful ideals, but you have to know what’s real to you and express that in your art. I’m lucky because I went down this path as it called me but I’m careful now not to get carried away. Keep it real
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cantinarabler.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/michaelmartinezmichaelmartinez
- Facebook: facebook.com/mijailmartinezmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEi3NbYxz01MSFzcjNqgaXA
- Other: Thanks a lot!