We were lucky to catch up with Sara Ontaneda recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara, thanks for joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I’ve been fortunate to build a career around my creative skills: as a performer, producer, and audio engineer. What made this possible was maintaining an open mindset and a willingness to take on a wide range of project, some well-paying, others less so, especially in the early days. Instead of second-guessing my abilities as a music producer or singer, I said yes to opportunities and gave each one my best effort. I learned songs, wrote new material, released my own music, and consistently shared my work online. It’s been a slow and steady journey, but it’s one that has paid off.

If I could go back in time, I’d worry less about making everything perfect and focus more on simply releasing music and putting myself out there. The more you share, the more you grow.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an artist and music producer based in New York City. My musical journey began at an early age, shaped by time spent between Ecuador and Miami. I went on to study Contemporary Writing and Production at Berklee College of Music, where I was honored with a Berklee Achievement Scholarship in recognition of my work.

I’ve always been deeply drawn to composition and the creative process. After college, I began writing custom music for apps and podcasts, but it wasn’t long before I started writing and performing my own songs. That shift opened doors to perform at SXSW (twice), the NAMM Show, and to open for artists I’ve long admired. Along the way, I’ve continued to release music and build a presence both online and in the New York and Latin Alternative music scene.

In addition to my own artist work, I offer music production services for clients, ranging from custom music composition to full-track production. I also collaborate with music tech brands to create plugin demos and gear reviews, combining my creative background with a passion for exploring new tools and technologies.

Recently I released a new song called “Eco”. It’s about letting go of versions of ourselves that don’t serve us anymore. It will be a part of an album that’s currently under the works. Listen to it in all streaming platforms.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Not really a pívot, but more like a expansion:

When I first started making original music, I thought the path was simple: write, perform, and release my own songs. I was often told to “pick one thing” within music and stick to it. But over time, I realized that the musicians who were not only thriving creatively but also sustaining themselves financially were the ones doing multiple things.

Many of them write and produce for other artists, teach, run their own studios, or coach emerging talent—and that’s more than okay. In fact, it’s smart. Creating and releasing original music takes investment, and having multiple streams of income allows you to support your art while staying connected to your passion from different angles.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started sharing my creative process: how a song idea came to me, what inspired it, early beat sketches, even how I approached artwork, photoshoots, and cover design. I showcased the tools I used and gave people a behind-the-scenes look at how everything came together. Slowly, people started to tune in.

I let go of the fear of feeling “cringe” or the pressure to go viral. Instead, I focused on posting content I genuinely enjoyed making. That shift made all the difference.

Do what feels authentic to you, and try not to get stuck in your own head. The more honest and true you are to your creative voice, the more it resonates with others and with yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.Saraontaneda.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saraontaneda/
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/saraontaneda
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3gNLzb7aAJ0ZfUkyEvomsC?si=EU5IPZs-TeGtnA5nY8haXw

Image Credits

– Courtesy of Sara Ontaneda