Vahagni shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Vahagni , 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 do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My first hour and a half is spent with my wife and kids. We wake up at the same time and prep for the day, school drop offs and good coffee to get jacked.
Then a quick sloppy meditation aimed at staying calm and patient and goals for the day. This all happens between 7-8:30am.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Vahagni, I’m a guitarist. I also compose and produce music in various styles and genres.
I’m a dad of 2, husband and an amateur cook.
Music has always been my language and the guitar my pen.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I turned 40 this year and slowly felt my ego diminishing, in a good way. I think we carry this constant and nagging ego with us for a while.
I realized a Carl Jung quote that life begins at 40 and everything before that is research.
The ego maybe hasn’t left, but it’s transformed and I think a part of it has served its purpose and is no longer needed.
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
I still have very vivid memories of my childhood in Armenia. It’s a very beautiful time and memory for me that only I have. No one else in my family besides my mom now knows what I’m talking about.
My younger brothers were born here in the states and so was my wife. So, I’m the only immigrant who has cool memories from a different place and time.
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?
The evolution of the guitar. It’s a very young instrument and still is developing. I’ve been playing for 31 years now and the fact that I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface is just crazy. The commitment was an obligation that my father instilled in me at a young age. You have to be a steward of your craft.
All of us guitarists are just doing our best to improve and further the potential of this instrument in hopes that one day it can be as developed as its stringed cousins like the violin or cello.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I think about this sometimes actually. I never picked my profession. It was given to me by my dad who also was a professional guitarist.
I do wonder at times what I would’ve done with myself if otherwise. Maybe it’s both, maybe I was born to be a guitarist and my dad saw that in me.
I think regardless of intervention, I would’ve ended up doing something creative so I’m happy where I am, but sometimes still curious about what I would have led myself to exactly.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @vahagniguitar
Image Credits
Tony Tomasino
Brian Bixby
Andrew Joseph Woomer
