Story & Lesson Highlights with Jorge Millanes of Santa Fe Springs

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jorge Millanes. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Jorge, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Every time I’m working on music, I completely lose track of time. It’s like I disconnect from the outside world and step into a different reality where the sounds and melodies take over my thoughts. Creating music brings me back to the moments, emotions, and memories that shaped me. It’s almost like time stops and I’m fully present with what I’m feeling. That’s when I feel the most connected to myself.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Yo-Blake. I’m a music artist and graphic designer who’s been building my career from the ground up since releasing my first single, Don’t Need Me! back in 2022. I create a mix of genres and love blending emotions, storytelling, and energy in every track. Over the years I’ve released songs like Let It Go, Roto, Mentiras, Un Mal Sueño and most recently Viene y Va, which have helped me grow a loyal audience and even land placements on blogs, festivals, and TV performances.

My story is really about movement and persistence, from working different jobs, to moving between cities like LA and New York, to constantly reinventing myself through my art. What makes my brand unique is that everything I create comes from a real place; whether it’s music or visuals, it’s always authentic to who I am. And right now I’m excited to share my new single, Me Vale, coming out this Friday, 11/21—a song that represents my growth, my confidence, and the mindset I’m stepping into.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world tried to tell me who I had to be, I was someone who believed we’re not meant to be just one thing in life. Growing up, I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to become, not because I was lost, but because I wanted to be so many different things. I was curious about everything. Over the years, I developed different abilities and passions that showed me I wasn’t made to fit into one box. I was made to explore, to create, and to follow whatever direction my heart pulls me toward. That’s still who I am today.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, I’d tell him: everything you feel is valid, and everything you dream is possible. Growing up as a gay man came with a lot of challenges, not because I was afraid of reality, but because I wasn’t becoming who people expected me to be. I wasn’t turning into the person my mom or society thought I should become, and for a long time that felt like it could take me down a very dark road.

But I’d tell him that he doesn’t have to turn himself into someone else just to be accepted. The only person he truly has to make proud is himself. Choosing your own path might feel scary, but it’s the decision that will save you. Stay true to who you are, because that authenticity is going to become your strength.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to my music and to the belief that creativity should come from a genuine place, no matter how long it takes. For a long time, I was obsessed with making everything perfect, trying to create music that everyone would like, music that would resonate with everybody. That pressure made me take years to finally start releasing my songs.

But throughout the process, I learned something important: I’m doing this for me. I make music because creating brings me happiness and peace. So I stopped chasing acceptance and started protecting my creativity. Now I focus on what feels true to me and what makes me happy, even if the journey takes time. That commitment to stay authentic is something I’ll never give up.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing? 
What I would regret the most is not being true to myself. I’ve spent so much of my life unlearning the expectations that people had for me, who I should be, how I should act, what path I should follow. For a long time, I tried to fit into those ideas, and it only pulled me further away from the person I really am.

So if there’s one thing I never want to look back on with regret, it’s abandoning my own truth just to please others. I’d regret not standing up for who I am, not expressing myself fully, not living the life that feels authentic to me. Staying true to myself is what gives my music meaning, what shapes my story, and what keeps me grounded. I’d regret ever letting that go.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yoblake.komi.io/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoblakeoff/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoBlakeOff/
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8NZ1DVIxGk