Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Rivas.
Chris, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Music has played a vital role in my life for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I used to always visit the library and head straight to the music section to find something that looked interesting, regardless of the era or genre. After I found something I liked, I would go home and analyze every single detail of each song. As a result, I fell in love with music and dreamed of being a performer someday. Hell, I was even a Michael Jackson impersonator at one time!
My life changed when I realized that music wasn’t just something I could listen to. It was also something I could create. From there, I just started writing about whatever was on my mind, good or bad. Whether I was at home, riding in the car, or at school, I was always writing. However, what began as a hobby eventually turned into freestyle circles and rap battles in the school hallways, as well as horrible demos recorded on my laptop.
While I didn’t see it at the time, that ended up being one of the most foundational times of my life as an artist. Around that time, I got involved in a ministry that would put on concerts all around the city for the youth. The coordinators of these concerts knew that I could rap and would often give me the opportunity to perform. Through that, I met countless artists that I still have strong friendships with to this day. Everything seemed like it was looking up until the weight of the world really took its toll on me.
I eventually got discouraged due to the circumstances surrounding me and I gave up on music for over two years. This went on until I joined Writer’s Block, a non-profit performing arts organization, in October 2017. Seeing this plethora of artists all over the city inspired me to begin performing again. I was rusty, washed up, unprepared, and an amateur compared to everybody else, but I was determined to live in my purpose. In doing so, I have never felt such a tremendous amount of love and support.
So here I am. I dropped my first single, “Kombucha Kisses”, last month, I perform regularly, I’m collaborating with multiple artists around the city, and it’s all because of me being pushed by those who believe in me. Most of the time, our purpose is a couple notch above our comfort zone and we need people around us who will lift us up, not bring us down. I couldn’t be more thankful to be a part of a collective that supports one another through everything that life throws at us.
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?
Far from it. At times, life as an artist feels like a pendulum that swings from “I’m never going to be like everybody else.” to “Nobody else is ever going to be like me.” When I initially gave up on music, I became bitter toward any form of success. Artists who were starting out around the same time that I went on to join record labels, go on tour, receive critical acclaim, etc. That’s when you know you’re in a bad spot. When you don’t want to see other people win because deep down, you know you’re losing. When I did decide to pursue music again, I let so many negative thoughts fill my head.
Things like “You’re never going to be as good as you used to be.”, “You aren’t musically skilled enough.”, “You can’t even write a decent verse anymore.”, and “You missed your chance.” Truthfully, I still struggle with many of those thoughts today, but I constantly remind myself that I’m only starting out and have every right to experiment and make mistakes. Being surrounded by people who speak life into me has also been a major help.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a music-loving music artist. I emphasize that because I feel like my love for music bleeds into every angle of my art. I’m not worried about what the new wave is or what sound is popular right now. All of that fades. Go look at what songs were radio hits a couple years back. Most of those artists are nowhere to be found today. What stands the test of time is genuine art. So many young artists these days are trying to emulate what they hear on the radio and when they finally perfect it, it’s not hot anymore. Nobody takes the time to progress and perfect their craft anymore, so that’s exactly what I’m after.
What I try to do with my music is create my own world for the listener to explore. It’s not my job for everybody to love my music. It’s my job to take the listener into my mind and let them decide how they feel about it. Because my taste in music is so complex, so is my sound. I love old school hip-hop, I love psychedelic rock, I love jazz, I love bossa nova, I love funk, etc. My goal is to make all of those sounds blend together into a masterpiece that represents me and only me.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Both of them have played a tremendous role in my life. I’d even say that bad luck birthed some of my best verses. I always say that if I see nothing but darkness around me, I’m going to create the light that I want to see. I feel like music is just that. There will be times when I’m discouraged by what people think about me, what I’m going to do about the future, and whether or not it’s all gonna work out in the end. Instead of letting those thoughts break me down, I use them to fuel my work. I work harder and smarter so that no negative voice even gets the chance to speak.
Conversely, I’m well aware that good luck has had a huge impact on my life as well. My early exposure to different kinds of music and resources is something I’m always going to be thankful for. I also thank God for all the connections I made early on in life. They make it a lot easier to navigate the music business. I’m also immensely grateful that I have mentors in my life who are been able to pick up where my knowledge ends. Whether it be producers who can help bring my vision to life, or just somebody explaining how to get a song on Spotify, I’m thankful to always have somebody who can help me where I fall short.
Contact Info:
- Email: chrisrivasmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisrivasmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisrivasmusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/chrisrivasmusic/
- Other: https://listen.lt/ChrisRivasKombuchaKisses
Image Credit:
Daniel Fernandez
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
