Today we’d like to introduce you to Alan “Speedy” Peralta.
Hi Alan “Speedy”, 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?
I was born in a little city outside of Boston, MA in 1995, but my family soon after moved back to Argentina where I lived until age seven when we went back to the Boston area. As much as I’d like to say I fit right in, the culture shock was a difficult adjustment but not a unique one. I grew up adjusting to American culture as I hung onto what I could about my family and my people back home, a story I get to share with many of my peers who grew up with a few different cultures influencing them. Growing up, school was difficult, and I blame that partially on cultural barriers, but I also had very little interest in what schools presented us with apart from Math. I’m thankful for my natural interest in math, as when I did finally pick up the Electric Bass and started studying music seriously (both in and outside of school) a natural understanding of basic math principles helped me perceive fairly abstract concepts. I must recognize, however, that even though I did have a natural understanding and interest both math and music, I really have to pay homage to my teachers, particularly those that helped inspire me when I felt uninspired. I’d love to take a second to thank Fernando Huergo, Anthony Vitty, Carolyn Castellano, Danny Morris, Ed Tomassi, Anat Hochberg, Loudon Stearns, and Rachel Eio.
After having studied Bass for four years, I got accepted and attended the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York, but transferred and finished my undergraduate degree at Berklee College of Music in Boston in Performance and Contemporary Writing & Production. I went into college hungry for a greater understanding of the Jazz tradition and harmony, but as I spent time studying the freedom that Jazz gives you, I also found great freedom and artistic expression in Gospel and Hip-Hop. In studying a variety of styles, I became a regular in the studios, both at Berklee and in the greater Boston area. I had the chance to work for Tia Ray, Nana Ouyang, Insaneintherain, Block B – BASTARZ, as well as go on multiple tours in South Korea and do a short stint of masterclasses in Kenya. All in all, I am nothing but grateful for the opportunities that my peers and professors gave me while at school, and I owe my knowledge of the music industry to them.
After graduation, I moved to Los Angeles, and that in itself has been a trip. I’ve been an east-coaster all my life and have always disregarded the idea of moving out here, but God can be funny like that, in that he can have so much waiting for us in a place where we’d never see ourselves being. It’s been a year of patience and faithfulness, but now God has me teaching at school in Brentwood and regularly gigging around town, playing music I love with people I love, and I know he has more for me too. I’m thankful for where I am now and acknowledge that I have to keep practicing and working every day to make the most of the opportunities I’m given.
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?
There were definitely some battles, to say the least, though I feel we must acknowledge that most battles and issues we have in our lives can and need to be dealt with internally before we are able to deal with them properly externally. So when I think about the obstacles I endured, I can often attribute them to jealousy, insecurity, anxiety, entitlement, and the list goes on. When I think about my inability to play to a certain standard, I find much of the issue comes from either fear or insecurity, not lack of practice. More importantly, I think these things are not things that we can fully deal with alone. I think first and foremost, it comes down to how your relationship with God is and also how those around you choose to support you. Anyway, I don’t mean to preach lol, I just mean to say that I acknowledge that many others have struggled far more than I have, being that I come from a place of extreme privilege, but that we all deal with those kinds of internal challenges from lies or trauma or anxiety.
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 a currently freelance Bassist and a part-time music teacher. I just love to make music and express myself and improve at different forms of expression. I produce here and there for some artists, and though I don’t have quite the knack for that as some of my peers do, it’s fun so I still do it. I play around town for different artists, at Church, at bars or clubs playing top40, R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, or whatever the night may ask! I still do have the most fun getting to play improvisatory music, so Jazz or Gospel or Hip-Hop. I also get called in to play at home studios, or recently I had my first session at The Village which was fun! I also do private lessons in Guitar, Bass, and English, which are all very life-giving! I attribute much of my success to the great teachers I had, so being able to inspire another generation is a fulfilling job.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Firstly and above all, God is the only reason why I’ve even gotten this far. To be honest, I’m a fairly weak person and without him, I would have been able to do very little. I also need to thank my family, Adelqui, Cecilia, and Stefi, for believing in me, not letting me quit, and loving me even when I’ve been unbearable. Then I’d also want to thank my some of my professors (I believe I’ve mentioned them earlier) for inspiring me when I couldn’t see the end of the tunnel. My mentors along the way, Marie Adams, David and Randall, and all of my friends that remind me daily to not take things very seriously. I also need to give credit to Lyanne Low, who has helped me keep my head low in humility but keep my head up in confidence.
Pricing:
- Performance (E.bass, Synth Bass) $200 minimum
- Bass Lessons – $60/hour
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speedyperaltamusic/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwOjD6vFP5zmI17GBeA8X15x0AazQ_znW
