Meet Javier Santiago

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

Javier, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?

I’m still working on this ability all the time! It involves a lot of failure – and willingness to fail and make mistakes. Wholehearted attempts at things that make you feel vulnerable or might cost you. It’s what life’s all about and it’s the only way one can learn anything.

I think every time I perform I’m taking risks – trying things that seem out of my comfort zone and experimenting in front of a live audience. It’s easy to stay safe but I’m learning to enjoy the discomfort.

One big (life) risk I took was leaving New York City. I was living there for 6 years living my dream – playing with amazing musicians, I attended school there, worked there and had some great experiences as a person and a musician. I was afraid to leave it behind because I didn’t want to miss out on the potential, the opportunities and all of the incredible things happening there. I felt like I was at the center of the world there and definitely the center of the jazz world, and international music scene. I moved back to my hometown of Minneapolis and lived with my parents again as a grown 25-year old adult and felt like I had lost everything – like I had failed in some way.

One year later, I applied and received a grant from The McKnight Foundation (in Minnesota) and it completely transformed my career. I was able to record my first two albums from it and it allowed me to flourish and establish myself as an independent artist. From there I moved to California and I’ve been there ever since. I still love NYC though and hope to spend a lot more time there now.

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?

Pianist, composer, and popular sideman Javier Santiago is one of the most promising voices in the international music scene today. As an accomplished producer/beatmaker, arranger and educator, Santiago has become a notable force in both the beat and hip-hop scenes as well as in the jazz world.
The Minneapolis-born Santiago was exposed to a myriad of great music and talented musicians in his early years. Taking his inspiration and career endeavors to the next level, he furthered his path by relocating to New York City to attend The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music, then later moved out West, first to the Bay Area in 2017, and then to Los Angeles in 2021, which remains his home base. Santiago is an alumnus of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA and The Brubeck Institute Fellowship Program. He was a finalist in the American Jazz Pianist competition in 2015, a recipient of the 2016 McKnight Fellowship for Musicians, and was selected to participate in the 14th Annual Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program in 2011.
Javier Santiago has had the distinguished opportunity to play with many celebrated musicians on today’s jazz scene including Herbie Hancock, Terrace Martin, Louis Cole, Alex Isley, Jonathan Kreisberg, Braxton Cook, Kassa Overall, Azar Lawrence, Kenneth Whalum, Aja Monet, John Raymond, Sheila Jordan, and Yosvany Terry. He is based in Los Angeles, CA.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Keep creating – and releasing…. Don’t stop making your art but also make sure to finish it and show it to the world – then you’ve completed the entire process and can learn fully from it. Don’t just horde your art.

2. Always be confident in what you do – and the only true way to acquire this confidence is practice. Learning skills and truly possessing the ability to execute them

3. Save money – there’s no other way to explain it it’s quite simple lol just know how to be frugal and treat yourself in moderation. There’s so many reasons to have a decent, solid financial foundation – you’ll need it for investments, general survival and in case a disaster happens (i.e. a pandemic, etc.)

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Right now the number one obstacle I’m facing is a lack of time. My time management skills are improving and as a more Type A sort of person I really am valuing the skill of planning ahead. Making sure I avoid burnout by also scheduling in quality time with friends. But also carving out time for myself and for my art. It’s typical for a lot of us to prioritize work (and essentially survival, rent, etc.) first but I’m getting better at finding those little moments to do things I’ve been putting off that are for myself.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Very first photo – Brian Bixby

Next two photos – Malte Siedel

last photo (with the red keyboard) – Keshia Eugene

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