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Meet Richard Ragudo

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Ragudo.

Richard, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My journey started sometime in early 2015 after I stopped going to college. A friend who goes by the stage name Dre;Creez reached out to me out of the blue and asked if I can do a hook for one of his records. He had just started putting tracks out on YouTube/SoundCloud and I got inspired to learn from his process all while we collaborated on more music. We went into the studio a week later, and it was history being made from that point on.

What is it that I specifically do? I am a musical artist that revolves around singing and songwriting. My mom has been listening artists like Aaliyah, Usher and Ginuwine to name a few since I was a baby. MTV and other music networks were also being shown at all of my other family’s houses while I was over for a visit. My uncle was a disk jockey as well, and my cousins also dove into playing instruments and breakdancing. The more I was exposed to it, the more I fell in love with it. As I got older, my time was spent playing music back on my stereo, would mock Michael Jackson’s dance moves off the TV and just sang to anything that touched my soul. It became my personal therapy from that point on.

I kept this side of myself closed to people until high school rolled around. Our community mainly consisted of Latino families, so the music I was into was not the same music being played in most households in our area. 2011-2012 I started showcasing my talents a bit more, and word about me got around to our school’s drama teacher. He asked if I was interested in taking part in the annual “Variety Show” which consisted of themed acts. Gladly accepted the opportunity, and was blessed to close the 3-day run with performing Billie Jean by Michael Jackson. Left a mark with my friends and the families in the surrounding neighborhoods from that day on.

2012-2015 I went through a stalemate period. Was so used to being in the high school phase that there was no plan set up for me to follow afterwards. So, I went to Compton College to play football for two years while continuing my studies. Being around a different community definitely helped me get more comfortable with my overall image and love for music. The other blessing was getting to know people from different areas since this was something a bit foreign to me.

2015-Present time I’ve been blessed to work with some creative individuals that have known me since high school. Even then, I had burned a lot of bridges with people. So, I had to slowly put in the work to not only rebuild the trust but to also show that I am serious about what I wake up to do everyday. Thankfully, the more I keep investing into my work the more opportunities start showing up for me. I have a really big support system behind me as well which makes this life journey worth way much more than I could have ever imagined.

I mention my background because I feel like a lot of people start off doing what they love to do as kids, slowly leave it behind during our teen years and get back to it as adults. It’s much more than just following a trend… it’s about being happy. My story is only 1 of many others that all revolve around the same thing. Do what genuinely makes you happy, and leave your mark for the ones to come after your time is up.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been a mixture of both. We have all been at a point in our lives where we question so many things about ourselves in a negative way, have we not? I had a few breakdowns that tore me up pretty bad. Fortunately, through some heart-filled conversations with loved ones and some really deep self-reflection, I have come to a point where I accept life for being life. It’s not stopping for any of us.

Luckily, I’ve been given an opportunity to show people hope through my creative gifts. Of course, a lot of work and determination has been put into what I do, but if I’m being honest sometimes it really does have to do with being humble and making the best out of any opportunity. There have been certain situations where money was a big stress ball that was draining me, but the less attention I put into and back into my purpose the more it came back in abundance.

As a content creator looking for ways to re-invent myself and get my product out. Did you lack authenticity with your most recent drop? Did you reach out to the right audience? Is your content accessible to the average consumer? Did you not give any attention to certain platforms that could have helped you branch out more? Are you networking? Are you really putting in the effort to reach out to your core supporters? Are you reinvesting into your overall brand and getting your message across? All in all, point being is asking if you are putting in the work or not. It may seem like a lot, but these are things we have to ask ourselves not only from a business perspective but from a genuine one as well.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
As Jay Z once said, “I’m not a businessman; I’m a business, man!” Richard Luis is my pseudo name used for the creative content I put out. I mainly specialize in singing and songwriting, but I also use my platforms to assist other individuals get their messages out similar to the way I did or even better. Of course, I get to learn from the process as well while we work at it. I still have much to learn which is what I am most excited about. Getting to a place where I am able to leave my mark on people in some way has always been a thing of mine. Music has been the most effective avenue for me so far, so I keep working at it.

What I am most proud of is the support group I have built over the years. I think it’s important to spend time in reaching out to other consumers who are not familiar with your brand, but what will expansion do for you if there is no foundation? Your core supporters will always be loyal to you especially when you re-invest into putting out more quality instead of quantity. My most recent shows have had great turnouts due to the effort that was being put into promotion and overall personal outreach on my end. Trust me, your support group pays a lot of attention to this especially if you know them on a personal level.

What sets me apart from other people is nothing! Everyone has their niche at what they do. Mine is about storytelling through music, having personal connections with my support group and finding ways where I can re-invest in resources to make quality work for everyone to enjoy.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My grandfather, who is no longer here with us, for always having my back no matter what and blessing me with his words of wisdom. My grandmother for reminding me that nothing will ever get done if you are not putting in the work. My mother for being my grandparent’s living example of what they always preached to me about. My stepfather for loving me and looking out for me as one of his own. My two younger sisters for always showing me unconditional love and support. Lastly, my friends and family deserve all the credit as well. Once they saw what I was trying to do with my gifts they gave me nothing but their undivided attention and have even contributed to the work I have put out. Everyone has a piece of themselves in these projects.

Thank you to the company I am currently employed with (Production Locations, Inc.). My boss Rob and I share music with each other outside of work, and he really shows a lot of love for what his employees do outside the workspace.

Thank you to my cousin Anthony Perez and friend Jose Penate who helped me complete my first body of work. It would not have been possible without them that’s for sure. “Closure” by Richard Luis is out on all streaming platforms by the way.

Thank you to Crē-8 Music Academy for the knowledge and resources you provide to your students/alumni who are wanting to dive deeper into the industry.

Lastly, a thank you to a special someone and their family for having such a huge impact on me and showing me love even till this day. My first project has a huge piece of you in it. Hope you enjoy.

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Image Credit:
Victoria Gutierrez, Ivan Argueta, Anthony Casillas, Alex Hernandez, Eric Antonio

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