We were lucky to catch up with Marc Ramos recently and have shared our conversation below.
Marc, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Well, I don’t believe anyone has an innate purpose that they happen upon one day. I believe it’s on each one of us to choose what our purpose in life is. For me, I’ve determined my purpose is to enrich the lives of others by creating. Currently, that looks like creating music.
In the first eight years of my life, there were a few recurring experiences that really laid the groundwork and helped guide me toward figuring this purpose out for myself.
I grew up in a suburban town right outside of Hartford, Connecticut. In my childhood home, my bedroom was on the second floor, and it looked out into the backyard where there were tons of tall oak trees. I have this memory from around the time I was four years old: I’d open my safe-guarded window whenever it was warm and sunny enough, and listen to the birds in our trees. They sang their songs, and I would try to whistle them back. I felt like I was singing with the birds. My mom and I talk about this memory often. Every time it comes up, we smile and laugh. Looking back, I realize those moments were my first encounter with a sort of natural joy I got from something related to music.
Every Sunday, my grandma would take the family to church. We went to a Hispanic Catholic church that was predominantly Puerto Rican. The masses were in Spanish—which I knew very little of—so I zoned out most of the time and just went through the motions. But every time the church would sing a hymn, I’d perk up. There was a four-piece church band that led all of the hymns. All four of the members sang; one played guitar, and another played the güiro (a Latin percussion instrument). Almost every hymn was lively and had a sort of percussive Hispanic flair to it. The entire church would sing, clap, and dance along in their pews. It made church feel like a big celebration. I couldn’t tell you what the priest said during mass, but I can still remember the melodies and grooves of the hymns to this day.
I was very fortunate that the schools in my town funded and prioritized the creative arts. Fourth grade was when students in our schools were able to choose an instrument and join the band or orchestra. By the time I entered the fourth grade, my love for music was growing, but it had no real shape or direction—until I met one of my first music teachers, Steve Perry. In short, Mr. Perry saw in me a natural enthusiasm for music and helped me channel it. Beyond being our school’s music educator, he was also the principal tuba player for the Hartford Symphony Orchestra at the time. He recruited me to play tuba for the school’s wind ensemble, formally introducing me to all sorts of genres, from musical theater to jazz, classical, and beyond. His passion for teaching was incredibly motivating for a kid like me. His guidance helped cement music as a central part of my life.
From the fourth grade on, I started to invest more of myself in being musically creative, picking up related passions like musical theater performances, songwriting, record production, and more. Music became my favorite and most fulfilling form of creativity and expression—an integral part of my identity that I could never give up.
When I seriously entertained the thought of defining my purpose several years back, I reflected on my life to identify what I value most, what brings me joy, what I excel at, and what I can do to enlighten others. Time and time again, the answer pointed me back to music. It’s through music that I’ve found my purpose: to create and use that creativity to enrich the lives of others.
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?
Currently, I’m focusing on building a foundation for and jumpstarting my music career as a songwriter, recording artist and performer.
In 2018, I graduated from Syracuse University, where I initially studied film. During my time there, I discovered a deep love for songwriting and record production after forming a band with a few of my closest friends my sophomore year. Together, we released a couple singles and a six-track record that I’m still incredibly proud of. However, the band disbanded after we graduated. Since I had done a majority of the writing, recording, mixing and mastering, I asked my friends for their blessing, kept the band name “Morning Wars” and continued creating music independently under that project.
After graduating, I moved to New York City and began working as a video producer for a travel website. The role was an amazing experience—I traveled the world, honed my storytelling skills, and created work I’m proud of. However, over time, I realized that my musical aspirations were being pushed aside. When I reflected on my goals, I knew I didn’t want to look back years from now and wonder what could have been if I had fully dedicated myself to music. So, in June 2024, I made the difficult but exciting decision to leave my job and pursue music full-time.
Now, I’m in the middle of a self-funded musical sabbatical, dedicating all my energy to creating and building the foundation for a sustainable music career. My project, Morning Wars, is the focus of this chapter of my life. I’ve been spreading the word through social media, showcasing my original music and inspirations, and performing live shows in New York City with a band made up of some of my closest friends and new collaborators.
What makes this period so exciting is the freedom I’ve given myself to focus solely on music. For the first time, I’m in a space of free creation, balancing spontaneity with a clear goal in mind: to grow Morning Wars into a project that can sustain me creatively and professionally. It’s an incredibly fulfilling time, and I’m so eager to see where this journey takes me.
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?
I’ll share one of each.
The quality I’d say has been the most impactful in my journey is perseverance. By definition, perseverance is about having the determination to keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles are in your way. It’s been crucial for me because my goal—becoming a professional songwriter, recording artist, and performer at the highest level—is one that is huge, overwhelming, and sometimes feels impossible. But I’ve learned that if I let myself think it’s impossible, I’ll never get there. Over the years, I’ve faced all sorts of rejection—from venues, festivals, peers. I’ve struggled with self-doubt and questioned whether or not I’ve got what it takes or if anyone cares about the music I make. It’s easy to let those challenges stop you in your tracks, but perseverance has taught me to push past them and adapt. Without it, I don’t think I’d still be chasing this dream of mine. Honestly, I think perseverance is the one quality you absolutely need to accomplish ANYTHING, because life will always throw challenges at you no matter what path you’re on.
The skill that’s helped me the most is problem-solving. This ties into perseverance because challenges are inevitable, but what really matters is how you tackle them. I think having solid problem-solving skills puts you in a position where you can be proactive instead of waiting for someone else to figure things out for you. Especially in creative work, problem-solving is everything. In college, I studied film, and one thing I learned is that a great director is also a great problem-solver—things always go wrong on set, and you have to be ready to adapt and make it work. That lesson has carried over into my music. Whether it’s fixing a song that isn’t clicking or figuring out how to make a live show come together, the ability to think through obstacles and find solutions has been an absolute game-changer for me.
As for an area of knowledge, I’d say philosophy has had the biggest impact on me, especially in the past few years. Before I started exploring it, I felt like I was on autopilot—just living life without really questioning the “how” or “why” of it all. During the pandemic, when I had a lot more time to sit with my thoughts, I started feeling this angst and dread I couldn’t quite explain. That led me to philosophy. At first, it was intimidating—it always seemed like an overly academic subject—but diving into it changed my perspective on so many things. Philosophy has helped me figure out how to approach life with more intention and clarity, and it’s even improved how I approach my creativity. It’s taught me to think beyond myself and look at things from different perspectives, which has been invaluable.
In short, perseverance keeps me going, problem-solving helps me figure things out along the way, and philosophy has given me the tools to approach life and creativity with a clearer, more intentional mindset.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my family did for me was show up—consistently—and encourage my creativity, no matter how they felt about it. Growing up, my family was always there. Whether it was an art show, a band concert, a choir performance, or a play, they showed up to everything I did. And let’s be real—not every one of those efforts was amazing or worth their time, but that never mattered to them. They showed up anyway, and that alone meant the world to me.
Even more impactful than their presence was how much they encouraged me to follow whatever was calling me, especially when it came to creativity. They created a safety net where I always felt supported and loved. I never felt insecure about being creative because I knew I had their full backing. That feeling of safety and security gave me the confidence to create, take risks, and push myself to grow in my creative endeavors.
I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support. My mom, grandparents, and immediate family gave me the greatest gift: their unwavering support and encouragement to follow my passions. That’s what gave me the foundation to chase my dreams.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningwars/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningWars/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCepXeHf-dMvVO_1Zd9rGs0g
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/morningwars
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5g4slbnQQL1L9cNzfjnxQY?si=RLYu4GEsT7m89v5fTMHwVw
Image Credits
Brock Stillmunks (photo of Ramos playing bass guitar)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
