Meet Victorino

We recently connected with Victorino and have shared our conversation below.

Victorino, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

I learned from basically growing up always feeling like the outcast in every type of social setting there is. Whether that’d be friend group or the community in, people that I work with, it didn’t seem like there was much of a difference, It seemed like people always noticed me for not being a certain way like everyone else or “how I’m not supposed to be like this because everyone else around me is like that”. If I have someone’s attention, it’s usually for a reason. With time, hard work and dedication, I usually have the people on my side because I am more than what I appear to be.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a rapper, singer, & self taught guitarist. Style-wise, I’d say I’m very eclectic. Most of my songs fall into either alternative, rock, and / or hip-hop genre wise. I often try to find ways to blend my art to make it more unique to me. There’s also reggaeton, lofi, emo, pop, salsa, and even jazz sprinkled into my catalog.

Being able to share my story with so many people around the world and have them connect to it in some way always brings me pure joy. Life for me hasn’t always been easy. There have been some serious lows that I’ve felt at the time where no one could help or guide me. But by the grace of God, I am here & well today. I want to show people that there is light at the end of the tunnel when you have been traveling in the dark. I want to be that person that gives someone in need hope.

I am all about the connection to people because I feel that I occupy different avenues & spaces that individually don’t normally connect or interact. I strive to be that bridge between people and build genuine connections from that. That is how I would build a true community.

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

The three things that have helped me grow as an artist is consistency, adaptability & self reflection.

Consistency is important to me because we live in time where information can be received instantly. The key to my growth was to always have a presence of some sort, whether that’s online or in person. I find myself having the most meaningful relationships based on my engagements with the people, I love that I’m starting to get to a point where I strangers recognize me locally for my music. I hope to maintain the eye of the people while also provide new perspectives that someone would otherwise not have or think about.

Adaptability has been crucial for me because I always find myself to the “odd one out” in some way. The things that make me unique has been a point of critique for some. I also know that same uniqueness has opened doors for me and allowed me to occupy different avenues & spaces that don’t normally interact or have a connection. Whether if someone is from the city, the Latino community or from the alternative music scene, I am able to speak to many different types of people through my craft.

Lastly, self reflection is a skill that I feel everyone should have. It’s helped me realize my place in the world & the grand scheme of things. I need to be able to learn from my mistakes while keep moving forward. A lot of things have been trial & error for me, having more failures than success. I noticed from those around me become frustrated or lost in their own ego chasing after their goals. They either become angry that they aren’t growing in the way they believe they should or expecting things to come easily without really searching for a way to get to the next level. That’s how one would become stuck. I enjoy the small wins I gain but it’s also important to not forget that I still got work left to do. It’s a way of grounding myself to reality and not get lost in my achievements.

My advice to those right now in the same boat is to trust your craft, keep at it, & be open minded about the opportunities that you come across. And in time, you’ll see the fruits of your labor.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing they’ve done is to bring me life.
Nothing is more valuable than the time you have here on this Earth. Treat everyone well because no one is guaranteed tomorrow. What you do with your time is essential.
I lost my birth mother when I was only 5 months old & was adopted by 2003. Thankfully, I have multiple parents that have helped mold me into who I am today & what I stand for currently.
They have shown me that connection goes beyond blood relationships. I come from a home of love. No one is perfect & there will always be hardship, but to me, my legacy I leave behind is the most important thing I will ever work on.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Domingo Cortez
Christopher Danko
Logan Muncy
Dmareae Miller

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