Uncategorized – Liner Notes

Two weeks. Two weeks left until I finish a monumental chapter in my life that is 18 years worth of education. As all the feelings I have accumulate to May 18^th, 2019, I look back on the thing that got me here: Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock.

I am only kidding. Of course, there are so many factors that led me to this moment in time, but the Activision video game was a primary influence in amplifying my interest, thus leading me to pursue a college degree in entertainment and a career in the music industry. You’re probably wondering what a video game has to do with my interest and journey to the industry. The answer is simple. Guitar Hero introduced me to music I wouldn’t have otherwise discovered. It opened a pathway into music I’ve never heard on the radio. It not only gave me a glimpse into my current music taste as well as the possibilities a career in music could offer.

I started playing Guitar Hero III in the 7^th grade. Back then, I never really had the critical thought of what I wanted to do with my life. My routine simplistically consisted of going to school, listening to music on my iPod nano, and playing against my brother on this game. It wasn’t until junior year of high school, when I really decided that I wanted to pursue a career in music and go to college to achieve that. I remember talking on Oovoo, a video chat service with my friend about this new band Haim, what A&R meant, and dreaming of interning at the legendary Capitol records. I didn’t achieve that vision, but I came pretty close.

My college career started out with an internal struggle. After being rejected from NYU, I enrolled in my local community college and began taking the necessary GE’s required to transfer. My brain initially tried to tell me I wasn’t good enough. That while all my friends got accepted to the colleges they wanted, I was stuck in a junior college because I wasn’t as intelligent. I eventually knew that wasn’t the case, but the naivety in me concluded that “the name” was important. I kept my head down and began volunteering at film festivals and award shows, which ultimately landed me my first internship with stache media, a music marketing subsidiary under Sony Music. This was it: my foot in the door. This role gave me the opportunity to market bands in my local market, attend shows, and even attend the 2016 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. By the time that was over, I would be getting my college admissions decisions email for transfer. The day after I got home from the festival, I received my second rejection letter from NYU. Why did I get rejected the second time? Why weren’t my achievements good enough? In my mind, New York was my only path of opportunity to music. I didn’t want to go to CSUF like my three other siblings. I wanted a different path, one that would give me something unique and new. I ended up transferring to CSUF as a business major, disappointed to be following in the same footsteps as my siblings and still living in Orange County.

When I joined the school radio station, I had no idea it was going to bring appreciation and gratitude towards being a part of the Titan community. At first I thought I was just going to study through college with my head down, focusing on graduating and leaving the commuter college. Titan radio gave me the chance to make new friends and cultivate a strong and encouraging community. They gave me the encouragement to apply for the third time to Warner Music Group, one of the big 3 record companies in the nation. After numerous interviews and a plethora of nerves, I was hired as an intern at the publishing leg of WMG, Warner/Chappell. This began a series of internships that I would take over the course of two years, which also included Atlantic Records, Glassnote Records, and Ninja Tune. My time interning gave me so much opportunity that I am forever grateful for, but it also put a strain on my body. Commuting from Orange County to LA on the train to the Metro in a tight schedule while running on almost no sleep put me in a high state of fatigue and depression. “If I can’t handle this, how am I going to survive the industry?” I thought. I decided to take my last semester off from internships. I wanted the last semester of college to myself, to enjoy school and appreciate the last moments I had with it. I enrolled in my last two required classes, and took a third class for fun.

Reflecting on what brought me here, I am able to recognize my dedicated work ethic, and am able to have pride in myself for my accomplishments, and not degrade myself for not getting into a school I was never meant to be in, or hate myself for taking my last semester off. As I look forward to life after college and my future in the music industry, I feel nervous but excited. I know that I am ready to dive in and trust myself. And it all started with a video game.

My first show at The Observatory in Santa Ana was Young the Giant, in December 2011. I went with my crush at the time, and I was completely nervous while trying to make an impression on him, and catching one of my favorite bands at the time. That would be the first of many concerts I would see at The Observatory.

Settled into a business complex off the 405 freeway on Harbor Blvd, The Observatory became a hot spot for Orange County entertainment. The first show I heard about and was dying to go see was a sold out Foster the People concert. My friend from art class told me about it and by the time I knew, there was no getting in. This was when I knew the venue was going to book amazing shows, and I had to watch out for my favorite artists coming by. 2012 was a big year at the Santa Ana venue for me. I saw shows in the main room such as Grouplove, Walk the Moon, and Matt and Kim. The Observatory also has a smaller venue called the Constellation Room, where I saw Youngblood Hawke, White Arrows, and Breach the Summit. I was discovering that I had a real interest in music, and that music would be a career I would be interested in joining; The Observatory became a huge factor in that. The Observatory’s ability to book fresh and popular talent contributed to their boundary pushing and independent company culture. With no one to report to and a free mind to create anything they wanted, the Observatory influenced my passion for working in a small business. I became highly interested in the idea of working for an indie record label or music venue with big minds, as I loved and was excited about the company culture. That’s why I was surprised and saddened to hear the recent purchase of the Observatory venues in Orange Country and San Diego from Live Nation.

Late last year, the owner of The Observatory announced the ending of booking with Goldenvoice, and hired Live Nation to book the venue. Now, Live Nation has full control over both venues, after a purchase in early April. Though I appreciate Live Nation as a company and enjoy their shows, purchasing the Observatory venues sparks a concern with a concert goer who appreciates and loves the independent scene. I might still catch a show at the venue, but am concerned for the culture to change into a corporate atmosphere. The venue will always hold a spot in my heart for providing the best shows I’ve been to-date. I am anxious to see the effects of the venue after the purchase, and I hope to continue going there to witness unforgettable shows.