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Meet Beto Vargas

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Beto Vargas.

Beto, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I live for those moments when life gives you chills. My name is Beto Vargas and I am a singer, guitar player, songwriter, producer and engineer. I grew up in Bogotá, Colombia and started playing music when I was 13. I wrote my first song that same year and produced my first band when I was 16. I knew straight away that my life would revolve around music. I realized I love writing and performing but also everything that happens behind the scenes. So I decided to study music, production and composition. I started in Colombia, while I was also playing in bands and with some of the biggest artists in Colombia and Latin América. In 2009 I got the opportunity to continue my studies at Berklee College of Music. This was one of the best experiences in my life where I learned from the best musicians and teachers in the world. I graduated in 2012 and moved to Los Angeles where I started working in various recording studios and, in less than four months in, I became the head engineer at a project studio called The House of Rock. It was an incredible experience where I got to record over 150 artists and some of my biggest idols. I recorded names such as Jane’s Addiction, John Legend, Allen Stone, Eagles of Death Metal, Grizfolk and many more.

But unfortunately, the studio was a temporary setup and, even though we extended it for a while, it eventually came to an end. After this, I worked as a freelance engineer but I also went back to working as a producer and on my own music as an artist. I recorded a few records and also started writing some music for advertising. After about six months, I reached out to my studio partner, Mert Ozcan at The House of Rock and we decided to found a new music production company and recording studio in LA and that is how The Record House was born. Throughout the years, we produced records, singles, wrote and produced music for Advertising, TV and film and started a post-production branch as well. I kept releasing music as an artist and got nominated for a Latin Grammy with a record I did with Moderatto. It’s been an incredible journey. I’ve had the opportunity to record amazing artists, work in many studios with some of my idols and play stages like The Forum with bands like Mana. I am now producing some great up and coming acts and releasing some of the most exciting music I have ever done. I am a board member of AMP (Association of Music Producers), a mentor for kids at Berklee College of Music and I am always seeking out new ways to expand and grow as an artist and professional.

When the pandemic hit, I decided to build my studio at home and produce as much music as I can. Artists are the voice of the people and during hard times is when it is heard the most. I also produced, alongside my brother and producer Fetjay a cover with various Latin artists in collaboration with a Latin American organization called “Un Techo Para Mi País” to help raise funds to take food to very poor regions of Latin America affected by COVID. And lastly, on August 14th, I released my latest single titled “MISTAKES” that talks about the things in life we know are not good for us but we keep falling back to. Whether it is a lover, an addiction, cupcakes, you name it. I am very blessed to be able to wake up every day and do what I love and be part of amazing projects. Thank you for listening and being a part of mine!

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?
It has definitely had some rough bumps on the road. This industry is a rough one and life also has a way of throwing you curve balls. I have been on the verge of throwing the towel many times. But my love for music and my determination to reach my dreams have always pushed me to keep going. 2019 was the most difficult year I have ever experienced in my life. I went through a bad depression and everything started to fall apart, or so I saw it in my head. The entertainment industry can be a very lonely world and feel very unrewarding. I felt that I was stuck. My business wasn’t growing, my career as an artist was not getting the attention I desired, I was losing a lot of money, I started to push away everyone I love and the more I fought, the deeper I sank into this dark hole. For the first time, I actually thought about giving it all up and go back to Colombia. But then I started seeing the signs, the Universe, GOD, call it what you will. The people around who believed in me, the artists who entrusted their own dreams to me, and I realized I was the only one in my way.

So I started meditating, reading more, manifesting the things I wanted in my life and suddenly things took a turn. It wasn’t until six months later that I realized that living through that experience and self-battle was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Ironic, right? That’s when I learned that it really is through our struggles that we become who we are meant to be. But we have to be willing to go through it. Sure there have been many other obstacles in my career, being an immigrant, being Latin, financial difficulties, finding my voice as an artist, making your voice heard in the vast ocean of the music world, love and the list goes on. But the main thing is having the will and strength to go on. To grow, to fall and get up, to learn from that fall, but to enjoy the journey. It is when we are enjoying life and what we do that we attract the things we want in life.

Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I am a singer/songwriter, producer, engineer and music lover. I have worked with artists, written and produced music for many TV commercials, TV shows and some films. I have done a lot of post-production work as well for TV shows and films. But I am mostly known for my work as an artist, songwriter and producer. I am mostly proud to work with the artists I have had the privilege to see grow. To be part of their story and keep working with them today. Artists like Ignacio Val, Karla Vallin, Jessica Mar, Salo, Diamante Electrico, Fehr Rivas, Grizfolk and Jared James Nichols. I am very proud to have been a co-founder of The Record House and seeing it grow from just making records to now having an Atmos Room, working on films, TV shows, 3D audio and more. It’s hard to say what sets me apart from other producers and artists. I believe it is the roots that made me who I am and the way I approach the creation of music. I believe the best result comes from the heart; from not being afraid to be vulnerable and getting in touch with that part of yourself. I believe that that is what people resonate with and connect.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I would have to say that my proudest moment to date was Sep 22nd, 2019. I got the opportunity to play guitar at the Forum for one of my favorite bands since I was a kid, MANÁ. I first saw this band with my dad when I was about 12 years old and 20 years later, I was on stage rocking out with these amazing idols. This was also a crazy experience and synchronicity because that same week, the guitar player’s daughter “Karla Vallin” released a song that we wrote together at a BMI song camp a few years back. I didn’t even know he was her Dad. This meant a lot to me because months back, I was thinking about giving it all up and tired that things were not looking up. So this moment will forever remind me that everything we need is just around the corner, we just have to keep going. Four months later, I released my single “Ya No Queda Nada” that talks about precisely that.

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Image Credit:
Kristine Trinh, Luciano Lejtman

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