Meet Kevin Ibanez | Music Producer/DJ

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kevin Ibanez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kevin, is there something you believe many others might not?
Practice makes perfect. People often say this and you hear it everywhere. When I was studying classical violin, my teacher would tell me “practice doesn’t make perfect, practice makes PERMANENT.” He told me this as I was doing something with incorrect technique.. It basically means that if you practice something the wrong way, then you will keep doing it the wrong way. It is very important to be conscience of what you are doing and to be aware of what is going on around you.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a music producer. Many people see this term and think either keyboardist, or writer, or beat maker, or DJ…. but in today’s music scene, you really need to be a part of it all to have an ounce of success or self fulfillment. I come from a classically trained music background (I’ve played the violin since I was 6 years old), yet I have always loved many different genres of music. Since I was a baby, my dad would be playing disco or trance music in his office. This exposure to different sounds and grooved really exposed me to several feelings and emotions. Throughout middle and high school, I enjoyed pop music, hip hop and EDM. I have always thought about creating original songs, but I always saw it as something you need a big studio or budget for. It wasn’t until 2017 where I attended my first Ultra Music Festival, where I was really inspired by the DJs performing their own music to thousands of people. This inspired me to learn to DJ and then when I started to get more serious about the music industry, I realized that to have any real impact you must produce your own records/songs and get them heard. Since then, I started learning on YouTube and with my computer how to combine sounds and make decent music. Knowing music theory helped a lot, but my first songs were absolute trash. It’s taken me having to work on and complete over 100 songs for me to actually get the hang of this music production thing and make music that other people enjoy. Today to be successful in music, you have to learn to collaborate with others, understand the business side of things and at the end of the day, make decent art that people’s ears might find enjoyable.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I was born and raised in Miami, FL. To say Miami is the best city in the world would be an understatement. Yes, it is becoming a bit overcrowded and people are going insane, but it is such an incredible place to develop and thrive. The food is incredible. You can get your fix for anything Latin or Spanish, as well as Italian, Turkish, greek, asian etc. If I had to show a friend around the city, when it comes to food I would recommend the following spots: Cafe Versailles; a true cuban experience in cuisine. Have them drink a cafecito to wake up. KUSH for a burger. Carbone for their pasta. CVICHE.105 for Peruvian. The Salty Donut for dessert. When it comes to parties, you have a little of everything. If they want techno, Club Space, if they want an amazing experience Club E11even. If they want to see some famous EDM DJs, LIV. BRESH for a crazy latin party. and LIV on SUNDAY for hip hop. When it comes to entertainment and attractions, there are too many things to name. You can ride an airboat surrounded by alligators or go skydiving indoors. East Miami (Sugar rooftop) for cocktails and incredible views. Miami is the best.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my story to any struggling artist or creative trying to start something or find their own unique thing that makes them stand out or be true to themselves. Many times we are told we have to find ourselves, and when we do, sometimes we feel underwhelmed. It’s important to think of the bigger picture and plan every single step towards reaching your goals.

Website: https://www.ebaniez.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ebaniez

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ebaniez

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ebaniez