BIOGRAPHY
“I think it was around the 8th grade, that I started to really explore jazz music. The mental and physical complexity and improvisational nature of jazz totally intrigued me.”
I started playing guitar when I was 7 years old, and realized soon after that there was nothing else that I would rather do. Over the years, I have continued to grow a deep passion for music, playing in various rock, alternative, and jazz bands. My current rock band ‘Band Sanitizer’ has been together for about three years now and plays gigs at small venues around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Band Sanitizer released its debut album 701 Menlo Oaks in August 2019, available on all major music distribution sites and on CD (by request).
My early love of jazz propelled me to explore music theory. I decided to enroll in an advanced placement Music Theory class after school to further fuel my love and curiosity for the world of music. As a guitar-first musician, I felt that I lacked the classical theory knowledge that my other classmates who were primary pianists had. To combat this I started devoting more time to learning the piano and reaching out to my mentors and teachers outside the constraints of my public high school.
Music has allowed me to surrounded myself with fun, talented, and creative people who inspire me everyday to embrace new experiences and share my perspectives of the world through this universal language that unites all life on earth. I can't imagine doing anything else.
“I am quite confident there are people all over the world who will always be “better” than me. I simply focus on improving my own style of playing, and growing by collaborating with others.”
Music is not a competition. It is an artistic form of expression to convey emotion and unite society. I feel that artistic progress is determined by the ability to fully express your own personality through your art.
There is no need to focus on trying to make yourself appear more knowledgeable or impressive, and lose the opportunity to learn. Be yourself, share your knowledge and experiences, and inspire others to do the same. You can learn from anyone, no matter their level of skill or ability. They can often introduce new takes on something, new styles, or simply inspire new ideas.
If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.