Quemando Salsa
Drawing on rich musical roots, personal instinct and a healthy dose of Latin music, new artist Quemando Salsa brings a style all their own- and fans of their new single ‘City Night’ all across the world are loving it.
ANDREW: Let's just get this out in the open- What is the craziest thing that has happened to you in your music career?
QUEMANDO SALSA: The craziest thing that ever happened to me in my musical career was when I was hired to play “ taps “ on my trumpet at a military funeral. When I arrived at the cemetary, I was immediately greeted by a gentlemen in a military uniform. He asked me if I was there to play “ taps “ for the funeral, and I replied yes. So I played “ taps “ after the funeral was done. When I was finished, I walked back to my car and happened to pass by another funeral. I overheard someone at the other funeral state how disappointed that the trumpet player never showed up to play “ taps “. Apparently, I played at the wrong funeral. I could not understand why the gentlemen at the first funeral asked me if I was there to play “ taps “ if I was not scheduled for that funeral, but he did. Still to this day I cannot believe someone would have the nerve to do that.
ANDREW: Your song ’City Night’ is receiving a positive listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
QUEMANDO SALSA: My first reaction when I heard “ City Nights “ on the radio was absolute excitement. I was driving on Highway 25 to Denver on a starry summer night when the song came on. As I drove toward the city lights of Denver, it was so cool to hear “ City Nights “ as I drove into the skyline. It was a dream come true.
ANDREW: What was the inspiration behind your radio single?
QUEMANDO SALSA: The inspiration behind “ City Nights “ was playing with Quemando ( the band on the album ) at our favorite happy hour at the St Julien Hotel in Boulder. Whenever we play there, it is totally packed with people dancing everywhere, on the lawn, on the tables, all with a beautiful view of the Flatiron Mountains to the West. It is a truly magical scene that warranted the creation of “ City Nights “
ANDREW: It is often said that great art arises from difficult experience. Is there something in your life experience thus far that you would describe as the ‘catalyst’ or ‘fuel’ for your desire to create music?
QUEMANDO SALSA: That’s a very interesting question. When I first started writing music and running the band, I had 2 goals: The first goal was to maximize the talent that I was blessed with, and the 2nd goal was to destroy all of my competition. This was an immense amount of motivation that was enough to produce the album, start, manage, and promote the band as well as playing trumpet, arranging the sheet music, being a promoter, etc, and it carried my all the way until last year. In 2017 both of my parents passed away, exactly 5 years after my older brother died of an accidental drug overdose. After that my motivation completely disappeared, after all of the work that I had put to get it to the point it was at, suddenly I did not care anymore about it. So, finally, God put the inspiration back inside of me to keep pushing this to its limit. So now, God is my true inspiration, and every note that I play or write is for him.
ANDREW: How would you characterize yourself as an artist/musician?
QUEMANDO SALSA: I would characterize myself as a perfectionist when it comes to being an artist. I find the most pleasure in trying to predict any scenario that might possibly go wrong at a show, and coming up with an appropriate response. As an example, the last show we did, my bass player showed up and did not have the sheet music with him. I just happened to have an extra copy that I brought with me that saved the show.
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ANDREW: What has your experience been like working with the other people on your team?
QUEMANDO SALSA: The team I have is a great team, because everybody in the band reads music and is also extremely intelligent. When we learn a new song, I send out the mp3s, sheet music, and text files for the vocalists. Everyone is instructed to learn the songs before the practice. When we show up to practice, we may run over a new song twice at the most, because everyone is so prepared. It is the most efficient group of people I have ever worked with.
ANDREW: Did you come from a musical background? Are there other musicians in your family?
QUEMANDO SALSA: Both of my parents were music educators. My mom and dad started me on piano when I was 5 years old and trumpet when I was 9 years old. Every Christmas we would get our instruments and play Christmas hymns. My older brother played the clarinet and my younger brother played the trombone. I learned most all of my music theory and harmony from my dad, who was my music professor in college. I played lead trumpet in his jazz band and French horn in his symphony. My dad bought me my first electronic drum machine in 8th grade, at which point I started an interest in composing music.
ANDREW: What do you find most rewarding about being an artist? What do you find most challenging?
QUEMANDO SALSA: I find the most rewarding feeling being a musician is when I show up to a show and have great performance after all of the hours of practice and planning for one show. I probably put in about 30 hours of preparation to do a 3 hour show. The most challenging aspect of being a musician for me is having the motivation to practice every single night when I get home after work so that I can sound great at the show.
ANDREW: Who are your role models in music?
QUEMANDO SALSA: My role model to this day in music was the great Frank Sinatra, because his career spanned over 5 decades, and he adapted his style of music to the changing music industry, every time it changed. And he was one of the most adaptive artists. Its hard to find another artist who adapted so many times to the changing music industry, almost like a musical chameleon. I also loved the “ scene “ involved with the swing dancers and all of the zeut suits.
ANDREW: Describe your best or most memorable performance.
QUEMANDO SALSA: My most memorable performance was probably when I played “ papa was a rolling stone “ with Big Head Todd at the Redrocks amphitheater in Morrison Colorado. I worked that whole day, then drove to the show. We did not practice the song at all, and at the last minute, they changed the key up a half step. So I stepped out on stage in front of about 10000 people and just started improvising. I didn’t even know what I was going to do. I remember playing a certain lick and I hear the crowd start to cheer. I knew I had their attention. It was almost like sinking a hook into a fish: once you sink that hook, you have to reel that fish all the way in, which I did with the crowd.
ANDREW: What advice would you give to young, aspiring artists out there who are unsure and need guidance?
QUEMANDO SALSA: My advice to any musician, is be just be yourself when you write music. Regardless of which level you are musically, your music will be a true reflection of you and your lifes experiences, and you are unique to everyone else, you are special, therefore, your music will reflect that. Don’t try and be someone you are not.
ANDREW: What's next for you as an artist? Is there an album in the works? If so, what can you tell us about it?
QUEMANDO SALSA: Our next venture is a HAVANA NIGHTS STYLE salsa show June 30, 2018, BALLROOM STYLE. We are going to have the 17 piece version of the band with a salsa dance contest, costume contest, live recording and radio broadcast as well as our first video!
ANDREW: Can't wait to hear everything! Thank you for sharing more about your life with me. I wish you continued success in the future.
http://www.theakademia.com/artistkit/QuemandoSalsa-CityNight.html