Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Nguyen
Hi Carlos, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a child I was endlessly curious, always diving into new obsessions. My first love was Legos, which sparked my creativity and imagination. I’d lie awake at night envisioning what I could build, waking up early to bring those ideas to life. Legos, to me, are an incredibly accurate metaphor for any creative endeavor—where individual pieces, much like brush strokes in a painting, come together to form something entirely new. While art is the culmination of different influences and elements, it’s less about putting things together and more about discovery of a path.
Growing up in Sacramento, I was always surrounded by a diverse range of music. From my mom singing along to The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine and The Supreme’s You Can’t Hurry Love, to my dad playing 3 Door Down and Pat Benatar. No matter the occasion, there was always something playing in the background. One of my favorite quotes by Jean-Michel Basquiat says, “Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time.” And I’d say my childhood was a wonderfully decorated time.
My first encounter with music creation came at age four, when my grandma told me to play something on her keyboard synthesizer while she dozed off for her afternoon siesta. Did I know how to play piano? Absolutely not. But that didn’t stop me. I played away, going off how the combination of notes made me feel and adjusting my fingers if I didn’t like the sound. When I got a bit older, I learned how to play piano properly, along with the guitar and violin during my time playing for a youth orchestra. I’d often get in trouble during my lessons for not practicing at home, opting to write my own songs instead of practicing the instructed material. Playing something already written could never give me the same feeling as creating something never heard before.
I first discovered music production software in high school, after a sports injury ended my dream of playing soccer in college. My friend introduced me to FL Studio, and it was a game-changer. It felt like the perfect intersection between my love of music creation and interest in technology. My laptop at the time couldn’t run the program, so I secretly downloaded the demo on my dad’s work laptop. I would wait for him to go to sleep, then be up all night making beats. The downside of the demo version was you couldn’t save the file and it was deleted when you closed the program. This meant that once I closed a project, it was final—no revisions, no second chances. Because of this initial limitation, I learned to be more concise and intentional in my decision-making process.
My dream was always to attend UCLA, and when I finally transferred after two years of community college, I knew I needed to make the most of it. Instead of focusing on networking with my fellow students, I reached out to entertainment industry professionals, eventually landing an opportunity to help rebuild Cuffing Season, a nightlife events company. Over the past three years, I’ve applied my meticulous nature and knowledge of technology to help the company grow from a pop-up party to establishing residencies in Los Angeles, New York, Oakland, Sacramento, Seattle, and Hawaii. This experience has not only expanded my network but also allowed me to do what I love—being surrounded by music and creativity every day. Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue exploring new opportunities within the music industry and to keep pushing the boundaries of creativity across different mediums.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life has certainly not been a smooth road, but I don’t think it would be as fun if it were. My journey has been shaped by challenges like impostor syndrome and the need to pivot in my career choices. These hurdles have been difficult, but they’ve also been instrumental in my personal growth and development.
One significant challenge I encountered was dealing with impostor syndrome, especially during a pivotal time in my life. When I first moved to Los Angeles, I only knew one person, and I spent much of my time feeling isolated and out of place. Often the youngest in the rooms I entered, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy, questioning whether I truly belonged. This began to change when I met my friend Jeremy, who recognized my talents and treated me as an equal. From the outset of our friendship, he was encouraging and often referred to us as “we.” I’ll never forget the first time we hung out and he said, “We’re really here doing this sh**” (in LA). As an older, talented, and well-connected photographer, Jeremy’s support was invaluable. His recognition of me as a peer helped shift my perception of myself and reinforced the importance of having someone who believes in you. While I still face impostor syndrome occasionally, I am fortunate to have mentors and friends who remind me that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Building on the confidence I gained from overcoming feelings of isolation, I encountered another significant challenge: pivoting my career path. After graduating from UCLA, I initially planned to attend law school and become an intellectual property lawyer, prioritizing financial security over passion. However, a close friend’s sudden passing made me realize that life is too short to pursue paths that don’t fulfill me. This revelation led me to explore other avenues, eventually finding a home in marketing, where I can merge my creativity with my interest in technology. Since making this pivot, I’ve experienced much greater satisfaction, working on projects that allow me to bring clients’ ideas to life in creative and innovative ways. Reflecting on my journey, I’ve learned to listen to my heart and allow my curiosity to lead me. Taking that leap of faith is essential to finding fulfillment.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I consider myself a multimedia artist, with music production as the core of my creative expression, complemented by photography and videography. While I’m most known for production credits on various rap and R&B songs that have garnered millions of streams, my first production album, Silence Amidst The Infinite Noise (2023), truly showcases my growth as a producer. This album reflects my journey from creating trap beats to exploring R&B and more experimental sounds. As for what I’m most proud of, it tends to shift depending on where my creative focus lies. Recently, I’ve been particularly proud of my progress in photography, a skill I picked up only three months ago during a solo trip to Japan. The new environment sparked a rapid improvement in my abilities, and I’m excited to see how this will influence my next production album, Project KXK (pseudonym-I have yet to reveal the actual title). This album will be more multimedia in nature, incorporating various visual elements and diegetic sound to create a more immersive experience.
What sets me apart as an artist are my unique experiences, perspectives, and approach to storytelling. I believe the magic lies in subjective truth, not objective lies. My diverse influences allow me to craft stories that resonate on a deeper level, whether through music, photography, or video. Creating a moment may capture people’s attention, but creating a story captures people’s hearts. I’d choose the latter every time.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about LA is its incredible diversity, especially when it comes to food. The city offers a rich culinary landscape where you can find delicious dishes from virtually any culture, which I absolutely adore.
On the flip side, the transactional nature of LA can be challenging. While this mindset can simplify certain interactions, it often forces you to question people’s motives and be cautious. In an industry where some are willing to sacrifice morals for temporary gain, it’s disheartening to see how easily ethics can be compromised. Coming from Sacramento, where decisions carry real consequences, it’s surprising how often power and influence can lead to a blind eye being turned. Despite this, I continue to put faith in the hearts of those I meet and focus on maintaining trust with the people I keep close. As Andy Petery says, “Find solace in the fortitude of your integrity, and focus on those things you can control.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://donxcarlo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donxcarlo/ and https://www.instagram.com/cuffingseasonparty/
- Other: Stream SATIN – https://tr.ee/811JhVU7xU
Image Credits
For the picture of myself – the photographer was @arthurcollord on instagram
