Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan “jay Cali” Calixto
Juan “Jay Cali”, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Juan Calixto, a.k.a “Jay Cali” professionally. I was Born and raised in Rochester, NY (Home of Kodak Film) to parents, Lisa Marie Martinez and Benny Calixto Jr. I was born prematurely at 4lb 4oz and had to be incubated for a bit until I was ready to go home. My parents weren’t together anymore by the time I was born, so my mother and I lived with my grandparents, Juan and Carmen Martinez. We come from Humble beginnings. My Grandparents had 6 children with my mother being the baby.
as a child my Grandfather felt like Superman: He always seemed ” Larger than life” to me and was always working hard for our family. At this point in my life I hadn’t met my father and wouldn’t until the age of 14, So for me, my Grandfather was very much a father figure to me. He instilled many values into me at an early age that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
My mom found love again when I was 7 years old and moved, but they decided it’d be better for me to stay with my Grandparents, better area schooling etc. I always remember my Grandpa playing Old Spanish music on cassette tapes in the car, it sounded so ancient to me, the recordings just felt so old and raw, but I was always left intrigued. As most Kids my age, I grew up Listening to Michael Jackson and I use to dance around the basement mimicking every dance move (terribly) haha. Around 7 or 8 years old I was convinced I was going to be a singer because of my love for Michael. Fast forward to 11 years old, I was begging my Grandparents for a drum set after gravitating towards them in my elementary school band.
They finally caved and got them for me, but not before my Grandmother made me promise that I would stick with it. I was the happiest kid in the world. I really do feel bad for them though, I’m sure my formative years were unbearable, haha.
in 2004 I auditioned for a band That would later be known as ” A Thousand. Shades of Cold”. This is the band where I learned so much about music, the business and how to be a band mate, all while honing my craft on the drums. In 2012 the band had been a bit burned out and we started to slowly explore other ventures and that’s when I decided I was going to Move to Los Angeles. I had been to LA a couple of times prior and knew that’s where I wanted to be, so I planned my move and 7 months later I was on a plane with my friend Richard and starting a new journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Moving to LA was such a huge goal of mine and making it a reality was such a huge deal for me. I was determined to give it a proper go, after all, L.A. is the Mecca for “Making Dreams Come True”. Once that “High” wore off and reality set in, things became tough, landing literally any job just to try and keep up with rent, food and every day life seemed so difficult. It was extremely lonely at times and I definitely was tired of eating spaghetti 3 or 4 days a week just to stretch what I could. The Ultimate goal was to achieve my dreams no matter what. It was a bit intimidating for a bit navigating such a big city and getting familiar with my surroundings, the culture, the home sickness, you name it. There were definitely a couple of times I had to Stay with friends along the way to get back on my feet or I would have been on the streets.
In late 2017, I received a phone call that my Grandmother Carmen went to the hospital and the family was very concerned. I was freaking out so bad because I was 3,000 Miles away and felt useless. Towards the end of the night I was told that she was stable and being monitored and my cousin called me and put the phone up to my Grandmothers ear so I could talk to her even though she wasn’t able to respond. The next morning my mother called me frantic and told me I needed to get on the first flight back to NY and I Started freaking out because I could hear everyone crying and the Pastor praying in the background. I remember it so vividly, My Roommate Brandon drove me to LAX and it felt like all of LA was on fire. The wildfires were really bad and both sides of the 405 just seemed like we were driving through hell. I then received a call as we approached LAX that my Grandmother had Passed away. I felt so alone sitting at the airport waiting to board for what felt like an eternity. My soul was crushed. When I got back to LA I felt so lost and didn’t even know how to move forward, but I Knew I had an even bigger reason for my purpose now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
So, I am Known for my work as a Drummer. I Have been playing drums Since I was 11 Years Old. I Have performed many gigs in multiple Genres ranging from Hard rock, to Synthwave. My First band ” A Thousand Shades Of Cold” will be something I’m forever proud of. We were best friends who made some awesome music together. We had an Indie Deal with Amherst Records and had music in the UFC and even a Video game called “Supremacy MMA”.
I also have worked on the flip side of the industry as a Backline Tech and have worked for S.I.R Hollywood, Centerstaging in Burbank and Audio Images. The great thing about building my experiences on both sides of the industry is the relationships and different artists you meet along the way that you may not have met otherwise.
I am Currently the Live Touring Drummer for an artist named ” Timecop1983″ who is considered one of the top artists in the Synthwave Genre.
I feel what sets me apart from others is my ability to adapt, my ability to connect with others and my way of being able to think “Big picture”. I have a winning mindset behind my work ethic, but I am an easy going person by nature, so I feel like I get along with most people I meet which ultimately leads to building long lasting friendships and working relationships.
Any big plans?
Timecop1983 is gearing up for our first US tour of 2025. We will be out on the road this March, for our “ON THE RUN” tour Featuring Josh Dally. We end in LA, March 22nd @ “The Echoplex”
I am also diving head first into my solo project called “DRUMxWAVE”. This will be my debut as a writer, producer and vocalist. It will be for fans of Synthwave, Darkwave, Rock and Pop.
I Don’t think there will be any substantial changes for me aside from the normal grind of just trying to be a better person in all areas of life, we never stop learning, right?
Contact Info:
- Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/jaycalidrums
Image Credits
Image 2,3,5 and 6- EMMA JAYE
Image 4- Mick Brandon
