Today we’d like to introduce you to Mani Metales.
Hi Mani, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story
It’s kind of a funny story. Really it all started out when I was growing up in my childhood, Going to church with my sister, We participated in the choir. In middle school, and even throughout High School as well. My sister and I always loved singing growing up, with our parents. Specifically, my Father would play a lot of different music on the radio around the household .
Around my preteen years. We had moved away to another city where there wasn’t really a whole lot around outside of the house… but I was ecstatic to meet this pretty young girl, who was my neighbor, and at the time, maybe a year older than me when I was 12
She introduced herself, and I was happy to make a new friend. When we were discussing what sort of activities I was thinking about participating in coming into my freshman year of high school as she was also talking about going into her sophomore year. She suggested that I join the band, and I never thought I would really have what it took to play a musical instrument, though I had wanted to before. I actually kind of put myself down and thought it would be something unattainable .
I do remember at the time, My dad would tell me stories of my grandmother, playing Herb Alpert records, and other great musicians. He specifically recalled loving the sound of the Trumpet and I wasn’t particularly interested in that instrument at the time. I wanted to play something else.
I showed up to the band camp, which was just the band room at the high school. And not knowing what to play, I decided just to choose the clarinet, because I remembered watching Squidward play the instrument in the SpongeBob cartoon. I thought it would be funny. My Mom gave me a little smack in the back of the head and advised me to pick something a little more masculine, so that I didn’t get teased.
It was then that I recalled the Trumpet.
So, without making this extremely long story, and I could really get into more detail, but I tried to knock two birds with one stone by impressing the girl, and also trying to impress my dad.
So, a year goes by and she moved away. I had put in so much time and effort. Almost 6 hours a day every day learning that Trumpet to catch up with my peers.
My choice was either to continue or to try something else in HS. And I decided that it was something that I really did enjoy and wanted to get better at so I assumed the leadership position in the band , and continued with my learning, which actually involved a lot of independent research, and practicing.
I have finally found something that I’d really cared about and that I was interested in in even though I loved art and drawing at the time as well… I participated in other groups and activities, and even some martial arts music with something that I truly fell in love with, and cannot deny.
And so I began expressing interest for learning other instruments, and as many other different styles music became to me This wondrous new reality of expressing myself artistically, and yet finding the pleasure of discovering skills and techniques.
I started playing in different bands outside of school and participating in showcase events. Even some big concerts. I found myself opening up for while playing the keyboard in a metalcore band. And I didn’t find myself playing the Trumpet much often during that time.
It wasn’t until I saw a band play at my high school for a community day while I was performing with the marching band that I discovered something that married my two new loves which was heavy hard-core music and brass instruments.
A band called La Banda Skalavera performed at My school and they blew my mind because they blended the hard-core styles of punk that I enjoyed with amazing arrangements of brass in their horn section that married Latin rhythms and styles with ska music, which is something I was begging to build interest with.
I then wanted to start playing the trumpet again and started looking up new bands that were in that style, which was Ska core.
Bands like Streetlight Manifesto, Voodoo Glow Skulls, La Pobreska and more. Some of the bands that played in the Local music scene.
So I graduated High School in 2012, participated in the Riverside Community College Marching Band and also started playing in a couple backyard bands with some friends as an independent horn player. At 17 and it was then I decided that this is something I wanted to do for a living one day for sure because I enjoyed playing in so many different acts and also learning and growing all while trying to make my own money. I mean it was all just a positive thing in my eyes and I couldn’t imagine myself doing much anything else even though I had other dreams originally to maybe be a lawyer or a doctor. Music won my heart.
So one day I audition for a band who a friend had told me was looking for a trumpet player, and after studying the music rigorously for a week I went in for my interview and beside three other trumpet players, my hard work had prevailed as they decided to give me the position as the new trumpet player And a local band called Red Store Bums.
I started working more and more with other groups as I became more comfortable playing in that style with this band and eventually started to create work for myself.
When one day it was between going to work for a gig that I had practiced and rehearsed for a long time but in many hours versus going to work with my dad and we had a conflict.
I began working with more artists and meeting so many more musicians in the Los Angeles Ska community that I was playing and rehearsing almost every night.
I can get into more detail, but I ended up having to leave home at the age of 18 and I have lived in various places throughout Los Angeles until I was about 24 years old. I moved back home since, but it was living in L.A. that I had grown, and learned so much while met so many different people in my path on this musical journey. Something I continue everyday!
I went and looked for Work while sharing a room with my band mate’s kids and I even had to go and take a bus to school every day as I wanted to continue my education professionally as well. It was difficult and I lived in a lot of different places going back-and-forth and I did many different jobs but in order to pay the rent and my tuition I had to hustle.
A regular day was waking up early to catch the bus at six going to school going to work going to band rehearsals and then taking the bus to the metro home getting home late just to wake up in a couple hours and do all over again.
Doing that was a lot of growing for me because I was also able to see a lot of the harsher realities around me and every day life living in Los Angeles.
This was such a struggle for me many times. I remember a dark day was having to sell a beloved instrument to pay my rent. But I would find a lesson in most things, day in and out.
Living there I connected, and worked with so many different people in the music and entertainment industry. I have to stop and also give thanks to all the real ones who have been there with me since Day 1. My friends and loved ones who have helped me during the hard times and supported my dreams and ambitions.
No man does it alone and I couldn’t do it without them.
In my local scene, I have grown and personally, I learned a lot over the years while working with more and more bands and artists in my local music scene but also internationally. I’ve been working to continue learning in my craft, also working towards growing and gaining more experience will traveling and touring.
Also I have begun to expand my art a brand as I have also been writing and even producing my own music. Everyday is something of an opportunity, I try to create and make something of it big or small. I am blessed to find myself in the presence of many other talented artists and individuals around me who help to bring me up and influence my career progression.
I did work a corporate job for some years since I’ve moved back and I’ve been home in Riverside for about 5 years now’s at the start of the pandemic things were very difficult for everyone and I have find odd jobs but even in retail and eventually working my way up a latter in a warehouse. It was eating me alive and not what I wanted to do. Though it was a safety net, and I have a lot to thank for that opportunity, I had to move on and took a leap to go back to full time musician.
It’s a huge risk but with the right hustle and a firm grip on your goals. Nothing is impossible. I have dreams of my music being heard by everyone one day. Until then I’ll continue to work on myself and my art while working as a freelance and touring musician.
Right now I’m on tour with Metalachi. A heavy metal mariachi group and of course you know I’m playing the Trumpet.
But while at home, I am grateful that also do much freelance like recording and arranging horn section parts for other bands and artists. I often play the trombone and even the saxophone on many occasions where I play a solo performance for private events.
Though I commute and travel so much, which takes a toll on the body and mind, I find the will to keep pushing.
Anything I can do to gain experience, doing what I love to the fullest that I can live and breathe in what I’m most passionate about and that is the art of music.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No definitely not. It has had many bumps in the road and many obstacles just like anything in life. Especially the really good things, they don’t come easy.
Everyday is still a fight with yourself to try and get ahead somehow. Well at least with myself, I want to always try and be better. Improve. I don’t like to be behind. When I see my peers are at a certain standard, I want to meet that and eventually exceed that. It’s just how I am and I think it has greatly helped my growth as a musician. To always push to be better. Not necessarily better than those around you, but to go beyond a certain level. Don’t just stay in a certain place. Always push to go farther.
It does get easier though with repetition. The more and more you do something every day, the easier something you may be able to grasp. It’s been said before that music is a language, and like a language, it’s something that you must work on every day to get better at.
There also comes struggles with opportunities and finding work. Honestly the music industry is so cut throat at times. It’s hard to find work but there is always a need for a musician somewhere whether it’s in musical scoring for the movies in those sort of sessions or in schools, at events, concerts, recording, etc. the struggle at times is just if you are gonna get the call. A lot of people are already locked in and you gotta really shine to have a spot way up high in the sky. Where everyone can see you. That’s definitely a dream of mine so I’m working hard every day to see what I can do to take doing what I love to the next level while also finding the ways to express myself though my art.
A major struggle was trying to grow during covid. Finding work as a musician and opportunities to play and grow with other musicians was almost completely ceased for myself and so many others. Especially gig workers. The school I was working at was shut down for remote learning, bars and venues were closed for not being and essential business, and concerts and tours were cancelled.
But we all tried our best to continue. Many artists and bands turned to social networking to continue sharing our music. Performing remotely and holding virtual concerts. I remember having to do this several times and especially with Dead Man’s Party, a band that plays tribute to Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo.
I am very blessed that even in that very difficult time I was still able to continue playing even though it was very much scaled down than from before.
That was in 2020-2021, over the years, things have been getting better and returning back to somewhat normal or how active things were before for the entertainment and music industry. Speaking from a musician who tours and freelances for a living. Pandemic was a dark time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My stage name is Mani Metales. My friends call me “Mani” or “Manny” but my full name is Manuel Lee Dominguez II, named after my father Manuel Lee Dominguez, and he was named after my grandfather Manuel Dominguez but I’m the second because my father and I share middle names. “Mani” comes from myself distinguishing a difference from my father’s “Manny” nickname when our names are viewed on paper, or in social media for example. My family comes from Mexican decent and I am a very proud Latino American musician! I love my culture and our art!
“Metales” comes from the Spanish word meaning “Metals” which also is how often describes the wind instruments of the horn section. Being that they are made from Brass, the group is often referred to as “los metales” so I go by the name “Mani Metales” since I play the Trumpet and other horns commonly found in the horn section.
For example, in ska music, most bands or groups utilize a horn section.
But I also play many other styles of music, which groups may also call for trumpet or other brass in those genres.
I also have piercings on my face which funnily enough ties in to the “metales” category. Haha
What sets me apart from the others is that in my work as a freelance musician, or a session musician, is that I offer the full package. I’ve created a name for myself as being able to record and arrange a full horn section while also offering to record the horns as well. No need to organize and sync three guys in a studio when I can match the intonation of the Trumpet, Trombone, and Tenor Sax by myself?
It is crucial however, to be able to work with other musicians and be open to criticism from other players. Everyone’s ear’s and ideas are different in someway and that’s the beauty of this art is to be able to express yourself with one another.
However I’m proud of being able to offer that to some artists. It makes things easier when I’m recording horns and they don’t have to work with three different people. I’m proud that I have put in the work and time and been able to grasp the experience to begin creating this name for myself. And with the help of my friends and family, God willing, I will continue to learn and grow.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I 100% suggest that if you want to improve in your craft no matter what it be. You must surround yourself with others who may have more of a certain skill than you or have more experience. That’s how you’ll grow. Whether you go to school, participate in an institution or group, or watch videos on YouTube… I suggest you do everything you can and everything it takes to get you closer to achieving your goals. When I was in College, I blessed to have a personal trumpet coach for a short period of time. Although I didn’t finish my lessons with him, I soaked up everything he would teach me. And from many of the other musicians and educators I’ve worked with. soak it all up. You can learn from someone else’s successes and failures.
Surround yourself with these people and you can grow. Speak about what you do but listen to what others have to say. Doing this too, is a great way to connect and work with other artists. Like I mentioned, nobody does it by themselves. We all have something to contribute! Expand your network and create a name for yourself in different places, too.
For me since my art is also my business, networking and working with new people is vital!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mani.metales?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrompetaMani?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mani.metales?si=CWY9uedwy4uE8BO8
- soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/6FeaU53qyV1zb3Hp9
- Other: https://www.bandlab.com/manimetales
