We go in depth with one HypedSound artist. Check out Ignacio’s new EP "Live at Lincoln Hall" recorded 8/23/10 in Chicago (listen and fan him at http://www.IgnacioNYC.com and download a couple songs here). You can also find him on Twitter (@ignacionyc) and don't forget to hype him up on his HypedSound profile! 

Video for “Miles Away” on YouTube

Tell us a little bit about how you got started with music. You said you were in the Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus, did this set the stage for the years to come?

I'd say that I always had a passion for music but being in the Met certainly nurtured my growing obsession with it, especially with performing.  I would use all the money I made from the performances to buy CD’s down at the Tower Records down the street  I think it was on 67th -- remember actual record stores? By far my three favorite first bands and biggest influences were the Clash, The Beatles and the Beach Boys, and I remember buying every single one of their albums I could.  Other than that, I'd say the Met taught me how to teach myself music, because being around other great musicians has always inspired and taught me how to push myself to be better.

Tell us a little bit about your influences. Growing up in Westchester, how does one become such a huge fan of British music?

Well it's the suburbs, not Siberia, but it's certainly true that most of my favorite bands are British. I think the British culture just has an openness not seen here in the states that really cultivates musical invention. I don't try to limit myself in any taste except liking "good music" -- it just so happens that the British make a lot of good music. But I also love a lot of classical music, Spanish guitar music (prob from my father playing those songs over and over again) and hundreds of American musicians and groups.

We hear you just released an EP in June, tell us a little about it. If you could go back and change one thing, what would it be? What was the greatest strength of the release?


The EP consists of five catchy, well written songs. It's like five singles.  I think there is a song in there for everyone, a ballad, a mid-tempo song with high Bflats, which consequently has become the bane of my existence. There are also fast-tempo rock songs.  The songs are about love, life, nights and romantic fights.  I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my music, so unfortunately, I don't know where to begin.  The greatest strength would be the songs themselves, particularly "what it takes" and "miles away". 

You have a full length album you are working to get released soon... how would you best sum up the spirit of it? Any favorite tracks to look out for? 
 


I am releasing a live EP in November which will have some new songs. I'm also working on another EP to be released in February. I'm messing around with different voice timbres, writing styles and experimenting with different beats, specifically dance beats.  The song we are working on right now is "the queen" and it definitely represents the direction we'd like to go, I'm really excited to see what it becomes.

What do you think is the greatest pitfall as an artist right now, in the digital music era? What are your thoughts on social media and music?


Obviously as an artist you wish it were the days when people sold a million albums in a week, but those days aren't coming back anytime soon so why dwell on the pitfalls? I think the thing to look at is that now more than ever you can get new music to the widest audience possible in a matter of minutes. I guess, the idea of a cohesive album could be in jeopardy because you can preview the songs you like, or just download the ‘hits,’ but at the same time it allows music consumers to avoid buying bad albums. I’ve benefited from the digital era as both a fan and an artist so its a difficult thing to answer, and its also not something I think about very often. I just try to use social media as much as possible to expose my music to more people.

Saddest song you've ever heard?


ERIC CLAPTON 'TEARS IN HEAVEN'