Check Out Rene Pacheco’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rene Pacheco.

Hi Rene, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am from East Los Angeles. It’s considered a very lively area rich with culture, but to me, it’s home. A home that molded me and my way of life. I am both an independent artist and musician. I’ve been doing both sides by side for most of my life and as far as I can remember, it all began in preschool. I remember a substitute teacher named Able who would entertain us during recess and draw whatever we could name. He was very nurturing to us with his art and that always stuck with me. In elementary school, I was also fortunate enough to have peers every year in class who were really good at drawing. Watching them inspired and propelled me to learn how to do the same. So I sat down next to them and always watched. Music introduced itself to me around the same time in preschool. There was an old broken piano available but no one knew how to play music so almost no one touched it. For me, it was a different story. I was a very energetic kid and my attention span would move around quickly. Somehow playing that old broken piano kept me calm focused and out of petty trouble. It even kept me excited to go to preschool, which I normally hated.

However, since it was falling apart they ended up throwing it away. As a kid, I did not understand why they could not just let me have it. Looking back it was probably a huge liability for the school. Luckily in elementary school a music program was introduced and that helped me learn some basics for music. Unfortunately, I had to quit the program because I had graduated elementary school a year later. I would not get to continue learning music going into Middle School so I had to find a way to continue teaching myself. I begged my parents for a $100 electric piano/keyboard from Sears. To my luck, they got it for me and that kept my musicianship alive. Meanwhile, with art, I just kept drawing and feeding myself inspiration from “How To…” books I would find at Borders bookstore or at the library. I had no social life outside of home or school, so I really dove into those art books and that piano during those years. This all changed when I turned 15 and became a sophomore in high school. I began to pick up other instruments and joined a friend’s band. I was also now able to choose my own class schedule so naturally, I gravitated towards art classes. The classes allowed me to further develop my drawing/painting skills while performing on the weekends with a band, helped further my knowledge and experience for musical performance. It was a sudden shock for me.

I had gone from being a homebody, studying music and art alone at home, to all of sudden performing in front of people on the weekends and displaying my art at school during the week. It felt like I got to lead a double life. I never told anyone at school that I played in a band, and at shows I never mentioned to anyone I was an artist. I guess it was cool to me to keep it a secret. This had become my life and it went on until I finished college at age 24. Everything between 15 to 24 had been a routine of finishing school/college while creating art and making music. At first, it was really easy while being in high school but it soon became very challenging once I got into college. Both school and music began to demand more of me and my time. I was majoring in Animation/Fine Art while touring with a band around the U.S. Through countless sleepless nights and hours poured into my crafts I was able to graduate and make it to all of my shows with the band. Having graduated college, music and art became one full-blown course meal everyday. It’s been amazing and freeing to be able to only focus on these two now. Since then, it’s only gotten busier and better. Although I currently make art and music “professionally”, I am still a student of the two.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not always been a smooth road but when it gets bumpy, it really shows you to yourself what you are made of. It’s almost like a test so if you fail it just means keep studying and learn from it.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am currently a songwriter and drummer for the band “Tropa Magica” with my brother David Pacheco. I also work as an independent artist commissioned by patrons to paint various works. It is currently how I make a living but it all began from a passion for music and art. I am most proud of having been able to maintain a harmonious life between the two. I have so much to thank these two practices for. I always wanted to grow up to do both and having had reach various milestones has been very rewarding to the labor done with love.

How do you think about luck?
“Good Luck” disguises itself in the form of blessings or opportunities. Those moments make you feel strong and protected. With “bad luck” it will always sting. It can be discouraging but you have to pick it apart and learn from it. It will either be a teacher or your last stop.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected] [email protected]
• Website: Tropamagica.com Renepachecoart.com
• Instagram: @tropamagica @bien.pacheco
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdIE74d7ClkAnrJpGHuEH1Q
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3uCmGQUSAkY2BvcrhMLLzE

Image Credits:
Rafael Cardenas @rafa.la (Instagram)