Meet Edgar Fabian Hernandez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Edgar Fabian Hernandez.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
The thing is my story ISN’T unique. That’s the whole point of doing what I do. Both of my parents are immigrants, my mom from Mexico and dad from El Salvador, and came to LA to find what they thought would be a better life when they were both teenagers. Every first-generation person comes from this background it’s just so common and because it’s common we take for granted how extraordinary it is to be raised by these kinds of people. After they met, they decided to live in South Central LA, which is where I was born and raised, the middle child. There’s no way I can talk about my journey without including those of my family and the area I grew up in, they all raised me. The humble women of my blood who are seamstresses, cleaning ladies, field hands, babysitters; all the work that is available to immigrant women. Being a child in their world opened my eyes at a young age, seeing how they were treated. I remember my Aunt getting in trouble at her job cleaning this lady’s house when I joined her because I had the nerve to look the lady in the face and introduce myself as I had been taught to with new people, but obviously I didn’t understand the power dynamic. I remember my mother took us to Hollywood holding my younger brother in her arms since he was still a baby when this man violently pushed us out of the way. We crossed the street to tell a police officer and he wrote us a ticket for jaywalking. I remember when my grandmother came home bloody because someone punched her in the face and stole her purse on her way to work. My grandma still worked because my family was made up of immigrants, everyone had to work and everyone had to live together. My five-member family all used to live in a single room in a house with five other families living in it. Their stories are my story because I love them and have felt their pain and hope and humiliation and triumph.

As for me, I’m just like everyone else from the hoods of LA. I got pocket checked constantly in middle school. I have been targeted by the police for being brown. I have seen my friends go to jail for years just for smoking weed, spending the best years of their life in a fucking cage while some suit makes money off him. I’ve watched juries full of white people send a teenager to prison for rolling a blunt. Just like everyone else in the hood I’ve had to get older and suffer dumb ass bros telling me about their weed businesses while my homies are homeless and broken from their experiences incarcerated. No one cares what happens to these young people because society is ready to call them criminals but they’re just kids. Children who pay a price far too high.

What makes me unique is that I’m mad as fuck about all this shit and I don’t give a fuck who knows it. I’m not here to pretend everything is ok and at times that makes me feel like the loneliest person in the world.

Please tell us about your music.
Music is what made it all click in my head. You know that feeling when you finally connect all the dots? That’s what it did for me, it allowed me to accept myself as a human being in the entirety of its nature. Spiritually and intellectually music gave me the tools and the space to see the reality of myself against the world. Because we are not machines put together piece by piece. We are born into existence and its not a matter of deserving but of will and chance. This whole life and world is a deck of cards and all we do is decide how much to put up to bet. It’s fucking liberating to know this truth in my heart when I’m dealt a hand full of jokers in this holy game of poker because at least it ain’t the ace of spades. And if I’m alive, then I’m putting my chips with the dreams of my people. Dreams of freedom and happiness and justice and I want to bet it all on those ideals. That’s what I want people to take from my songs, that you aren’t alone in feeling like its more than being on the razor’s edge. Some of us are the razor blade itself. And we must cut to the truth.

I’m inspired constantly by the ones I love. Something about hanging out really gets my mind going. That’s when I write most of my music, in front of other humans. All the little things someone does when you connect with them; Their laughs, smiles, jokes, insanity. People can always surprise you, things can always change. It’s just so beautiful to look into someone’s eyes and know for that moment you two care about each other. To know that this moment can never last forever. I adore all that shit and it breaks my heart at the same time.

Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
You are going to think of giving up almost every single day. Those thoughts are not your own, be aware of how you’ve been infected with the doubts of others and work to cleanse yourself of them. It’s hard to continue when dealing with both financial and confidence issues so best to tackle one at a time. It’s very overwhelming to think about making art and making money so I can offer no advice but what I’ve done myself. Cut the fat from your life and time. Dedicate yourself to your craft and actively think about your place in the world. Always remember to enjoy what you do (artistically) above all else. But also keep in mind that things get hard and sometimes, there is no easy or right answer. Be flexible because then life cant break you.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I have been fortunate enough to work with amazing people in my last band, you can check us out here:

eartharrow.bandcamp.com

And please support my friend and all-around amazing being Ayui Yu or a.k.a. Flavio Santi Vargas. He has been fighting for indigenous land rights in the Amazon since he was born and is working on opening a university to protect and preserve their native culture, medicines, and language. He is doing some of the most important work on the face of the planet and such an important person in my life. He truly deserves more recognition.

wayusaschool.com

And honestly, you can support me by having conversations about the children that are being imprisoned by I.C.E. We must organize and build enough community so that we can actually end this horrific evil because voting hasn’t done jack shit to stop it.

Contact Info:

• Email: yearofthecrowband@gmail.com
• Instagram: therealsouthcentral

Image Credit:
Albert Flores, @rapid.99

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