Today we’d like to introduce you to Hans Cardenas.
Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles. My parents immigrated from Mexico and El Salvador in the 70’s and raised 4 kids. As the third kid, I remember my mom playing old Spanish love songs on the radio while she cooked in the kitchen. The rhythms were easy to move to and the songs always spread good vibes around the house. As a teen I got really into skateboarding. I used to watch video parts of the pros and get amped to go skate. Through those videos I was exposed to lots of new musical artists. Genres varied from different types of rock (punk, metal, classic) and hip hop. The different sounds and styles triggered certain moods within me and something started brewing. It was the one of the first times I realized how music had the power to stir emotions. Eventually I wanted to learn to play an instrument. I picked up a guitar with my younger brother and together, we would try to pick melodies from our favorite songs.
While earning my bachelors degree in sociology, I enrolled in several music classes to improve my skills. I studied music theory, vocal training and jazz piano. I would sometimes sneak into the practice rooms and work on my own songs. In time, I connected with other musicians and played in several garage bands and even a cover band for a bit. The styles varied from punk, prog rock, alternative and metal. I would play clubs and backyard shows always trying to expand my creativity and hone my craft. Along the way I began to play the piano more than guitar. I would find myself volunteering to fill in keyboard lines here and there and eventually just jumped right into the piano world. It was here that I realized I was putting a ton of effort into learning music but spending so little time recording it. For all the practice I had put in, I had little to show for it. After recording with local engineers with mixed results, I realized that studio time could get expensive and you don’t always end up with the perfect take at the time you’re scheduled. I needed more freedom to experiment in the studio. I decided to invest in recording gear and learned how to produce professional sounding tracks myself. I absorbed all I could on the topic and took up the task of recording the projects I played in. The first tracks were rough and I made a ton of mistakes. But with every attempt, I knew my recordings were improving. I could hear it. Once the project I was playing in ended, I decided to take a step back from band life and continued to study and compose on my own.
Shortly after graduating from Cal State Northridge, my employer went out of business and my tenure as a project manager ended. I had to do something else. Looking for a fresh start, I decided to move to Oregon and check out the northwest for a while with my eventual wife. I became a field technician for a satellite tv contractor and got to work. I would go to the most rural areas in all kinds of weather to install and troubleshoot tv and internet systems. I also did personal training and photography work to make extra money. While surrounded by the new scenery, I was inspired to write an album of piano music that eventually became the Blind Stitch album, Toasted Licks. I had started many melodies but never developed them into complete songs. To develop the songs, I would spend hours before and after work writing and testing ideas.
Before completing the work I decided to move back to LA to be closer to my parents, who now needed more help than when I left. I got a job selling pro audio equipment for a small e-commerce company and assembled a band to record the material I had worked on in Oregon. At this time my wife was pregnant with our first child and I knew I was racing against time because at a certain point I would not be available to work on this. I would drive across town in the wee hours of the morning to record the album because it was the only time all members could meet up and have access to our makeshift studio. I wanted to create an album that was timeless and full of heart. An instrumental album you could listen to from beginning to end. No filler. We pooled our resources and recorded ten songs in early 2015. I’m very critical of my work and I always feel I could do better. That said, I’m proud of what we accomplished with the album. There’s a certain satisfaction that comes when you finish something you started. A labor of love from long before had finally come to fruition.
Once Toasted Licks was complete, the members of Blind Stitch disbanded and carried on. Since then I discovered the world of sync licensing and immediately knew this was something I could do. I continued doing sales for a contractor’s supply house while creating a new solo catalog of production music specifically created for television, film and web media. Digital content is growing online and people will need good music to use. Along the way, I’ve taken on a few custom commissions that have been motivating and validated what I have felt all along. After all the time I’ve spent around playing music and recording, I feel that I have something valuable and unique to offer the world.
Great, 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 definitely hasn’t been easy. There’s starting over after having built so much. Be it in life or in career. Family conflicts, financial hardships and rejection can easily derail your path. Certain events make it hard to get back up and try again but I’ve learned that sometimes you can win just because you get up. You must be resilient and believe in yourself to continue to rise. I’ve always had a belief that I’d be ok in the end. It’s something I hope to pass on to the next generation. Along the way I became a father to two girls so that keeps me busy. Its very challenging but I take it on with pride while trying to grow as a person.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I produce music under my own name. I’m currently looking to partner with music libraries to license my tracks for various projects. The latest batch I produced used various soft synths to create rich harmonies with cutting melodies over simple but catchy beats. It was a new direction for me personally but one that I welcome. I try to remain a student inside always soaking new knowledge in while keeping old tools close at hand. I also included a solo piano piece I did for my brother’s short film “Brothers” based in France. My sound experiments with intervals, textures, structures and movement to challenge what is possible and create an original experience for the listener. A unique journey created by this journeyman.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think you need to be persistent and be willing to evolve in order to grow. Life has a way of challenging you and you must constantly find new ways to solve problems. With enough time, you find what works.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hanscardenas.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @hans.cardenas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrHansCardenas/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvUd-G5X65jj1zVFecSh2UQ
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