We recently had the chance to connect with Diego Patino and have shared our conversation below.
Diego, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Either on the road or at home, I always wake up and have some coffee right away- Then I go for a long walk or a run while listening to music. Then, I finish it off with a little “pad work-out” on my practice pad and some meditation.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure! I would say my roots are in the Latin American metal and hip-hop scenes…An amusing combo, I think.
Combining heavy-metal aggression with hip-hop-influenced improvisational sensibilities has been my approach to drumming for quite some time now. And luckily, I think it’s working. I’ve been able to keep playing with even more Pop, Hip-hop, and Hard Rock acts since we last talked. It’s been a busy couple of years, but the variety in genre has kept me feeling refreshed….Now I just need to spend some more time at home..I’m kidding, of course! Give me more!!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I think, as far as I can remember, music has always been something that interested me. However, coming from a non-musical family, the arts were always looked at as something that should be more of a hobby than a career. So in a way I feel like there has always been this pressure of the outside world that says “really?! you are gonna be a drummer?…” and it’s something that I feel like I have been using as my fuel for a long time…Now that I am a full-time drummer, it feels like I’m on the other side of the river (so to speak). I just feel very lucky that I took a chance on myself, and all the hard work is paying off.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I think I would tell that young drummer to keep working hard and just remind him that its all gonna pay off….any maybe give him hug
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
We all lie to ourselves and try to say it’s “okay” to be overworked just because you are “on the road”….touring takes and gives, and yes it is AMAZING that some of us get to do it…But in the end, I think we gotta take care of the person that we are off stage because when the lights are off.. that’s the version of ourselves that really matters,
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
Packing up my bags and moving from Colombia to chase a dream…thats the best and bravest thing Ive done
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonly__juan/
Image Credits
Joey Martinez
Kayla Stevenson
Ray Wilkin
