Music Interview with NYC multi-instrumentalist, Jimmy Fontanez



By Isaac Davis Jr., BGS, MBA

This next artist’s love for music and the many instruments started at the young age of five years old. Today, Jimmy Fontanez is an accomplished musician with a resume that clearly shows his huge talents. The NYC multi-instrumentalist was recently nominated for an Independent Music Awards and has several Grammy nominated album credits under his belt. With a love for Latin music, Fontanez recently spoke to our Webzine about his humble beginnings and what fans can look forward to from this super-talented artist. Here is what developed.

Isaac: We'd love to know about your inspirations growing up. I hear so many influences in your music. How old were you when you first discovered music? Is there any kind of musical history in your family?

Jimmy: As far as the immediate family goes, there aren't. However, I do have some distant cousins that play percussion and brass. I'm the only one in the family that took it to a whole different level, and actually pursued it since the age of 5.

Isaac: What drew you to pick up an instrument in the first place?

Jimmy: At the age of five, I was using my parents' washer as something to represent some sort of percussion instrument. So, as a result, my parents bought me my first conga drum (which I still have sitting in my living room).

Isaac: As you hit your teenage years, did you know that this was what you would be doing for the rest of your life?

Jimmy: Absolutely! During my teenage years I started multi tracking with 2 tape decks. Yes, the good ole sound on sound recording! I would do all of my homework in school so that I can have all of that time at home to put together music, and bring it into school the next day as "show and tell" to all of my friends. During this time, I discovered my beat box abilities (when beat boxing was hot in the 80's). People like the Fat Boys and Doug E Fresh were a major influence when it comes to that genre. I used the name "professor beat box". Yes, I actually had fans back then, but other things started to come my way, and the beat box phase was pretty much done.

Right around this time (1987), I started to pick up the drum set, and played for the next 10 years in a rock band. After those years, I came to the realization that it was not the kind of music that I feel in my heart. The Latin genre has always been what comes natural to me. So, in 1997 I joined a salsa band known as Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra (which I'm currently a member of).

In the year 2000, I wanted to branch out on my own (not leaving the band), and started putting together more of my own music, which included some acapella tracks on a computer that I acquired at the time, and uploading them to mp3.com, a site that was also around then. Ever since, I've put together enough music for almost 2 albums. At this point (2009), I reached a plateau until I got turned on to a group called Naturally 7. They as well as Cuban group Vocal Sampling, but more Naturally 7 inspired me to create "Mi Salsa Vocal" which I feel brings the Latin acapella genre to a different level. I took the time to study each instrument that I was mimicking to produce what comes pretty close to the actual sound. I used minimal processing on these tracks, where Naturally 7 uses a lot of processing. I'm not out to compete with them. I just want to showcase my ability to reproduce the sounds of the instruments with my voice.

Speaking of mimicking sounds, when I was much younger (probably around 5); I was constantly imitating farm animals. During all of this, I spent a lot of time in Puerto Rico where I was exposed to all of those sounds. Until this day, my relatives request that I imitate them as well as the animals. LOL!

Isaac: Is there a performer in any genre of pop culture that you would like to work with?

Jimmy: I would love to work with Naturally 7. I would love to sit there and listen to a session from beginning to end on one of their tracks. That would be a dream come true.

Isaac: Who are some musicians that you really like, present or past?

Jimmy: Besides the names mentioned above, I really like Pianists, Michel Camilo and Eddie Palmieri. For percussion, I like the abilities of Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, one of the most versatile Afro Cuban drummers of all time. Then there is Giovanni Hidalgo who uses rudiments in his conga playing techniques. The list goes on.

Isaac: What is your ultimate goal with your music career?

Jimmy: My goal is to reach as many people as I can through my music and inspire those with similar talent.

Isaac: What has been some of the obstacles it has taken to get this far in your career?

Jimmy: As someone who is visually impaired, it's very difficult to get around in cities where there is no public transportation. But, I think the bigger obstacle is the competition in the music industry. You have to be as unique as possible for people to notice what one can do. I feel, "Mi Salsa Vocal" is definitely something that sticks out from the rest because of its sound and concept.

Isaac: Would you recommend this "field" to others who are aspiring to be musicians like you?

Jimmy: Oh yes, absolutely. If you feel you have something unique to offer, by all means get out there and do it.

Isaac: Describe one piece of advice you've have been given to by others in the music industry.

Jimmy: Learn to use any and all resources out there to put your music under the radar. In this day and age, we have the Internet, which is a great tool for the independent artist.

Isaac: What genre of music do you consider most of your music?

Jimmy: I would have to say a mixture of Latin and Funk. Another genre of music that influenced me while growing up was 70's disco. I tend to lean towards that when I'm creating music.

Isaac: What has been your favorite piece of work?

Jimmy: Naturally 7's version of "I can feel it coming in the air" by Phil Collins.

Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?

Jimmy: Fan can hit up at www.myspace/jimmyfontanez. I can also be searched on www.facebook.com as well as Reverb Nation, Sonicbids, and Garageband.com (where "Mi Salsa Vocal" was recently chosen as Latin track of the week). I'm working on having my music available on ITunes.

Isaac: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?

Jimmy: Yes! Many thanks go to Lachi (ulachi.com) for all of the above support. Also, lots of respect to her as a person, musical advocate, and independent artist.

Isaac: Any last words?

Jimmy: A quote from the book "The Outsiders": "Stay gold". In other words, stay true to yourself and believe in your work.