Please introduce yourself. What do you do? Why? What do you want people to know about you?
Hi, my name is Anthony Rodriguez and I’m a film/music composer. I work with basically everyone in music; film directors, music publishers, singers, music producers; the list can go on.
Music is the only thing I can see myself doing for the rest of my life. Even at the retiring age, music can still be created. So for me, having the passion and drive to make music; and most importantly getting paid to do it — is the career I want to be in. And of course nothings ever perfect. With every blessing comes challenges.
People can know, that I’m the extra mile kinda of guy. Whenever I work with my peers, I give them my full attention. It’s important to me because, I’m looking for longevity and not one-time connections. My recording studio is design to invite ideas and innovation to the best of my ability and deliver products that are what my clients expect.
What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
Understanding the needs of te client. I spend more time in listening and doing my best to perform whats expected. I put no limits to what clients expect. And of course, if there’s something I feel I need to correct that clients aren’t aware of, I step in and share the information. I enjoy putting aside my musicality and looking for ways to sound different, it’s always fun doing that. Also, being self-taught during most of my career, I bring a sense of out of text-book arranging. What some call street smarts. So I like mixing up my street smarts and formal education to the table. I just look toward to delivering the best for my client. And if it takes 199 different versions of a song, then it will be 199 versions and maybe the 200th version gets approved. That’s me.
Describe THAT moment when you realized you’re doing what you were born to do.
The momento realized music was life, is when throughout my life music was always the joy. I would get over things but music was always there. When I was a child I had a cheap electric piano and my dads electric bass and I would find myself jamming with my mom singing along and my dad playing along. My dad was the one that taught me the fundamentals of chords and simple things like that. But music was and still is what I love dearly.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve had to go through and how did you grow through it?
I always say, anything that’s self-employed brings almost the same types of challenge any other business will go through. One was Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. I’m a full time musician, married and bills to pay. Trees were down, power outages and money decreasing that month. My piano students some could continue taking my program due to their own challenges, and my performances for that month got cancelled due to venue damages etc. When you’re at that moment, you’re thinking how are you going to make money with the limits in front of me. I did lose a lot of money, but there were still clients that were working with me. So I took the hit and had to let go of what I couldn’t control and embrace what I could control.
Another was COVID, this time around it was more of in-person challenges. As I was able to convince majority of my in-person students to take my program online, there were some that couldn’t. Also, venues got shut down. So, I had to evaluate my situation . Thankfully this time around, I was able to input my music LLC and receive some help which gave me the opportunity to revamp my production setup which is now called, The Writing Room Productions, I invested more on marketing my piano program as an online class, I pushed myself to expand in music production and did an overhaul in my studio. I maximized every opportunity — which led to meeting so many people from the time of COVID till today. I am better than where I was by the grace of God. Never looking back.
Who are the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could elevate your career or business? Why these specific individuals?
Hans Zimmer – He’s the main reason my expansion of my musicality has broaden up. HZ is a great mentor to many, and having that opportunity to just meet him and ask him questions will most definitely improve me as a composer and music producer.
Lin Manuel Mirada: Shhhh don’t tell no one, but I’m actually trying to connect with him directly. It isn’t easy though. He’s Puerto Rican and I absolutely love the combo of film music and Latin music mixed together. Working with Lin Manuel I know I can add greatness and bring a extra pound of pernil to the table.
Alan Meyerson: Top film score mixer. No words, I’ve learned so much by his videos in mixing music. All of my soundtracks that have gotten signed were mixed by me using some of Alan’s techniques. No complaints about my mixing by the publishers. I would love to work with him on my scores.
Drop your social media links.
Twitter: www.twitter.com/iamantrodriguez
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/anthonyrodriguezmusic
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/anthonyrodriguezonline
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/anthonyrodriguezonline
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realanthonyrodriguez