Today we’d like to introduce you to Mars Rodriguez.
Mars, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m an alien … I’m Nicaraguan and American. I’m a one person band: vocals, guitar, keyboard and digital drums/ drum machine. I write and produce my songs.
I have always been surrounded by music and art, my dad, grandfather, brother and sister sing and play instruments, my grandmother is a painter. I started playing the guitar when I was 12, my dad taught me a ranchera song. At 14, I had my 1st band and when I was 17, I was in another band, I learned a ton. I started singing and writing songs. Then we parted ways and the Mars Rodriguez project began.
I became very interested with recording programs and started to learn how to use them, there is a lot to learn… I enjoy it, even though I go crazy. So I did some demos and started recording my EP at the studio of a friend and producer” Rodrigo Castro.
I was living in Nicaragua at that moment, but on April 2018 things changed, and dictatorship started. I wasn’t there when things started, I was out of the country and I only had 1 bag of clothes, guitar and my guitar pedals. Moved to Atlanta for a few months and then decided to give it a try here in LA.
When I got here, I started sending emails daily to venues and booking agents to get shows, I started writing more songs, I was day in and day out reading music books (I haven’t finish them haha I’m on my way). Also, learning how to improve the drums tracks for my live sessions. And basically, at this point, I decided that this project was going to be a solo project, as a way to allow myself full self-expression, I have always worked with people and it’s great, but now I want the opposite. It’s ten times more challenging and it keeps me excited.
So last year I played a lot, it was crazy cool, met and played with a lot of great and talented artists, I’m grateful. Currently, i’m releasing singles and videos from my upcoming EP. The EP will be out on July 2020.
Has it been a smooth road?
There are always challenges, stepping stones in order to become whatever you want to be. Inner troubles, dealing with yourself and your demons… it’s always a challenge, losing one of closest friends, ex-bandmate was and still is painful. Being far away from home, knowing that people don’t have freedom, knowing that people are persecuted, tortured is so painful, I feel like I’m living a double reality.
I have experienced a lot of uncertainty, not knowing where i’m going, trying new ways of making music, literally just going with the flow, I kind of like it, life surprises you, when you allow to not take control.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know.
Currently doing more music, releasing some videos and singles.
Upcoming EP release on July 2020.
Singles releases:
*Jan 2018 — “No Estas”.
*Nov 2018 — “Pulsar”.
*April and May 2018 — “Hold On” and “El Duelo”(These were dedicated to Nicaragua’s Political Crisis)
*Feb 2020 — Now
*March 2020 – Troubled
My music incorporates elements from post punk, blues, indie, raw, Latin rock and electronic music. Lyrics are written in Spanish, English and French.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes !!!! There is a lot of diversity, people are very into art and live shows. Connecting with people is awesome.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marsrodriguezmusic.wixsite.com/marsrod
- Email: marsrodriguezmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/marsrodriguez_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarsRodriguezni/
Image Credit:
Liz Luz
Pink photo was taken by Johanna Baca
Bow photo was taken by Panoramica Studios
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