Abraham Castaneda

I'm bringing a new sound to the WORLD OF MUSIC... the only question is....... are you ready?

LIFE I was born in January 5, 1988, in the city of Redondo Beach. Nothing really interesting happened in my early years of childhood. I remember when I was around five years old, I would be running around everywhere. And I remember one day I got tired and I went inside the house, and my uncle was playing guitar. I was really amazed at just seeing him play, I also remember telling myself that I would never be capable of doing something like that. Then in the year of 1997 I received the opportunity to enroll in a music class. When I finally went into class, I was practically two weeks late. These classes only lasted four weeks, and I came on the Friday of the second week. When I came back on that Monday, I was already ahead of everyone else. I was really surprised with myself, especially thinking that I would never be capable of playing a musical instrument. A lot of people don't consider the Recorder a "real" instrument, but that is what I started with. I later advanced myself to the Clarinet and the Violin. Then I tried around twelve other instruments. After four years I finally picked up the Guitar. It was easy for me to learn especially since I already had the passion for it, and since I already have been playing the violin for four years. HOW IT ALL BEGAN When I was really young I never thought I would be a musician even less a composer. When I barely started school, I always wanted to "fit in" so I would listen to rap (even though I never liked it) but I was never treated kindly or with any respect. When I finally reached the fourth grade, I took my first music class, I was extremely happy playing music, but all my "friends" would always put me down and make me feel miserable. When I hit the sixth grade is when I started listening to rock music, and a short time after I finally had enough of "fitting in". The reason I like rock music is because, you need to have real talent to be doing what you are really doing, instead of having a little box play your music. Also, I have always enjoyed a challenge, and in rap there is no challenge, MUSIC WISE. At first I would listen to bands like Blink 182, The Offspring, and even Linkin Park. After a year or so, I started getting into metal music, because I started noticing how much harder the music was to play. Around the same time that I started getting into metal music the movie Armageddon came out. I remember this really famous scene where he tells his' daughter that he wont be able to return home, there is a really sad song playing in the background. When I heard that song in the background, that was the song that inspired me to become a composer. At first my music was extremely simple. As the years progressed I started teaching myself music theory, and I also started listening to more less-known bands such as, Children Of Bodom, Rhapsody, Dream Theater, or even Rise Against. This gave me more ideas for my songs that I wrote. It made me be more "picky", I guess you can say, about the structure of the song and so on. Every time I need a motivation I would watch the movie Armageddon, or I would just simply listen to music. I will always play my music at random, so that I won't only get a certain genre stuck in my head. This way I can assure that my music won't sound like someone else's.

Of coarse I play live, but recently, I've been more focused on writing new material, for my classical music, for my band (Dark Paradise), and for my friends (rap music). Some places that I have performed at are; The Hogue Barmichaels in Newport Beach The Tiki Room in Pomona The Chain Reaction in Anaheim The Staple Center in Los Angeles The Key Club in Hollywood The Roxy Theater in Hollywood And OF COARSE I LOVE to perform, I can't think of any musician who doesn't. And one special moment that I'll NEVER forget is once when I performed at the Chain Reaction. After I finished performing, some little kid approached me, and asked me if he could shake my hand. He said that I inspired him, and changed his view in music forever. That for me is the most priceless thing that could ever happen, after ALL the hardship and struggling I've been through, that ONE moment made it ALL worth it.

Well I listen to everything for influence. It always depends on what style or mood I'm trying to write. If I want a classical song that's dramatic, I'll probably put on a movie, or listen to Beethoven or Mozart ect. If I want to write rock music, then I'll listen to that, and lastly, if I want to write rap or r&b, then I'll listen to that.

Well if I'm just writing for fun, I'll use a hand made acoustic guitar with nylon strings. It has no brand, where I bought it, the guy just makes guitars all day, I bought it when I went to Mexico. If I'm going to be writing classical, rap or r&b, I use a software called Sibelius And if I'm going to write rock music, I use an ESP Guitar. It's and LTD F-200, and for now, I use a Line 6 amp