Daily Inspiration: Meet Jose Andres Alvarez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Andres Alvarez.

Hi Jose Andres, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started off as a classically trained pianist back in my hometown in Monterrey, Mexico. I performed quite a lot and went to a lot of international competitions for around 9 years and at around age 16, I started composing. My mom used to take me to the movie theatres every weekend for years, which got me really into film music and very classic scores that shaped my way into composing both concert music and film music. I got into a couple schools to study composition, including: Berklee College, USC Thornton, Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music and Peabody Conservatory at the John Hopkins University. I decided to go to Berklee and now I am almost done with my double major as a film composer and arranger.

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?
It has honestly been a little smooth and a little rough. Growing up with a Russian professor was tough, it was really challenging and always made me try to do better. When getting into college, it was a tough decision to leave my country, but my ambition has always been really high and I would’ve never regretted this decision. I had never been really sure if my work was good at all as I had only had one music professor for 9 years; no school or conservatory training or other professors. When doing my auditions, I ended up feeling pretty confident and I’m glad everything has worked well.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m first and foremost an artist, as I compose, perform, arrange, produce and write. However, I specialize in film music and arranging. Growing up, I have been exposed to many different musical genres that have shaped my identity. When I started getting more into film music and arranging, I found a place where I could learn how to write and apply all of these different styles and techniques in different contexts. I feel that, as an artist, we all have different spots in our souls that get filled with different stimuli. To me, that’s what arranging and composing do. With flamenco music I get something different than electronic music, same with classical, jazz and latin. I feel like something that sets me apart is my ability to adapt to different styles and contexts when composing and arranging, as I have studied so many different genres and cultures already. Music is so diverse and there is so much to learn from different cultures and traditions. It all comes back to a very human approach.

What were you like growing up?
I have always been a very shy but somewhat extroverted person. I’ve always had very varied interests within art. I’m a fan of photography, as my mom is a photographer. I also loved buildings and architecture, and dance and museums. I’ve always been a very art-focused individual, and I always found myself talking about art and music. I noticed that the more varied my interests within music and art became, the better I could feel within myself and with my thoughts. Art has become a lifestyle for myself as it started off as a sort of therapy. Exercice has also been another side of this balance I try to have. Calisthenics together with music and literature have become the center of my wellbeing

Pricing:

• Up to $2000 – up to 30 min shorts (composition)
• Up to $1000 – advertisement (composition)
• Up to $800 – advertisement (sound design)
• Trying to keep things cheap!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://joseandresalvarezg.wixsite.com/music
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaalvarezcomposer?igsh=MXJiNng0aXdqMXk4Yw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jaalvarezcomposer?si=xO5GKvWtfhJXOD96

Image Credits
Photos by Daniele Gemelli and Michael Abu Ali