Meet Jay Walker Paz

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jay Walker Paz. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jay, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

My brother and I were brought up in Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil, yet had strong links to the US because of our American father. When we started playing music, it was clear that our sound reflected that mix — Latin rock guitars accompanied by melodica (a keyboard instrument that sounds like an accordion), and a mixture of folk and Latin rhythms.

Our cultural diversity gives us adaptability. We can fit a bill with a variety of musical backgrounds and include a range of musicians and styles. By not limiting ourselves to a particular genre, we are allowing our unique expression, and makes our music accessible across age groups and cultural heritage. Our unique blend of cultures is our strength.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

The Walker Brothers Band is a folk band based in Minneapolis, featuring original music and a mix of rhythms from Latin rock to folk. Since the Fall of 2023, the ensemble has maintained an ambitious performing schedule to cement their presence in the Twin Cities. The group seeks to release singles with the goal of rising in the radio charts and expanding their reach.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Organization, ambition, drive.

Organization — Starting a new business or art project can be daunting; there are often many complex moving parts that need to be managed concurrently. Our system of organization has allowed us to keep control over our bookings, marketing, as well as musical process. It might seem like a small thing, but folder organization, ensuring our information is up-to-date, easily accessible, and de-cluttered, allows us the ability to see the big picture and not get tangled in the weeds.

Ambition — It can be scaring diving into something new, and most likely, you won’t be at a competitive level right away. However, if you don’t try or reach beyond what you think you can do, you won’t ever get there. Personally, there’s been performances that I thought I was not ready for, yet the process of shooting for them is what prepared me to be ready, and grow rapidly. I don’t think we would be where we are if we waited until we thought we were totally ready — there’s some risk involved.

Drive — Our drive is our determination to strive for improvement. We are always on the lookout for the next opportunity to grow, always refining and adapting our processes. Drive fuels our creativity and growth.

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?

Our band is a collaboration, and my brother Joseph and I have quite different strengths. Whether we like it or not, our group is invested in a well-rounded approach. My brother invests quite a bit of time on marketing, booking, promotion, and songwriting, and I’d rather focus on our live sound, recordings, and other behind-the-scenes management. Having business collaborators of varying strengths allows us to work multiple angles at the same time, but it requires trust among the partners. It’s easy for one to become hyper-focused on a specific role and lose sight of the other areas that are making the organization whole. A well-rounded approach works for us to achieve more than we would if we had a more direct strategy based on our individual strengths, as long as we trust and listen to each other.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Rabbit
Wholesome Expressions LLC

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