Today we’d like to introduce you to Camilo Velez.
Camilo, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Ever since I was a kid, I remember the air in my house being filled with music. All the time. My dad was and still is an avid audiophile and he was always playing music for us and showing us new bands he’d discovered, singing, etc. This sparked an immense interest in music in my young self. From then on, I remember always asking my dad for music lessons, no matter the instrument. Finally, at the age of seven, he got me my first guitar and signed me up for guitar lessons. I learned very quickly and grew to love guitar immensely. Later on, I started playing trumpet as well and kept playing both instruments for a long time. After a few years, I really wanted to dig deeper into music itself, not just my instruments. That’s where I started attending a pre-college program at Colombia’s most recognized music school. I was there for five years until I graduated high school, and that’s where my dream of becoming a professional musician really came to life. I had been introduced to Jazz from a very young age by my dad, but at this university, I learned to love it and appreciate it in a deeper way. Because of this, I decided to come to the US to become a Jazz Guitarist. I was accepted on a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston.
At Berklee, I quickly discovered that there were a million paths in music and I started quickly looking at many different options and ways I could make a career in music. I realized that, even though I loved playing and loved Jazz, there were people who were just immensely more passionate about it and were very intense about it. I didn’t really fit into the Jazz crew at Berklee. That’s where I landed on music production and composition. I had flirted with composition earlier in my life but never thought of myself as such. I quickly realized I had a talent and love for it, and dove headfirst into it. After three very intense years, I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Contemporary Writing and Production. I grew like I hadn’t grown in a long time while at school.
In August 2019, I moved to LA, where I’m working mostly as a film and TV composer, orchestrator, guitar player and record producer. I’ve met amazing people who’ve acted both as mentors and counselors in my career. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to surround myself with people who keep me growing and keep pushing me to be my very best, every single day.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being deeply connected to my creativity at all times has definitely been a struggle. When you are a creative person, it’s hard not to value yourself by the value you and other people give to your creations. This is a subject that I’ve had to revisit and address many times over my short career and it’s something that I’m constantly trying to improve. I’ve come a long way but I am a firm believer that there’s always room for improvement.
As I mentioned before, finding the path that I wanted to follow and realizing that my original goal was no longer what I wanted for myself was also a struggle, but in the end, growth only happens in difficult and challenging situations. I am grateful for every struggle that I’ve had because they’ve all led me to where I am today.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Pink Sound Labs – what should we know?
I specialize in Record Production and Media Composition. I’ve been fortunate enough to work on big projects airing on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and even a feature film that will have a big theatrical release. I’m very proud to have accomplished so much in the eight months or so that I’ve been here in LA. I take pride in my work ethic for sure, but also in my pursuit of finding what’s next. Finding new sounds and tailoring the sound of each project. I have a broad vision and have many ambitious plans for the future. I want to open up collaboration avenues with other creatives with which musicians don’t usually collaborate.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I feel that surrounding myself with people who are like-minded but have complementary qualities to my qualities is key to everyone’s success. I try to be in places where I know I’ll have room to grow and expand, even if I don’t know where it’ll take me. I am a seeker of opportunity in every corner.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_camilovelez/
Image Credit:
Leire Aguilera, Sol Avi Erez
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