Today we’d like to introduce you to Aida De Moya.
Hi Aida, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a Guitarist, Composer and Arranger originally from the Dominican Republic. Growing up, my music playlist consisted mostly of Brazilian music and contemporary jazz, so my favorite musicians growing up were Pat Metheny, Tom Jobim, and Milton Nascimento to name a few. At the same time, growing up in the Dominican Republic, I was exposed to Dominican and Afro-Caribbean music all the time. So today, some of my compositions blend elements of Jazz and Brazilian music with folkloric components from my native country. My path started as a kid singing and writing my own songs; then it became about composing and arranging new pieces for different ensemble types. Nowadays, I do all that but sometimes I also get to write music for Film & TV and record guitars on different projects!
Alright, 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?
Not at all. Being a musician is a challenge. Being a woman in this industry is another and the competition is very tough these days but anything worthwhile requires a lot of effort and being okay with failing multiple times. The important part is to get back up and keep moving forward with your eyes on the goal. It’s been a challenging path to say the least, but it is a very exciting journey that has given me the opportunity to continue to learn different skills and connect with people from different backgrounds and areas of expertise. I have had the opportunity to collaborate as an Arranger, Orchestrator and Conductor with outstanding musicians such as Toninho Horta, Paquito D’Rivera and Berta Rojas -whom I admire for their outstanding musicianship and warmth. I’m also a bandleader, guitarist and composer for my own musical adventures, and recently, I dived into the film world as a Film & TV composer and session guitarist, which has taught me to be more open-minded and versatile. In today’s Music Industry, you have to wear many hats and be a problem solver, no matter what task is given to you.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Guitarist, Composer and Arranger originally from the Dominican Republic. I specialize in Jazz Composition, it has been my passion since I started my studies. I have a deep love for Brazilian Music and all its different rhythms, as well as my native Dominican and AfroCaribbean roots.
I like to explore all these rhythms and combine them using jazz harmonies and practices, so every piece is an opportunity to discover something new and experiment. But without getting too technical, it is just fun to be able to translate what I hear in my head or the melodies I come up with at any point and transform it into a piece of music that hopefully tells a story to the listener.
That right there is my main passion and focus, but in the past couple of years, I have expanded my skill set and services and am now composing for Film & TV, arranging and orchestrating music for other composers as well.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Everyone loves being comfortable and feeling like they have control on how life is going to play out. I don’t know a single person who hasn’t taken a risk or gotten out of their comfort zone in order to achieve a goal. Naturally, being a musician is risk on its own. You have to be able to wear many hats, do different jobs that fall into the broad umbrella of what being an artist means. I won’t say I love taking risks because I enjoy being comfortable, but I know that my goals require risk taking on a daily basis and I fear more not achieving my goals than taking risks. Moving to the US on my own to pursue a career in music with no guarantees was a huge risk but I would say that it paid off. I am closer to where I want to be with each project I take. Sometimes you need to bet on yourself or no one else will!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aidademoya.com
- Instagram: @aidademoya
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidademoyamusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidademoya/
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/aidademoya
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/aidademoya
Image Credits
Pictures 1, 7, 8, 9 by Luis Zavaleta Photography Pictures 3, 4 by Penelope Santana Photography Pictures 2, 5, 6, by Gaia Wilmer Photography
