Meet JOSE LUIS DE LA PAZ

We recently connected with JOSE LUIS DE LA PAZ and have shared our conversation below.

JOSE LUIS, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Resiliences are an inherent part of life, constantly presenting challenges that test our resilience. I firmly believe that one’s ability to navigate these obstacles effectively is key. As someone who hails from a different cultural background, I place immense value on striking a harmonious balance between preserving my identity and assimilating into new cultural environments.

Each day, as I awaken, I reflect upon my journey. My Spanish heritage, rooted in the rich traditions of Andalusia, serves as the foundation upon which I build amidst the diverse tapestry of global experiences. I am committed to embracing the nuances of various cultural norms and societal dynamics, continuously evolving and adapting while remaining true to my core values and sense of self.

In my perspective, maintaining a positive outlook is paramount. I view challenges not as hindrances, but as opportunities for personal and professional growth. By approaching each obstacle with a growth mindset, I have cultivated a deep understanding that success is not solely measured by material gains, but rather by the continual pursuit of self-improvement and artistic fulfillment.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a flamenco guitarist and composer. I began my career at the age of 12 and have since lived through unique and unrepeatable experiences.

In my early years as a guitarist, I accompanied flamenco singers and dancers while studying under my mentor, the legendary guitarist Mario Escudero, one of the pioneers of flamenco concert guitar. I received awards, performed at festivals and concerts, and simultaneously honed my skills as a guitarist while starting to compose my own pieces. In 1995, the writer Felix Grande named me one of the top 10 guitarists of my generation in his book “Agenda Flamenca”. During those years, I began performing with the Cristina Hoyos Ballet, ultimately composing music for six of their shows. I also composed music for the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía and choreographer Belen Maya, in addition to performing concerts with my own show.

In 2011, I decided to move to the United States. In this country, I was able to develop several concert projects, produced by myself. Among them, my show “Intimate Spaces”, the presentation of the “Concierto de Aranjuez” alongside the Aiowa Philarmonic, the “De la Paz Ensemble” concert, or the album and also show “Introspective”, and my symphonic work “De la Paz Sinfónico”.

Upon arriving in this country, out of my own curiosity, I began collaborating with musicians from other cultures. This offers us a unique opportunity to create new artistic avenues. I’m referring to the possibilities that multiculturalism and the fusion of forms and styles open up, which can occur in Miami. Something almost impossible elsewhere. Moreover, these blends occur naturally and organically, which fascinates me and has somehow shaped my way of playing or my musical discourse. During this time, I have had the opportunity to work composing music with artists like Siudy Garrido, who, in addition has given me the chance to work alongside Maestro Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philarmonic. I have also incorporated instrumentalists such as Daniel Padron (violin), Magela Herrera (flute), Eric Chacon (flute and clarinet), Maestro Federico Britos (violin), or Gema Corredera (singer). Consequently, my concert sound has also evolved. A few months ago, I also had a special collaboration with the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid, alongside opera singer (baritone) Juan Jesus Rodriguez, blending flamenco, Spanish folklore, and operatic vocals.

At this moment, I am working on a new album that will combine the poetry of Alfonsina Storni (Argentina) with the voice of Gema Corredera (Cuba). This work will intertwine flamenco music, Andalusian rhythms and cadences, with Cuban filin and sounds from Argentina and Spain, as well as a touch of mestizaje from the African roots of Cuban and Spanish music.

In summary, my work involves composing, producing albums or concerts, performing with my guitar, and bringing the essence of the Andalusian taste to every collaboration I undertake.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Well…. I could say:

First: Discipline and consistency. Don’t lose focus.

Second: If you fall, you get back up. There are no easy paths. Learning to make mistakes, not being afraid of failure, and moving forward every day is essential.

Third: Love what you do. Whether it’s your job, your passion, or your way of life… call it what you may, but cherish it. Even when faced with tasks you may not enjoy, approach them with love and infuse them with a touch of joy at all times.

And… perhaps to young people, I would advise them to seek knowledge, to think for themselves, and to make decisions based on their own criteria. This doesn’t mean doing things just to be contrary. It means finding the capacity to understand and comprehend. To read with interest, to care about life’s important matters. Nowadays, it’s easy to get lost in the screen of a phone. If we fail to grasp that all these advancements are tools, we’ll end up letting them think for us, leading to ignorance, and ignorance leads to the destruction of societies.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I believe it’s important to pursue a balance between leveraging our strengths and improving areas where we may not be as strong. While it’s essential to maximize our strengths to excel in our craft or profession, it’s equally crucial to remain open to growth and development in all aspects of our skill set.

Throughout my journey as a guitarist and composer, I’ve encountered situations where my strengths have propelled me forward, allowing me to shine in performances or compositions. However, I’ve also recognized the value of investing effort in areas where I needed improvement, whether they were technical, mechanical, or purely sonic.

For example, there were times when I felt my technical skills on the guitar were solid, but I lacked depth in my understanding of certain theories or musical genres such as jazz, music from cultures like Jewish, Sephardic, Arabic, Cuban, or even the Ibero- American music. Instead of solely focusing on showing my strengths, I dedicated time and effort to expand my knowledge and skills in those areas, listening, observing, asking questions, and making mistakes along the way. This commitment to continuous learning not only enhanced my overall competence but also enriched my artistic expression.

Furthermore, adopting a comprehensive approach has allowed me to adapt to various collaborations and musical projects. By continually refining my weaknesses and honing my strengths, I’ve been able to navigate through diverse artistic landscapes with confidence and versatility.

In essence, while it’s essential to capitalize on our strengths, investing efforts in improving areas of weakness fosters growth, resilience, and adaptability in our personal and professional journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joseluisdelapaz.com
• Instagram: @joseluisguitar
• Facebook: @joseluisguitar
• Youtube: @joseluisdelapaz
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/artist/3jtwJddFiQJMwoDZUY0s9o?si=ud4arz-ATUiwx7UQhHyA0w