We recently connected with Rick Del Castillo and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Rick thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Ever since I was a little boy I heard my older siblings playing music, both on the turntable and playing the guitars and drums. My father would occasionally play the guitar and piano as well I was drawn to it. When I was 12 I saw Led Zeppelin’s movie “The Song Remains The Same” at the theatre and I knew at that moment music was what I wanted to do.

Rick, 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?

I’ve been a professional musician since the age of 15. Even when I picked up the guitar at 13 I was recording myself with my little cassette player. Little did I know at the time that would play a major role later in my life. Right after high school my rock band played around locally for 3 years until we were able to tour around the country playing rock bars 6 nights a week. This was a lot of fun but after 6 solid years of touring 10 months out of the year it became a bit old. Our band finally decided to settle down in Memphis and play locally. Here’s where my itch to record really kicked in. I began buying recording equipment and recording myself and a few local friends. Our band broke up and I moved to Seattle. I played around town with a few bands and was very serious about recording. I opened my first little studio and began recording local artists. After 3 years of relentless band member changes I decided to move to Austin, Tx where I still am today. I formed a band with my brother Mark (Del Castillo) and immediately garnered local success. I recorded and produced 5 and a half of our 6 albums. We went on to win many Austin music awards. I won Producer of the Year twice. We attracted the attention of film Director Robert Rodriguez and have been involved with him throughout the years adding music to his movies. I built a recording studio in 2009 and have been recording/teaching and rehearsing out of it ever since. My line of work includes recording bands and solo artists, giving guitar lessons, mixing and mastering recorded projects and playing with Del Castillo. I love recording bands and helping them realize their songs. What I feel separates me from other recording producers is my experience and patience to help them achieve that. The best compliment a studio owner can get is when clients walk in and immediately say “I feel so relaxed in here”. This is the first and most important thing; to have the musicians feel comfortable. I’ve had many wonderful achievements throughout my career but I would say my proudest moment has been recording music with a 32 piece orchestra at London’s Abbey Road Studios which I composed for a short film.
The main thing I would like potential clients to know about me is I’ve played many styles of music throughout my career. I’ve even written two musicals so I have a wide musical pallet and I feel I have a lot of experience to offer anyone looking to record or just wanting advice on what to do to get into the musical business.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal, through the fruits of my labor, is to some day afford to start an organic vegetable farm, run by creative artists, a soup kitchen for those who need food, a stage where the artists can perform and an on site studio so they have a place to record their music, maybe even have a music school as well. I’d love to be able to give children in less fortunate communities musical instruments and toys.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love to create and to feel the power of creativity happen in real time; it’s amazing. To start the day with nothing and end it with a completed song or two. I also love, because I have a recording studio and I’m a producer/engineer, to help others realize the exact same thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: smilincastle.com
• Instagram: smilin castle productions
• Facebook: smilin castle productions
• Youtube: del castillo music