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Albuquerque Musician inspires awareness with her new song

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By Nichole Harwood 

In her black and white music video, local Albuquerque musician Zandi Ashley Cabiltes leans over her guitar, her eyes lowered as she begins singing in rhythm to her strumming. Her song “The Country’s Burning (Can You Hear Us Now)” was inspired by her desire to make a positive stand against racial discrimination. 

Cabiltes was spurred to write her song in response to the riots that took place after the wave of protests swept the nation following the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Despite being miles away from the incident in Albuquerque, Cabiltes said she still remembers singing the chorus of the song in her car over and over again, moved by everything that was happening across the nation.

 “It’s crazy to see how much racial discrimination still exists, honestly, it opened my eyes as well and all I wanted to do then was learn more about what I could do, as well as stand together with our black community,” Cabiltes said. 

Cabiltes’s chorus pleads to her listeners to view recent events through a different lens outlining both the protest and the following riots. 

“Oh, the country’s burning can you hear us now? 

We tried the peaceful protest but it wasn’t loud. 

How many black lives does it take, 

to prove there’s still hate?” 

(“The Country’s Burning (Can You Hear Us Now)” by  Zandi Ashley Cabiltes)

Cabiltes said she is the type of individual who sees a person for who they are, but that she had to admit to her own ignorance in regards to how powerful racism remains in the modern-day. 

“It was eye-opening to me that racist jerks still exist,” Cabiltes said. “When I first heard of George Floyd’s murder, it was just heartbreaking. I definitely consider myself an empath and so that was very upsetting, as it was for others.” 

Cabiltes said she watched as Floyd’s death sparked a desire for change and reform, not only towards police protocol but within society’s shift and outlook towards African-Americans. 

“Then the protests happened,” Cabiltes said. “The peaceful ones, the riots… There was such a chaotic energy, and I felt it. All I really wanted to do was give the world a hug because so much was happening. There was so much fire in me, being inspired by protests, the togetherness of everyone standing together; my heartbreaking at the same time, seeing how as a nation, there still existed this disgusting type of hate.” 

Picture taken in Albuquerque by Armando Orona

Local Albuquerque musician Zandi Ashley Cabiltes hopes to see a future where people look past skin color: Picture by Armando Orona

Cabiltes saw the riots as the inevitable outcome of peaceful protests being ignored. She emphasized that, while non-violent protests are great, she finds it infuriating seeing the black community practically screaming in a peaceful manner without an answer. This, Cabiltes said, began with Kaepernick taking a knee in 2016, followed by the L.A. Lakers wearing “I Can’t Breathe” shirts after the death of Eric Garner in 2014. Despite the mass circulation of these messages, among others, the black community still wasn’t, and perhaps still isn’t, being heard. 

“It had to get crazy to make the news,” Cabiltes said. “When people are silenced for so long, people will do what they need to in order to be heard. Martin Luther King Jr. did well with his peaceful protests, however, Malcolm X was on the other side of the spectrum. In my opinion, the rioters were somewhat a catalyst to spark the change our society needs.” 

Each day, Cabiltes said, she continues to learn about the racial discrimination that exists within her community. She stays in tune to the voices of Black Lives Matters in her community by following the Instagram account @BlackVoicesABQ, which posts events in regards to the Black Community in Albuquerque, as well as when upcoming protests are. 

“Honestly, the type of change I’d like to see, just in general, is for people to truly look past skin color and to value others based on who they are. Some other things I’m doing personally is I joined a book club and we’re reading the book, ‘White Fragility.’ I think it’s so important to keep educating ourselves on social issues that we have the ability to change. To stand together as a community and support each other through it,” Cabiltes said. 

Until the day that discrimination becomes a thing of the past, Cabiltes said she and other musicians will continue to communicate the message that America needs to change their societal views regarding racial discrimination. 

As a musician, she sees this as essential as artists have forever been the ones to use their platforms to advocate for the issues society needs to address. As a young musician and citizen of Albuquerque, Cabiltes advises everyone, regardless of age, to educate themselves. 

“It’s one thing to be ignorant, but that is always changeable,” Cabiltes said. “Do your research! Donate, help out, protest. Stand with your fellow human race. And, never ever be afraid to stand your ground and use your voice.”

 

For more on her music, you can follow Zandi Ashley Cabiltes on social media at:

@zandi.ashley on Instagram

and

Zandi Ashley on Spotify

 

Native New Mexican Breathes Life into Fyre Fest

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Like many other Americans, New Mexico ZOZOBRA LEGO creator Robert Piñeda found himself invested in the 2019 Netflix documentary “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” that covered the history of the failed Fyre Music Festival. Unlike other viewers, however, Piñeda decided to breathe new life into the long dead project by using his talent to create an alternate ending to the “greatest party that never happened”.

By Nichole Harwood

Piñeda’s journey began after watching the documentary, covering the rise and fall of the failed festival. After watching the footage it didn’t take long for Piñeda to transform his inspiration into reality through his work. He began to create a mirror “Winter Fest” set with igloos and Lego mini-figures with miserable faces, reflecting the reality of the failed project. However, as Piñeda worked on his creation, he began to notice that the igloos he was setting up looked similar to the white tents that may have adjourned Fyre Fest if the event had a chance to happen. The thought shifted the gears in the Lego artist’s mind and set him on an entirely different path.

Piñeda decided to create a scenario that had never had a chance to exist, a place where Fyre Fest came to life.  

“I knew I could not only make a Fyre Fest with tents and figures looking miserable, but I could also make a set using the same figures partying like Fyre Fest actually happened,” Piñeda said. “I added as much of the of Fyre Fest highlights as I could fit: from the gourmet cheese sandwiches, Andy the man that would do anything for the release of the bottled water, Billy McFarland on his jet ski with this black shirt and hat, beds just lying around for the taking, Ja Rule, people taking selfies, and then it just continued to evolve.”

As Piñeda’s imagination continued to develop, he found himself adding humor into his creation eventually including a shark attack and a monster chasing a man out of a porta-potty onto the set.  

To make his set come to life, Piñeda gave each character a name and backstory. Additionally, to ensure his creation reflected the inspiration in his mind, Piñeda worked with two separate systems: one that allowed him to build the set online and the other that allowed him to build the set in real life.

With his imagination taking the lead much like his with the first ZOZOBRA LEGO project, everything came together, Piñeda said. After finishing his creation, the artist contacted Oren Aks, a poster creator for the failed project who also currently controls the Fyre Fest Instagram account.  After Piñeda reached out, Aks eagerly agreed to add the photos of the set to the official account.

“He loved it and thought it was hilarious,” Piñeda said with a laugh. “He wanted to know which character in the set represented him.”  

As an artist, Piñeda said that he always strives to ensure every project stands apart from his past creations. When Piñeda decided to bring Fyre Fest to life, he knew he was preparing to tackle a project unlike any before. The failed event was primarily driven by social media.  Piñeda said he was thrilled to test the boundaries of his imagination by creating a platform that would flourish through social media, as the event that had inspired it did.

Upon completion, Piñeda said he was pleased with his finished creation.

“This set was smaller, but it brought satisfaction knowing I could create a smaller set,” he said. “While it wasn’t as detailed as the ZOZOBRA set, it brought a different level of satisfaction to try something smaller.”

Piñeda is currently in the beginning stage of creating his third ZOZOBRA LEGO set and is excited to release it soon to the public. As a native New Mexican artist, Piñeda encourages other artists to chase their dreams and overcome obstacles as he has.

“Just do it,” Piñeda said. “Who cares if people don’t like your work. If it makes you happy, then it makes you happy. If you don’t think you’re good enough, then try to be different,” he said. Piñeda encourages aspiring artists to not only “just do it,” but to create their own style, adding variety to the artistic community. “If you’re not as good as someone else, at least your different. Eventually, you will create your own niché, your own followers, and your own market which will bring a sense of satisfaction.”

Video by ABQ-Live intern Raevin Richardson


Interview with Reggae artist CHRONIXX performing at Sunshine Theater

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Reggae artist Chronixx talked to ABQ-Live exclusively about his music, his recent collaboration with Adidas and his plans for the future, as he gets ready to take the stage at Sunshine Theater Wednesday April, 5th at 8pm.

Interview and story by Brenda Paiz 

The 24-year-old Jamaican reggae singer, who comes from a musical family, got his start when he was about six years old. Having a father who was also in the reggae music scene, Chronixx says he feels very fortunate to have been exposed to more than just the music as a child.

“[Having a family with a musical background] exposed me to the process of making music…one of the first thing I experienced was the process of recording and writing music,” he recalls. “I remember just going to the studio with my father and watching him make music: that was one of the greatest influences in terms of how I’ve chose to operate as a musician.”

With a number of records already under his belt, Chronixx talks about his latest single “Majesty” and the message that he wants women to take from it.

“The song was meant to outline divinity of women in general. It’s a love song that isn’t just a ‘romantic/intimate’ love song, it’s just a love song in general for the divinity of women,” he says, “from the grandmother, to the mother, to the sister, to the daughter…every woman is majestic.”

After briefly discussing the new music and upcoming album (no release date yet) Chronixx explains how an idea with a friend, blossomed into a collaboration with Adidas, as Chronixx was named the face of the 2017 Spezial collection. The collection which draws inspiration from Jamaican life, Adidas originals, and soccer (or futbol, as Chronixx and the rest of the world calls it,) is available in stores and online.

While discussing his accomplishments, Chronixx began to talk about his holistic views and lifestyle that stem from his Rastafarian beliefs.

“As a part of Rastafarian movement and community , you’re automatically evolved into the philosophy and the beliefs of the teachings. And once you see yourself as a part of the earth and that the earth provides everything that you need for your nutrition, you make that change,” he says. “Ever since I started to practice the teachings , that’s where my diet and everything changed which was a few years ago.”

Chronixx continues to talk about how Rastafarian practices have changed his life and freed his soul by correcting natural imbalances in his life. And as he aims to become more unified with the earth itself, his success has become more mainstream in the United States as well. Chronixx performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon back in February, which he says is such a great platform and had an amazing experience.

In addition to national television, Chronixx has recently been featured in Vogue, Self Magazine, GQ and CNBC. The future looks bright for this rising star, but for now he says he just wants to continue making music and living a wonderful life.

If you haven’t checked out Chronixx yet, find him on Spotify/ Apple music or follow him on Instagram @chronixxmusic. See him live tomorrow night at Sunshine Theatre.

 

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ART TALKS w/ artist JODIE HERRERA

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Our staff Art correspondent Cameron Krow reached out to local artist Jodie Herrera to sit down and talk about her art, life and inspiration.  The New Mexican born artist from the Taos/ Cuba area offers us a unique look inside her art, which is entirely dedicated to creating homage to the female through personal stories of strength and hardships.

Screen Shot 2016-06-16 at 12.16.22 PMCameron: How long has art been a part of your life?

Jodie: It’s always been a part of my life. My first memories are of creating art. I assume my last memories will be creating art as well. Some of my earliest memories are of me sitting on my mothers lap with my chubby little brown baby fingers wrapped around a crayon drawing a portrait of my father. His body was a large rectangle with a bunch of little dots. My parents never knew what the little dots were until I told them recently while recalling the memory. They were the sun bumps on his neck; I used to lay my head there while my dad held me. I remember knowing that was an important detail for me to render. I was always known as the artist growing up. It was really the only thing that gave me confidence as a young pup.

I was always picked last in gym and was painfully awful in school. Grade school provided me with a ton of doodling hours that proved to be of more value then arithmetic over the years.

C: Speaking of your mom…She’s a jeweler and ceramicist, right? How much of a role has she played in your passion to create?Screen Shot 2016-06-16 at 12.16.45 PM

J: Everything, she is an incredible role model. She has made a living creating art and has given me the confidence and support to do so myself. She is a strong and loving woman and has taught me to be free with my expression. Not to mention she is the one that taught me how to hold a crayon and how to draw; she introduced me to my life’s path.

C: What a babe. You’re lucky. When did you know you wanted to be an artist as a profession?

J: I’ve always known. There’s never been another option. I need it, or more we need each other (cheesy but shits real). It was clear at an early age to my family that art was my life’s work.

C: And you wear it well. So growing up between Taos and Cuba, with deep family roots in New Mexico, what do these places mean to you and how have they shaped you as a person?

J: New Mexico is my world, my family, and my culture. I think the only other identity that I would label myself other than an artist is a New Mexican. My family has been here for over 500 years and I know it will be my final resting place, leaving behind generations to come hopefully. My upbringing in both places, were polar opposite. Cuba, where my dad’s from, is pure New Mexican, more conservative and traditional and Taos, where I grew up with my mother, was the wild stomping grounds of the eccentrics and artistic. Cuba grounded me and Taos taught me how to fly. My years as a youth were an interesting dichotomy, but necessary to my character and art showing me the value in being open.Jovanna (Oil on wood)

C: Not now. Time to cut to the chase. Let’s talk art. Most people know you as a painter. Has that always been your medium of choice? Do you have any interest in producing work through other mediums in the future?

J: Actually drawing was my first vice and main one up until recently. I was pretty much terrified of painting my whole life, I actually took Painting 101 three times and dropped it during my college career. It wasn’t until 2011 that I took it for the fourth time and had a teacher that was open to letting her students paint what inspired them, instead a bunch of boring still life’s. I got over my fear and fell hard for oils; we’re happily married now. Well, that’s not completely true. I actually love to draw still and love learning new mediums. My bread and butter is actually my light boxes, which I construct out of old vintage suitcases, so in all honesty, I’m a mixed media artist as well, I suppose.

C: That’s what’s up. You’re such a rebel. So it’s easy to notice that you like to portray the female form. Why? Where did that come from?

J: My interest in portraying the human form started as early as I can remember. I became primarily focused on rendering the female form in as early as three. No joke, and it actually could’ve been earlier, but just saying that to be safe. And I think honestly it all started with the Japanese version of the little mermaid. I just remember being captivated by the beauty of the female form. Something after all these years never ceases to inspire me. I, as a matter a fact, learned to perfect the human anatomy from comic books and Low-rider magazines. I utilized any resource that was available to me growing up. The female is most relevant and relatable to me for obvious reasons but also, there is the undeniable sacred presence that woman have, something magical yet heavy that I strive to represent in my art. There is a mystery to our abilities, yes we can create life and we are natural nurturers along with other amiable attributes but there is a mysterious presence unlike anything I’ve felt before that we carry. I can only help others and myself to understand it more through painting, or more so connect and feel it.quoteAngelica (Oil on wood)

C: Don’t worry, I will. So, what other kinds of themes or ideas do you like to convey in your art?

J: My whole painting career has been dedicated to creating homage to the female. I do this by telling the personal stories of hardship and strength of each of my models. I want to show the resilience in women and reveal that their dark side or dark experiences add to their beauty. Often the female nude is portrayed as a pure angelic figure of prudence or a dehumanized sex symbol in order to be accepted or be appreciated. Both are flat, devoid of the dimensions that real human experience provides. I hope to humanize my models by creating a personal interaction between the image and the viewer through the models story. I do this by allowing the female to unabashedly expose her beauty with strength. I paint monochromatically in a self made “black” using the technique chiaroscuro (dramatic shadows and light) this conveys how a woman’s depth is only fully portrayed with her darkest shadows present. I illustrate her story by subtle using symbolism throughout the painting. I also use the wood as a way as of exposing her beauty with strength and pride.

C: That’s really beautiful, Jodie. I love that element of revealing narratives in your work. Is there anything else about your process you’re willing to share?

J: It all starts with inspiration. Either the model becomes inspired by the project and they want to be apart of it or I become inspired by a particular person and asking them to be a part of the project. There is a story to be told and a relationship that starts. I spend time with these women with hopes of understanding they’re who they are so I can better render their person. We meet and talk about their past, culture, strengths and weaknesses—most importantly a story of hardship they want to primarily portray in the painting. They courageously open up to me and the project, in turn they share themselves to the world. Most models state that the project becomes a part of their healing process, this is the best outcome I could possibly I ask for.Felide (Oil on wood)

C: How do you feel about the Albuquerque art scene?

J: It’s great! We have a ton of talent here as well as great grassroots initiatives that are geared to push our artists forward. Albuquerque is definitely growing into itself and I’m extremely invested in seeing this city thrive as an art center. That’s why we started doing the Pop-Up Collective.

C: I feel the same way. We’ve got something really genuine going on here. So it was a few years ago that you and some other Albuquerque artists formed the Pop-Up Collective, right? Can you tell me more about that project?

J: The Pop-Up Collective curates one-night only art events. We like to switch up our venues for almost every show, which keeps things interesting. These locations are some of Burque’s most unique spaces and we feel incredibly fortunate to work with the people we do in order to use them. We also, feel incredibly grateful to work with our artists. Our city is filled with incredible artists and performers! Our mission is to reveal the mass talent that New Mexico has to offer, while giving both our artists and the patrons an engaging one night only experience that exceeds all expectations. Guests have proclaimed that our events made them feel good about our city. We want people to feel proud of this place, proud of our arts community! We try to cover all grounds when it comes benefiting our greater community through art. We provide exposure for local emerging artists, we try to only work with venues that can benefit from the promotion that we provide, and we always have a benefit art auction to raise money for local causes. Our focus is to create an exceptional grassroots exhibit while pushing our city forward.

(For more information regarding the Pop-Up Collective visit us on our website http://popupabq.wix.com/collective and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/popupcollectiveABQ.)Screen Shot 2016-06-16 at 12.17.21 PM

C: Whoa. There couldn’t possibly be enough people like you. So tell us what are you currently working on. When is the next time you’ll be showing work?

J: I’m currently working the same project but with different women of course. Their stories are remarkable, and I’m quite excited to show these new works. I will show my newest pieces at the next Pop-Up show, and all the models from the exhibiting paintings will be there to meet in person!

I have a few shows coming up. I have one running for the month of December at Red Door Brewery. The opening will be Friday, December 4th. Then my co-curator from the Pop-Up collective, Angie Rehnberg and I are brewing up another Pop-Up show. It’s called Manifold. It will be located at SCA Contemporary Art, 524 Haines Ave. NW, Saturday December 12th, from 6-11pm. It’s gonna blow your mind! We have incredible artists, free libations donated by Tractor Brewery, munchies, Birdman spinning records, a performance by our cities first poet laureate, Hakim Bellamy, a secret group performance… you name it! We pour our hearts into these shows, it will be super rad and you don’t want to miss it. Then I will be showing at farina pizzeria of Central Ave. for the month of January. Lastly, come April I will be having an exhibition at The Small Engine Gallery the date is undecided yet, but keep your ear to the ground.Zinnia's Moon

C: I’ll never remember all of that. Good thing it’s going to print. Where do you envision your career as an artist going from here, both in the short and long term?

J: I just hope to continue to learn and grow as an artist and person.

Someday, I hope to travel the world and share the social and cultural differences / similarities of women from a diverse range of backgrounds. It would be awesome to some day represent New Mexico through my art internationally. Long, long term, I want to die a happy viejita, still painting, surrounded by my loved ones in northern New Mexico.

C: That’ll be adorable. I have one last question for you: what is your advice for young people interested in pursuing their passion for art?

A second pair of eyes will help you develop your skills exponentially, it’s important that you trust that person to tell you the truth. You are confident that they have a good eye and will tell you if something is off with your work when you cannot “see” anymore (working too long on piece will do that). Also, draw… and eat your gah dam broccoli!

SEE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT JODIE ON HER WEBSITE http://chromaj.wix.com/jodie-herrera

Kyle Martin and The Atomic West

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KM---ATOMIC

Image by Wes Naman

 

mockupkylemartinThey say you never forget your first and Abq-Live won’t soon forget our first country music feature, Kyle Martin. Dust off your cowboy boots and let Kyle tell you about his musical influences, songwriting and love life.

What does it mean to be ABQ-Live the Magazine’s first country music feature?

I am truly honored. The fact that ABQ-Live would consider me, it means a lot both as an artist and a fan of the magazine. There are a lot of very worthy candidates in the country music field living and playing in New Mexico today. I couldn’t be more excited that you picked me!

I know that you have spent some time in other places, what keeps bringing you back to New Mexico?

That’s simple, New Mexico is ‘home’ to me. I’ve traveled around the U.S quite a bit. I’ve gotten to do some very cool things and see a lot of amazing places. However, I’ve never been anywhere that I wanted to live more than New Mexico. I grew up on a big ranch in Socorro, NM. My father’s family has been in New Mexico for well over 100 years. It just feels right. I love the land, the weather, the people, the culture…it’s truly ‘Enchanting’.

You mentioned some of the people who have influenced you, and I thought they were very diverse. Can you list them again, and maybe mention some things about a few of them?

This is always tough because I was moved by so many artists. My earliest influences, I’m talkin’ 4 or 5 years old, were Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Marty Robbins. Jerry Lee especially, his energy was so intense…it jumped out of the speakers. Just a couple years later, my mom introduced me to some of my biggest influences of all time. I remember riding in her white single cab GMC pickup truck with her and my sister, headed to school (1st grade…maybe 2nd) listening to ‘Diver Down’ by Van Halen. WOW! I’ve never gotten over the raw, unbridled power that those guys cranked out with their music. She also had ‘Fandango’ by ZZ Top, ‘Physical Graffiti ‘by Led Zeppelin. That stuff made me feel alive! Then, when I was about 10 or so, I began playing the guitar. My dad realized I was taking a real interest in it and I started sitting in with his band when I was about 12. I started playing with him full time when I was 13 years old, and that’s when the Country music lesson really started. Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Faron Young, Wynn Stewart, Willie…Waylon! We also did a lot of newer stuff (at that time); George Strait, Brooks & Dunn. Somewhere in there…I found Dwight Yoakam. Everything he did, I loved. I could’ve been in a Dwight Yoakam cover band and be just fine. His ‘Honky-tonk/Bakersfield’ sound was and is my definition of “Country & Western” music. Some other big ones through the years include; Queen, Marty Stuart, AC/DC, Prince, The Kentucky Headhunters…and too many more to mention!

kylemartinstudio

Image by Theresa Joan Mahoney

If you could put together an all-star band to perform with, with members from any era, who would they be?

Drums, bass, lead guitar, etc. Oh man! Ok, on Guitar, Mr. Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top ‘cause he’s got all the styles covered (I met him once in Vegas..I almost cried!). On Bass, Mr. Berry Oakley, The Allman Brothers original Bass player…Friggin’ phenomenal! On Drums…Mr. John Bonham from Led Zeppelin because…IT’S JOHN BONHAM! Maybe we could get Prince in there too cause he can play & sing anything and is just a total badass!

I have watched you perform as a solo acoustic act and with a full band. What do you like about each?

The solo act is fun because you can turn on a dime and do anything you want in a heartbeat. There’s no one to turn to and say, “Hey, let’s do whatever…”. It’s also usually in very intimate settings, so sometimes you can make a connection with people that you may not make in a bigger venue. That said, playing with a full band is where it’s at. Having a bass & drums behind you is like the difference between riding a bicycle and popping a wheelie on a Harley…there’s no, comparison.

What has been your most memorable performance?

I’ve played in New York, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Nashville…and all those were AMAZING, but…one night I stopped by the Range Café in Bernalillo, New Mexico to drop off a poster and the owner’s band was playing. He asked me if I’d get up and do a couple songs. I said “sure.”. We did a few old R & B classics and it was really groovin’. I closed with an old Willie Dixon blues number called ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ and the people went, TOTALLY CRAZY! I’ve never seen a crowd go that nuts in a small venue like that before or since…it was really cool!

Have you ventured into songwriting?

Oh absolutely, since I was in high school. I write all the time. As a matter of fact, every song on my upcoming LP was written by me completely. A few of the songs are tunes I wrote years ago, a few are brand new. Songwriting is a strange process. No two songwriters do it the same way. I tend to write lyrics to music that I can already hear in my head. I’ll crank out rough drafts pretty quick, but I may tweak them for years . . .

I saw you have written a few different love songs, does that mean you are off the market?

No, I’m single. My love tunes aren’t generally ‘oh baby, I love you’. I’m more of a ‘night time is the right time’ kind of songwriter when it comes to “love” songs.

Was your song “I wanna be your man” written about anyone in particular? Did you ever get a chance with her?

I wrote ‘I wanna be your man’ over the course of a few days. The lyrics came fast and were just fun to me. The groove really facilitated my guitar playing too. I just envisioned some stacked fine broad cruisin’ through the bar and every guy just blows a fuse. No one in particular, I know some girls who’d fit the part nicely though!

What advice would you give to women waiting for “the right man”?

Take up painting…maybe origami!

You have a new album coming out very soon, what can you tell us about it? How was the process, is it being produced locally, and when can we get our hands on it?

Finally! What an undertaking. If you have never recorded, it’s hard to tell someone all that goes into it. We started recording this album a little over a year ago at Elephonic Studios right here in Albuquerque. Mr. Jesse Korman is phenomenal and his insight has been invaluable on this project. One of the reasons it has taken so long is that I wrote, produced and performed every song on the album. I played every instrument other than the drums (thank you Mr. Eddie Garcia). I wanted this to be a vehicle that would enable me to truly showcase my music in every capacity. I also just wanted to be able to bring to life something that was almost completely my artistic vision (thank you Mr. Wes Naman). We’ve completely wrapped all recording and the release date for ‘The Atomic West’ by Kyle Martin is set, tentatively, for early May.

Where is the best place for fans to find your music?

It will be available from all the major online music retailers (i.e iTunes, Amazon, etc). You can also go to my website, www.kylemartinmusic.com, (thank you 11 Online for creating my website) which will have links to all of them, as well as everything you could ever want to know about me…well, almost everything.

Interview by Josh VanLandingham, Photography by Theresa Joan Mahoney

Rudy Lopez Rising to the Top

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Local artist, Rudy Lopez, is on the rise and ABQ-Live got the chance to sit down  and find out what makes him tick. Recently featured in Tattoo Magazine, he let us explore the life of an artist from Gallup, New Mexico.

 

rudy-lopez-mockupHow long have you been tattooing?

This past February just made it nine years. Professionally, I have been doing this three years out of those nine.

What inspired you to become a tattoo artist? Was there a specific moment in your life where you knew this was what you were going to do?

I’m from the generation of tattoo artists spawned from tattoo shows on TV. I knew I wanted to do something with art for a living. I just didn’t know what. I didn’t know how to paint, but I did know how to draw. To make it as an artist, it takes a lot of patience, discipline and professionalism that needs to be taken seriously. So, it took me a few years to come to grips with that.

What steps did you take to become a tattoo artist?

The steps I took were not the best, but it was the only path I could take at the time. I had no idea how to tattoo at that point and went to a local smoke shop for equipment, it was the only place that sold the stuff. I did both house calls and people came over to my house off and on for about 3-4 years. I started out known as a “scratcher”, someone just tattooing in their house, the lowest you can be in the tattoo industry. I took it very seriously and did the best I could. Eventually, I got into a shop, I was in and out of there for about another year or so. Working at a shop called Max’s Tattoo Zone I started doing tattoos that were solid and healed well. My work was getting better than anything I had done in the past. It wasn’t until I reached Tinta Cantina, that things became more serious. I felt like I still had a lot to prove, but I belonged in the shop.

How many shops have you worked at throughout your career and how have those experiences influenced the way you work?

I’ve worked at a total of 10 tattoo shops, including when I did guest spots. It’s always very exciting and different. Nowadays, when I go to a shop, it’s always very intimidating, but also very inspiring. I get to see work from different artists and how each individual artist is unique. I try to learn new techniques to improve my skill set and apply what I’ve learned into what works for me.

Is there a specific type of art that you are influenced by when doing your work?

There are two aspects that I like. Anything that’s believable and appears realistic is always a pleasure to look at. Other things that are less realistic and imaginative are also appealing to me. When I have the opportunity to combine them both, I have fun with it.

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What do you do to keep that inspiration going?

I look towards my peers to always keep me in check. I constantly have paint nights with my friends Gabe and Jerret to stay sharp. Right now, these two guys keep me on my toes and are constantly critiquing me. It’s the best way to help me improve my art and my work. Just meeting other artists, hard workers especially, throughout the tattoo industry has also helped me.

What’s happening in your career now as opposed to say five years ago?

I’m doing a lot more work that I want to do. My work itself is just so far ahead of where I was when I first got to Tinta Cantina. I’m working smarter, rather than working harder as opposed to when I first started out. I had the mentality that you had to work hard all the time no matter what was going on, but after a few years of doing that I found out firsthand that you can easily burn yourself out. Work sometimes has to be put aside and play has to come in. There has to be a balance between work and family time.

Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

It’s hard to say really. All I can do is have faith that I’ll be doing the work that I’ve been wanting to do- finding my own style and owning it! I do plan on owning my own tattoo shop and I am preparing for it. Even though it’s going to be a long while before that is possible to do, I have faith that the shop I plan on opening will be a successful and a dream come true.

What was the most challenging tattoo you’ve had to work on?

Almost every tattoo that I do nowadays is more challenging than the last one I did the day before. At least I try to make it like that. I look at it kind of like going up the stairs. Each step you take gets you one step closer to your destination. If you’re not taking the time to take one step closer to your goal, even though it’s just one step, you’re staying in one spot, or even worse, heading back down the stairway.

What other mediums do you enjoy working with?

As for the moment, I work a lot with just regular pencil sketching. One of the other things I do when I can is oil painting. I love how all the paint allows me to blend it as I go. The fact that it doesn’t dry so quickly and allows me to move with it the way I want too. I love it because it keeps me calm and keeps me relaxed more than anything.

If you could give advice to kids or people that are interested in becoming artists, what would you say to them?

School is key. Going to school would probably be the best suggestion I can give. Not that I have ever gone, but I do plan to go one day when life is a little less chaotic. I’ve seen my friend Val go to school for art and how it has improved her work tremendously. I’m in awe everytime I see something new she painted. However, if you don’t go to school, try to get books and always draw for the fun of it. I have never seen art as a job. You should never do it for the image that others have of it, do it for the love. Art is work, it’s not your average 9-5 job, it’s a love that you have to work at every day. Art is everything. You really have to find what you’re passionate about in order to find your own art.

Interview by Joshua Lara, Photography by Kori Kobayashi and Joshua Lara

 

Want to see more work done by Rudy Lopez? Check him out on Facebook at facebook.com/RudyLopezTattoos. You can also find him on Instagram by searching for @rudy_lopez_nm.

Contact us: info@abq-live.com

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