Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Minutes & Seconds. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Minutes & Seconds, thanks for joining us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
During one of our gigs at a brewery in Apopka last fall, a girl approached us, holding a piece of paper in her hand. It turned out she was a local artist known for her anime drawings. To our surprise, the paper she gave us was an illustration she had created on the spot: a portrait of the three of us, done anime-style.
We were floored! It was an unexpected act of kindness and generosity. It reminded us of how art can touch people. Here was an artist who, spontaneously, made something out of her hands and her heart, and she had made something unique and meant only for us.
That’s what we try to do with our music. We seek to write and produce songs that hopefully resonate with others. Many of our songs are inspired by people close to us, and we see them as one-of-a-kind gifts that only we can offer.
That illustration allowed us to experience firsthand the joy we hope to bring through our music: something distinct, one-of-a-kind, and hopefully, would bring joy. It reminded us that art, any kind of art, made earnestly, had the ability to move and inspire people.
Minutes & Seconds, 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?
Minutes & Seconds is an acoustic pop trio based in Orlando, Florida, driven by a deep passion for creating sincere, heartfelt, and relatable music.
BJ Orbase, the principal songwriter, singer, and guitarist, crafts lyrics from honest explorations of life experiences and insights of both the high-and-lofty and the mundane. Shayne Leyco, our powerhouse vocalist, brings these lyrics to life with her soulful and authentic delivery, enriched by years of singing experience. Completing our trio is Kenneth “Kenny” Crespo, a skilled percussionist who infuses our sound with a touch of Latin flavor, showcasing his diverse musical background.
As an acoustic trio, we embrace the unique limitations of our band format, using them as a catalyst for creativity. Our sound is versatile, ranging from intimate and introspective folk tunes to soaring emotional declarations and even upbeat, fun party anthems.
We’ve built up a library of formidable covers, with genres ranging from classic pop hits of the 70s, 80s, and 90s, to modern pop, rock, and hip hop. We take pride in being playful and fearless in our renditions, and are especially fond of making unexpected mashups of covers. We play stages of all sizes, from coffee shops to breweries and large-scale festivals.
Our pride and joy is our original music. We take a hands-on approach, meticulously crafting, arranging, producing, and recording our own songs. Through our music, we explore themes of love in its various forms, mental health, and the beauty that shines through life’s everyday moments.
The first song we released, “Run Out the Clock”, is about finding solace after periods of stress. “All The Polite Words” is about being free from a toxic relationship. We even have a Christmas song, “Ornaments”, inspired by BJ’s wife, who collects ornaments as souvenirs whenever they travel.
We also find joy in collaborating with other artists and creators. We had the incredible opportunity to transform a children’s book by a local author, (Alyssa Mae Altamirano’s “ABCs of All That I Can Be”) into a delightful and captivating children’s song.
We’re currently producing our next EP, a collection of songs written around the theme of healing, with each song telling a story of a person close to us.
We’re excited to share our music with more people, particularly the songs we’ve been writing and pouring our hearts into. We believe we have something meaningful to say, and we’re saying it through song.
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.
Every moment of success and leveling up will not only present new challenges and setbacks, but will also reintroduce previous challenges in more formidable forms. Kind of like a villain you’ve defeated early in a game, coming back stronger and harder.
For example, imposter syndrome never really goes away. You manage to overcome it as you level up and find your sense of self-worth. Then as you grow and improve, you’ll be presented with a new set of challenges and circumstances that will make you feel like an imposter all over again.
So you have to stay vigilant and learn to constantly build up your resilience. Keep practicing and keep getting better at your craft. Keep doing the unseen, bottom-of-the-iceberg work that doesn’t get seen on social media, but is absolutely vital in building up your self-confidence as an artist.
There’s also a temptation to feel like, the higher you climb this proverbial mountain, the farther you’ll fall if you slip up. Everything feels high stakes when you venture out and do things on your own. But maybe a setback isn’t as dramatic as it seems? What if it’s just going backwards a few steps, similar to when you first started out? That’s a healthier way of viewing these new sets of challenges as you level up.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
“Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon is a short book, but it emphasizes being open and honest about how we view our creative work. Inspiration comes from everywhere, and instead of trying to become absolutely original (which is impossible), the better approach would be to embrace the myriad influences we have and learn from all of them.
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear is about how we can improve and build better habits. We’re prone to make sweeping, New Years’ resolution-type promises that we know we can’t keep. Instead, the book explores how we can make smaller changes that ultimately add up to the improvements we’re looking for.
“The Happiness of Pursuit” is a fun read about the power of The Big Project. Nothing too small and easy, and nothing too big that it takes all your life (and beyond) to try and accomplish. But something crazy-sized, something that will drive you to “level up” and seek out a new adventure. (For us, that’s been the band!)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.minutesandseconds.com
- Instagram: @minutesandsecondsmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MinutesAndSecondsMusic/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@minutesandsecondsmusic
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/520ax5LI2jt5TnCBLwHqz0?si=1H3pBSaUSV2xwk8khH4nOw
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@minutesandsecondsmusic
Image Credits
Photo #2 by Jace Caparas Sanford Porchfest Photo by J. Alta Photo