Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivan Lopez.
Ivan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up, I’ve always had a passion for music. I began to take it more seriously when I was in high school playing snare with the Pearland Band drumline. Once I reached my senior year, I got into making beats on garage band and eventually invested in getting FL studio and a midi keyboard. When I began attending the University of Houston, I began to focus on my production and audio engineering. My junior year in college I got a job as a studio engineer at the UH library studio and met various artists. Since I first started attending the university I found it very strange that there was no platform for creatives like myself and took it upon myself to begin the Astro Music Foundation on the Summer of 2019.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It had not been easy to begin this foundation. Doubt was all around me but I knew I had the right team by my side to be able to get this project off the ground. Getting people to believe in the vision I had for the foundation was without a doubt the hardest part. It is still something I struggle with as we continue to grow and establish our presence and credibility among the UH community and the city of Houston.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Astro Music Foundation – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Out of all the 600 student organizations that exist at the University of Houston we are the only platform that exists for creatives to network and gain exposure to the music industry. We specialize in providing opportunities for creatives to learn about their respective interests with masterclasses and allowing artists to gain experience performing with our showcases. Currently, we are developing a skit comedy show as well as a podcast for people to keep up with our operations and the members that are currently involved in the foundation.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan on creating the foundation into a school-sponsored organization. I would like for Astro to have its own headquarters within the UH studio and eventually grown into a full-blown music program for prospective producers, engineers, artists, and managers. Along with that, I would like for AMF to host its own music festival featuring all of our talented artists and a booked headliner as the main attraction. Once I graduate, I would like to take the skills I have learned to create a record label of my own, open a studio facility, and continue to grow and set the example for all the new members that join the foundation after I am gone.
Contact Info:
- Email: astromusicfoundation@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astromusicfoundation/
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