We recently connected with Nev Rosales and have shared our conversation below.
Nev, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I feel really lucky that I was put onto music at a very young age. My parents both saw that I was drawn to music and put me in piano lessons when I was 6 years old which is such a privilege. From there I taught myself to play guitar at 12 and after that any instrument I could get my hands on. My dad has told me that when I first showed interest in music that he thought he would waste money on piano lessons but after I was able to prove him that I was serious, a switch flipped and both my parents were supportive since day 1. It’s such a big big blessing to have their support.
When I got to college is when it all took a big shift – I learned to produce and record myself.
Learning how to produce and record was a completely different ball game. Only 2.7% of producers are women and the other 97% are male. A lot of people would tell me to not even bother to learn how to produce and to just find a producer who could make beats and songs for me.
Hearing people tell me that I couldn’t do something only made me want to do it more though. I was able to to learn Ableton (a music making software) through a lot of Youtube and to this day still consider myself a forever student when it comes to music production. The possibilities and growth are endless when it comes to music.
Knowing what I know now I think I would have gotten less out of my own head. A lot of the times it’s really ourselves in our own way. Right before I took the leap in learning how to produce I had people tell me they wanted to record me and work with me but nothing really came from it. I ended up having this epiphany and realized that no one was going to come and hold my hand if I was serious about making music – I had to get up and do it myself.
I was a very broke college student at the time when I realized this and took the leap and bought myself gear (audio interface, a mic, headphones) because I knew I had to do something. I had no idea that it was just the beginning and what was to come.
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
My name is NEV and I am a singer-songwriter and producer from Chicago. I make Alt Indie Pop music with a Latin and bilingual flare. I make music for sad girls in their feels but also when you feel like a bad bitch – truly no in between. I’m proud to represent my Cuban and Guatemalan heritage and I carry it with me in everything I do.
I’ve been compared a lot to Lana Del Rey, Kali Uchis, and Amy Winehouse. I make all my music in my bedroom at home and I just try to keep it real. I think its important to be honest with yourself and your emotions. If you’re feeling sad, honor it and feel it and get it out. If you’re mad about going to work, then fuck it and put on angry music and be mad on your way there. Music helps with every emotion – good and bad.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I’m really into self help books! The book The Power of Habit really was a game changer for me and I always recommend it to anyone. It taught me how to trick my brain into being more disciplined. If you want something, you have to work little by little to get it and having a routine has been key for me. The book You’re Not Lost has helped me and of course The Four Agreements.
And every now and then I like to go to Youtube and watch Baz Luhrmann’s Everybody’s Free To Wear Sunscreen!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I think the best way people can support independent artists is by sharing their work with other people.
I don’t think a lot of people realize how crazy the behind the scenes of being an independent artist is. Not only is it about making music, but it’s about being a business and taking on all the roles of a business – social media, cover art, marketing and advertising, photoshoots and content making, merchandise, live shows, rehearsing, the music business side of it and so much more.
It means everything when people leave comments and add me to their playlists. Hearing people connecting means everything to me and fuels me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/nevmusic
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cubanamissilecrisis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cubanamissilecrisis
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nevrosaless
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLvE-dOBmWX9vuDbIq299JA
- Other: Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/1EC8EQXTQBuVt5oloBJunz?si=q1Wbn49JRqyZESpSkmmCnQ Apple :https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nev/1319036671 Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nevrosales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
Anna Jung-hwa Victoria Campbell Clark