X-Sperience a.k.a Macedez
I am an Artist, Performer, Entertainer, Composer, Song & Film Writer, as well as a Film Producer
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
I got started in the entertainment business, because of my family, they for generations have been in some form of entertainment, from singing, producing, modeling, acting, and stage MC’s, I guess you can say it is a generation curse, it’s in our blood. My mother taught my sisters how to model, and she handed me a microphone, it was pre-written so to say, and I haven’t stopped yet. However, I grew up in a romanticized era, of great hopes and dreams; I was torn by the wishes of the family’s culture, and my mother’s dreams, my mother wanted her children to succeed in the entertainment industry, so she pushed us hard. Her parents on the other hand, procreation, marriage, and family values, I can honestly say it was hard trying to please everyone, trying to honor my mother’s wishes, and not to disrespect the family culture/ tradition. Outside of family, I grew up in an era when Hip Hop became mainstream media, so to say. Because it was so new, there were no rules, an artist could rise to great heights, but in the music business during that time, you either played ball or you had to find an alternate route and honestly there were no other routs, just one straight, long and dangerous road. So, yes it was very difficult to get to where I am today. It would be fair to say that in the Hip Hop, and R&B industry or really any music genre; alone the way, as an artist you began to change, and with that said, so does your music, because Hip Hop and R&B are our reflections in a mirror, a type of art, and while on this journey, the expression of art changes to tell our story.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
As a child growing up, I was given the stage as a gift, I performed in many venues alone this journey, I have so many special memories of artists I met alone the way, watching their success, competing and growing together, my fondest memory would be when me and Cisco for a record deal that was promoted by a Dallas station called K-104, Cisco and I were the final two, in this competition, and this is so very important, being on time makes a world of difference, I had so many auditions this day, and right before the competition between me and Cisco, I was called to do an audition, believe it or not, for N-Sync or the Back street boys, honestly I don’t remember, because of this I arrived late, and unprepared for my competition, when I arrived, Cisco had just finished performing a song that he and I both like, Gigolos Get Lonely Too, Morris Day, a song I was going to perform, but hey, instead, I man up and I song an original A cappella, but man Cisco was into gear, character and well prepared, honestly he looked the part, not to mention he can sing, I arrived right at the nick of time when my name was announced, looking as if I came off a road trip, and very exhausted, but did I kill it hell yea, but the labeled wanted, commitment and preparation, the key to success.
Your musical influences
I grew up listening to Jazz, soul, and live bands such as the O’Jays, Earth Wind and Fire, etcAs a child listening to the words of that type of music, it teaches you that your only Hero is the one who invest their time and hard work into you, and that would be my Mother.
What equipment do you use?
I use hardware, and software, from a physical Keyboard to a computer generated keyboard, I like keeping my mind open to many challenges.
Anything else?
Don’t forget that, commitment and preparation are the keys to success.