The following is a recount of what prompted me to create this Blog. Starting with something I wrote back in 2006 and then updated in late 2008 to later include some new material I came up with at the time I began writing this Blog. So, enjoy it and if you find this blog informative and/or helpful, please share it with your friends.
I consider myself a leader by nature and I'm somewhat of a perfectionist. So naturally, when I started my Indy label in 2005 I had to take into consideration my local market. After conducting a study of the Spanish Rock scene around town, its potential and the current state of the bands and the events being organized to promote them, I contemplated sharing my views and opinions with the movers and shakers of the time about how we could improve it. I've been in the music and entertainment business for almost 20 years and I knew I could bring a lot to the table, but when I noticed the lack of organization and inexperience displayed by them I was a little discouraged. Some of them were more promising than others, but were in it for the praise and recognition and the others were inexperienced fan-boys doing it for the love of art. But no matter what their reason or purpose for doing it may have been, they were all after the same piece of the pie, not realizing it wasn't big enough for all of them. So with a measure on the pulse of things, I took it upon myself to try and help them see, that together it was actually possible for us to make our own pie instead.
I've always believed that with competition comes growth... So my main purpose was to help create new and more effective channels of promotion and support for the music and the bands making it. I wanted us to work together to develop it into something bigger so that the projects and products created by all involved could grow as well. At first I wanted these people to know my thoughts, so I tried using a local forum used by many of them to promote the genre but at times it seemed like they were more intimidated rather than interested by what I had to say and my posts were constantly manipulated or deleted by its moderators. I knew they didn't share my overall outlook on things, so I began playing with the idea of starting a website for my label and setting up a space therein, where I could speak my mind and show my support to the bands I liked and to the people and organizations I respected, including those I worked with. But after a while, having a website wasn't really a priority to me, so creating a Blog was something that later came to mind. How to get started and the content I would write about wasn't clear enough at the time either and I couldn't find a way to do it without detaching myself from the project to avoid misconceptions, so the idea was put on hold.
It wasn't until I was forced to take a leave of absence from the scene, lasting nearly two years, that the answer presented itself. I felt the need to come back, retake what I had left unattended and reclaim my position as the only professional involved in the scene and that's when I knew I had been going about it the wrong way... I knew that my expertise was what that could actually make a difference. As the only person with the knowledge and resources at my disposal, I had a commitment to the local music scene even, if no one else saw or recognized it. So I decided to start a blog dedicated to talk about Spanish Rock and Pop music and all the bands, new and old that represented it, writing about their project to inform the public and reviewing their music to help them improve if necessary. At first I asked myself, "Why would bands want to have their music commented on or reviewed by me?" But that's not actually a problem... Through the years, I've been fortunate to receive many demos from bands and people working on new music projects, asking me for my opinion about their music or simply looking for advise and I've given it to them; many of them taking note of what I said and at times actually applying it to their music creation, project development and even their work ethic. And that's when I realized that informing and helping others was what made this whole thing worth doing and I decided to get started.
So, when I was ready to resume my efforts to bring the local Spanish Rock scene to a higher level, I jumped back into the swing of things and created a whole new strategy and work plan. Things have changed since I plunged back into the scene. Some of the people and bands from when I started getting involved in the local music scene have moved on and others evolved into new projects, some are still around in one way or the other. But over all I feel that the time has come to do something. There's a new generation of bands, people and organizations in town. This time around I've devised a new approach to things, but the goal to help build a stronger movement together with those who share my vision is still the same. This Blog will be a tool to invite those bands and musicians, songwriters, independent music enthusiasts, internet radio stations, bloggers, venue owners and anyone else interested in doing so to participate.
Some of you may be thinking... "What's all that experience in the business he's referring to good for?" or "He's not doing or saying anything I couldn't say... I can do that too!
Some might even be wondering what makes me an authority in the subject or actually gives me the right to share my opinion expecting others to take it into account; Well, the answer is very simple...
Most known music critics or so-called experts represent a news or media organization that is there to back them in what they say. I'm doing this on my own, without any outside influence or support.
Sure; blogging isn't anything new and I'm new at it, But I'm no stranger to speaking my mind, especially when it comes to music. And besides, I'm the only person with a professional background in the business
that I know, doing this and dedicating my time and effort to the Spanish Rock genre.
I created this blog to promote new Latin music artists looking for a place to have their band featured or their music reviewed and commented on by someone offering knowledgeable comments or advise. So, if you know or have a new band, music project and you'd like me to take a listen to it, feel free to contact me. If you find this interesting or informative, please share it. And if you have a topic to discuss, please feel free to leave me a comment. I specialize in Spanish Rock and Pop music, I write in English or in Spanish and although I don't claim to be an authority on music nor to have all the answers, I promise to provide an honest opinion. There's just a few basic rules of thumb if you want to participate...
First, the subject matter must always be about Spanish Rock and/or Pop music.
Second, I don't do major acts, only independent or unsigned talent.
Third, You must be able to make and receive objective criticism.
Thanks and enjoy!
-Dman.
