Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Mallorca
Juan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Born in NJ, Newark
Raised in South Florida and Ecuador
I was 23 when I decided I wanted to try to pursue music as a full time job.
In the span of 3 years I played guitar for a few bands around Palm Coast, FL.
When Covid hit, Live Original Music was basically dead around the north central area of FL (St aug, Daytona,)
Somewhere around that time I got motivated and curious to see how my solo project would if i was only to focus only on that.
I made a batch of songs with my buddy Sean Dolich (DAYS, TEMPLE, WAIT) and those songs ultimately got me a sync licensing deal with Artlist (all thanks to Josh Cobb (producer) and Taylor Mathews (agent rep) )
Started doing music full time late 2020 and ever since then I’v had my songs on Vogue (ft. Hailey Bieber), Michael Kors (Bella Hadid Ad) and have been doing original and cover gigs around the north central Fl area.
Still doing it full time but I have different goals as far as music goes.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely no smooth road for me personally. Most people who make a living out of music have more than likely been doing it for 10 + years but I did it in 4.
I have zero talent, but I do understand numbers and if I was going to be good at anything and make money of it I knew I had to double the workload.
It came at a price though.
I have only have 14 songs on streaming platforms but I have written over 300 songs. A lot of them are bad.
Lost a lot of sleep. Sometimes 2-3 days with 0 sleep.
Went out on the road and played shows without getting paid or even worse playing in front of nobody haha.
Forced myself to listen to music that I didn’t like but I knew there was something I can learn from those songs/artists.
Went out to network and socialize more than I actually wanted to.
Learned to collaborate (you’d be surprised how many musicians can’t do that)
Had to learn more than 3 instruments and learn how to produce and record myself.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m not by any means a super pro at these instruments or skills but I have learned enough to write songs and get across what I’m feeling:
I sing, play guitar, keys, bass, produce and audio engineer.
I specialize in creating the most captivating, memorable and listenable songs I possibly can.
I care more about what the song wants than what I want or anybody in the room for that matter.
Songs truly have a life of their own if you think about it.
I think what sets me apart and it’s actually I’m most proud about as well is being an Ecuadorian artist that could perform and monetize off of more than 5 styles/ genres of music in a short amount of time.
In Ecuador, it’s really rare to make a living out of music. The government over there makes it really hard for kids that don’t have money to find a creative outlet.
My parents never wanted me to do music.
They would have rather I be a lawyer, doctor or anything thats “guaranteed” money.
One of my proudest accomplishments is proving my family and anybody else out there that doubted, wrong.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I got kicked out of a christian school when I was 6.
So pretty rebellious and problematic so that eventually got me homeschooled and took some anger management courses etc.
I was also just a kid that was aware of how to act depending on the environment.
In the street, I was crazy, saying and doing whatever I wanted. Just being a, like we say here in florida slang, a “Jit”
Growing up in a religious household, I obviously had to act right and in church I was pretty quiet because there are so many rules that I honesty was afraid to say anything.
So in church and religious spaces, I was very shy, confused and timid.
When I wasn’t, I felt free as I can be.
From 2nd grade to 10th grade I was homeschooled.
I loved soccer growing up and other sports too but soccer was king to me.
My interest in music did start by watching the band in church.
I’m not really religious anymore but I still do love a good feel worship song.
Guess its a nostalgic thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.huanito.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juandrection/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCasDf6C4mkCBr8_AMLWri8g
