Meet Agustin Espina | Keyboardist – Producer – Mixer

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

Hi Agustin, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Since I was a child I’ve been surrounded by Music. I started playing the piano very early and at some point of my life I decided that this was what I wanted to do for a living. I can’t imagine myself doing anything not related to Music. For me, making Music in any form is as important as breathing!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Playing, creating, recording… everything about Music is challenge. A beautiful challenge! You have to be in “alert mode” all the time to understand what is happening with music out there. Not only in the “mainstream”, but specially in the underground scene. Music is a live entity that evolves and mutates over time and you have to pay respect to that entity through your work. However, being an artist in a “human reality” is not exactly easy. You have to deal with the day to day situations and still be “in the mood” to create Music. This is something you learn to live with along your career. Music is your life, and deserves the most respect!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There’s a lot I’ve not visited yet but, some of my favorites places are “Le Chat Noir” Jazz Club in the Downtown, Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill in Key Largo (to sit outside and enjoy the sunset), “Taquería Morelia” in Homestead, the Wat Buddharangsi Buddhist Temple also in Homestead, the Ancient Spanish Monastery in North Miami, the Cauley Square Historic Railroad Village “Calle Ocho”… There’s a lot to visit!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To God, for making the perfect plan. To my parents, who always supported me even when I know that they had a “better plan” for me. To my wife Mayra and my daughters Mayren and Maryann, for being there unconditionally, understanding and living the goods and the toughs along with me! To every musician and engineer I’ve worked with for sharing their art and craft. To Ricardo Landaeta (+) and Keith Morrison, for teaching me with their work and countless conversations the fine art of recording and mixing. To Master Gerry Weil, for teaching me that “you have to know the rules to be able to break them”… and finally, to that teacher in the conservatory that asked me: “Why do you want to be a pianist? you’re going to starve if you are a pianist!”. Because in that very moment, I understood that I was taking the right path!

Instagram: @agustinespinamusic #TheFunkyLab

Linkedin: Agustin Espina

Twitter: @agustinespina

Other: email: funkylabstudios@gmail.com

Image Credits
Dais Sarcos, Orestes Gomez, Miguel Santos, Reinier Rivero, Cynthia Aime