Vinny Castro shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Vinny, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
I would definitely hire myself because I happen to be a workaholic. I embrace challenges and do not give up easy. I prefer to be thorough in stead of skimming the surface when it comes to problem solving. Im easy to work with and I’m a people person!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is VinnyFromTheBlock, and I’m a music producer, engineer, and entrepreneur based in Brooklyn. I own, run & operate TheLabStudiosNYC — a 24/7 recording studio located in Bushwick, that’s become a creative home for so many artists across all levels, from emerging talent to established performers. I produce and compose music for TV, digital campaigns, and branded content — including Emmy-winning work — with clients such as Roc Nation, Nike, NFL, H&R Block, Coca-Cola, Ray-Ban, and more.
What makes my journey unique is that I’ve always built from the ground up. I started as an engineer/producer helping local artists shape their sound, and over time I’ve grown into a full-service creative business — developing artists, designing performance content, and even creating original children’s media inspired by my son. Everything I do is about empowering creativity, opening doors, and making sure artists have access to high-level production without losing authenticity.
Right now, I’m expanding TheLabStudiosNYC into a multimedia platform — with collaborative content series, original music releases, and new partnerships in both entertainment and advertising.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a elementary school teacher — and that still shapes everything I do today. I spent 17 years teaching all of the core subjects for K–8 in New York City, designed music and technology curriculums to teach, run and manage, & just about everything creative: social media management, acting, photography, yearbook design, photoshop/premiere editing along with IT duties and after-school programs. I loved helping students discover their confidence through creativity. Many of them have gone on to be videographers and other creative roles.
But as schools kept closing across the city, I realized I needed to build something I could rely on — and something that aligned with my first passion: music. So in 2017, I made the leap into full-time producing and 2 years later launched TheLabStudiosNYC. Now, instead of teaching in a classroom, I get to mentor artists, build careers, and create music for major brands — still educating, just through a different stage.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering during my career taught me something success never could: momentum doesn’t maintain itself. Not in this business at least. I’ve been blessed with major wins producing for artists around the world both major and indi, earning an Emmy and nominations, World charted billboard records, and for a moment, I hoped those achievements meant the path would simply continue even with intense hard work.
But struggle taught me otherwise. When schools were closing and my career felt uncertain, music was the only constant. That pressure pushed me to build my own path instead of waiting for one. It taught me to stay hungry, stay humble, and never assume success is guaranteed regardless of your resume.
My career wasn’t shaped by comfort, it was shaped by rebuilding, risking everything, and showing up even when no one was watching.
That’s the lesson I carry.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to building a legacy that lasts long after I’m gone. Everything I’m creating from the studio, the children’s books, the music, is all bigger than my career. It’s for my family. I want my son, daughter, and my grandkids to be able to listen to the songs I produced or read stories inspired by their lives and feel proud of where they came from.
I also believe it’s important to never leave this planet with your ideas still trapped in your head. If you don’t share your music, no one will ever hear the message only you can deliver. That belief drives me to release my work.
TheLabStudiosNYC is part of that mission. It’s proof that independence isn’t just possible, but also very powerful. I’m building my book series, and releasing my own instrumental albums, all because I want to leave behind a body of work that reflects my voice and what I stand for. No matter what outside projects I’m working on, I’m always building the internal ones, the ones rooted in purpose.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. I’ve always given my best, even when no one was watching. My success is built from the mindset that the end result of the work itself is the reward. I’ve never created art for praise. I built my studio for me, and it just happens that people love it. I make music for me, and it just happens that others connect to it.
Throughout my career, I’ve had incredible mentors who helped guide my path, but my drive has always come from within. I’ve learned that the moment you start creating for validation, you lose the purity of what made you start. For me, it’s about knowing that whatever I create — a song, a project, a studio space — meets the highest standard I can deliver. I do that for me!
The more I create from an internal place, the more fulfilling it feels. I don’t chase applause. I chase challenge. When the work is real, the recognition will always follow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thelabstudiosnyc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsvinnyfromtheblock/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelabstudiosnyc
- Other: https://s.disco.ac/tzsqimhndvur
Image Credits
All images credited to VinnyFromTheBlock
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
