Conversations with Nicholas Cisneros

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Cisneros

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
For me, it all started with my parents, and the musical household I grew up in. I grew up in Concord, California. My dad is a great guitar player, and musician. My mom doesn’t play any instruments, but is a super fan of music. She would listen to everything from Joni Mitchell to Joe Jackson to NOFX. Music was, and still is playing in our house all the time, especially during meals. Growing up in this environment really helped expand my musical taste when I was growing up.

I didn’t really get into playing an instrument till I was about 13/14. It would be a lot of me taking one of my dad‘s guitars or Bass to go to a friends house, and play some obnoxiously loud metal. It wasn’t until I got to high school, and took a music appreciation class that was taught by an incredible woman named Colleen Martin, who ended up being my main influence into the music life I live today. She found out that I can play Bass, and asked if I would join the jazz band. I was skeptical at first, but I knew I had a secret weapon to help learn these tunes quickly. That was my moms brother Craig Petit, who is still a session bassist in the Bay Area. He helped me immensely in the early years, giving me my first couple real bass lessons. Getting my technique right, and getting me started with reading music. With his help, I was able to go back to school, and play the tunes I was given with no issue. That solidified my spot in the jazz band, and the rest was four years of being involved with everything music in school. Jazz band, choir, orchestra, even the junior high or elementary school bands. If they needed Bass, I was there.

I was not a good academic student, and when graduation was approaching my options for a career were starting to become limited. Plus I didn’t really have any passions for anything except music. I didn’t really consider being full-time musician, but with great encouragement from my family, and Colleen Martin. I decided to move to LA, go to a music school to get a quick degree just to tighten up my technique and musicality. Then, next thing I knew I wasn’t even 21, and on my own in Los Angeles charged with the task to make a living playing this inanimate wooden object.

From then, it was about six years of doing the classic jobs of a musician. Teaching, session work, local gigs, and of course… Starbucks. Through that time, I made incredible friends, and learned the many lessons and struggles of life that comes with the gigging industry.

One of the proudest passion projects that was a part of what a group called Brother Stone & The Get Down. This was a massive collaboration of LA musicians, and we had an amazing time creating content, music videos, podcasts and playing shows. Unfortunately, this whole group separated when the pandemic started. Every individuals life just had too much stuff going on to keep this project going, but I’m glad we did what we did, and we have the memories.

Back to 2015. Things were progressing, and I was one of the lucky few to be able to make a living doing music, but I was looking for something bigger. That changed when I met an amazing Band Leader/Pianist/Percussionist named Alberto Salas, who gave me a great opportunity to audition for a Persian pop singer named Dariush Eghbali. This really showed me that American pop stars aren’t the only ones touring and playing big gigs. Every culture has their own superstars, and they all need bands. These were some of my first opportunities playing in front of tens of thousands of people, and it was a huge step up for my career.

Now it’s insane to think, 10 years later, every year has just gotten better. Sure there’s more struggles, and life lessons to be learned, but more opportunities as well.

Currently, I’m still doing all the classic musician jobs. Teaching, session work, local gigs, but thankfully no more Starbucks. Very proud to be able to make a living, purely off of music. I have amazing students, and I’m still touring throughout the year with various artists. Life is good.

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 definitely not been a smooth road. “The struggle“ is a part of every musicians lore.

There are the classics like money, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

But for me, the main thing in the early years was trying to maintain a social life. It’s hard when you work two jobs and then gig at night to have any energy to go to a bar at 3am to hang out with your friends. This affected me in waves of loneliness and feeling a deep sense of FOMO.

Once I was able to make better money playing music, and didn’t need the other job to support myself. That gave me more time to go out and have a regular life.

The only other struggle I think I have dealt with, and still do sometimes. Is the battle with being too self critical, or over analyzing yourself. It’s something I know every musician battles in their life. Whether it comes to live performing, recording, or posting content online. There’s always a little voice in the back of your head, telling you that that lick wasn’t good enough, or that line wasn’t in time perfectly. No matter how many third-partys you show, and say you did a great job, you’re always your own worst critic.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m your classic freelance LA musician. I do everything from live performing, teaching, to studio recording, and producing.

I worked hard to make sure that I’m competent in any genre, just to give anybody I work with the confidence that I know what I’m doing. Not just on Bass, but with the big picture of music in general.

I’d say I’m most known for my professionalism. There’s a million amazing players, especially in Los Angeles, but what really separates you from the rest is professionalism.

Can you respond to texts, and emails. Can you show up on time. Can you maintain a good attitude in the moment despite what’s going on personally. Are you open to constructive criticism, or suggestions in general.

These are the elements that I feel really leaves a good impression on the person you’re working with, and this is what I feel like I deliver very well.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
In the music industry. Luck is the only thing that makes and breaks people. A lot of the time, luck is just preparation meeting opportunity. Sometimes it’s as simple as bumping into somebody at Guitar Center that’s very well established and likes you.

For me luck really struck around 2015. When I was contacted by a great band leader and musician Alberto Salas that I have worked with a few times up to that point. Out of all the people he could’ve thought of, he thought of me and offered me a chance to audition for what ended up being one of the biggest gigs I’ve ever done.

Bad luck is also a part of the game. I’d say the music industry as a whole suffered a huge swing of bad luck when the pandemic hit. Putting this entire industry on hold. Something that’s just not in your control, and you gotta either survive or quit.

Contact Info:

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