Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Richard Durazo
His name is Richard Durazo. He grew up in the middle of nowhere with an old guitar his grandpa gave him, and he has been hooked on music ever since. There is so much music out there that he cannot commit himself to just one style, and since he can’t sound like anyone else, he has to sound like himself.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I grew up in the rural parts of California. I like to say the part with the happy cows. My grandma and grandpa played a big role in raising me. My grandma would always sing in the church choir. My grandpa had a guitar and would often play old country songs. Eventually, my grandpa passed that guitar to me.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
Since I grew up in the middle of nowhere, before the internet was easily accessible, I would spend my free time practicing music. I would spend hours just playing with the guitar.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
As I continue to grow, I have continued to create music. I believe being a musician is all about making music and not about the numbers. It’s all about connecting to people, one person at a time. My songs for the year are reflections of my life and observations, as if I were talking and singing to my closest friends and family.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I like to say I am a blues guitarist singing folk songs in front of a reggae band. Like Eric Clapton playing I Shot the Sheriff.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
If you leave more room in your music and try not to fill in each space, it has time to breathe and can capture feelings and emotions.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
My guitar, Bass, and vocals are on each track. I use ableton for my DAW, and I have a midi keyboard that I use to make the drums and piano. I normally start with Drums and Piano and add layers from there.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I listen to a lot of Indie alternative and hiphop. Lots of LaRussell and Norman Sann
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
The music I listen to and the stories they tell are a huge infulence. My songs are about my life and observations. I am often thinking about Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley when writing music. How would they approach this, did they say something I would like to include in my own work. What would they do to make this piece more interesting.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I want them to feel connected, and think about life. I want them to think about others, and think of relief. I believe the things we focus on become what fills our lifes, and to find joy in hardship whenever we can.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
You can always improve, and people can bond at each step.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I would love to play the Chicago Blues Festival or the New Blues Festival in California
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would love to play with Bob Marley, his music has been a huge part of my life and his writing and singing directly inspire me.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? I am most active on my youtube, but all can be found through my linktree.
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/richard.durazo
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RTDURAZO
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6XyblK9TXSg8En3FYgioy1
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I want to keep creating and keep getting better. I want to be considered one of the greatest instrumentalists alive and get better and better at my production and singing.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That I am a real person, with a life that hasn’t been easy, but I keep creating and keep improving, always.
If you want here you can add a representative Youtube video to insert below the interview 🙂
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What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I grew up in the rural parts of Calfornia. I like to say the part with the happy cows. My grandma and grandpa played a big role raising me. My grandma would always sing and sung in the church chior. My Grandpa had a guitar and would often play old country songs. Eventually, my grandpa passed that guitar to me.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
Since I grew up in the middle of no where, before internet was easly accessable, I would spend my free time practicing music. I would spend hours just playing with the guitar.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
As I continue to grow, I have continued to create music. I believe being a musician is all about making music, and not around the numbers. It’s all about connecting to people, one person at a time. My songs for the year are reflections of my life and observations, as if I was talking and singing to my closest friends and family.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I like to say I am a blues Guitarist singing folk songs in front of a reggae band. Like Eric Clapton playing I shot the Sherrif.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
If you leave more room in your music, and try not to fill in each space, it has time to breath and can capture feelings and emotions.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
My Guitar, Bass, and vocals are on each track. I use ableton for my DAW, and I have a midi keyboard that I use to make the drums and piano. I normally start with Drums and Piano and add layers from there.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I listen to a lot of Indie alternative and hiphop. Lots of LaRussell and Norman Sann
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
The music I listen to and the stories they tell are a huge infulence. My songs are about my life and observations. I am often thinking about Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley when writing music. How would they approach this, did they say something I would like to include in my own work. What would they do to make this piece more interesting.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I want them to feel connected, and think about life. I want them to think about others, and think of relief. I believe the things we focus on become what fills our lifes, and to find joy in hardship whenever we can.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
You can always improve, and people can bond at each step.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I would love to play the Chicago Blues Festival or the New Blues Festival in California
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would love to play with Bob Marley, his music has been a huge part of my life and his writing and singing directly inspire me.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? I am most active on my youtube, but all can be found through my linktree.
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/richard.durazo
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RTDURAZO
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6XyblK9TXSg8En3FYgioy1
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I want to keep creating and keep getting better. I want to be considered one of the greatest instrumentalist alive, and get better and better at my production and singing.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That I am a real person, with a life that hasn’t been easy, but I keep creating and keep improving, always.
