Meet Eduardo Atria | Artist & Producer

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

Hi Eduardo, what do you attribute your success to?
Building a community. There are many factors that can help the success of my brand and business (skills, talent, opportunity, luck, consistency, perseverance, etc.), but none is as important as creating a local community of people who support what I’m doing and believes in what I have to offer. Being present and active in your local scene, growing your circle of connections, makes you indispensable for others in the same industry. Your goal is that when others need someone with your set of skills, you’re the one that pops up in their heads, and talent doesn’t get you there, networking does. Think about it as an active effort to build your network; your network is your net worth.

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.
What sets me apart is that, besides making my own music (which is unique on its own), I am creating a space for other music creatives to express freely.

See, besides being an artist myself, I am also a producer of records and events, out of which the most successful has been a project called “The Circle Live”, a live music event where musicians who don’t know each other get together to jam (improvise) in front of an audience and create an impromptu musical performance. ~ We call it “The Circle” because musicians are arranged in a circe facing outwards (so they can’t look at each other) to an audience surrounding them 360 degrees.~ Here, artists and musicians have a space to express their art freely, detached from the demands of a producer or record label. They get to network, to showcase their talents, and to meet other musicians and professionals of the music industry to collaborate with.

I got to this point professionally by doing what I love. I know it sounds tacky, but here is the mechanics of how it works: if you do something you love, you don’t get tired of it; and most important, you do it without thinking of the reward. I was organizing jam sessions before knowing I could monetize from them. I was making music before understanding the business aspects of it. I was working with brands before knowing how to build a professional partnership with them. I was connecting with other musicians and industry professionals before knowing the value of the network I was creating. In short, I was doing the whole business for free just because I liked it, and as I kept doing it, other people (who I can now call mentors) jumped in and made me realize that what I was doing had value, and taught me how I could turn it into an actual business.

It has not been easy, however. There have been many lessons to learn along the way. I did’t go to school for any of what I am doing today, so I have learned by doing and by failing many times. I honestly think the most challenging thing has been to stay consistent and to believe in my work even when it didn’t make me any money. The biggest obstacle is always your mind telling you “you can’t make it”, “you’re not cut for this”, “others have made it already and you’re still struggling”. It is not easy to shut that voice in your head, honestly I think it never goes away, but with enough practice you learn how to ignore it.

The most important lesson I have learned so far is that things won’t happen unless you make them happen. Don’t think that you will reach success just because you deserve it. Everyone deserves it, but very few really work for it. I have had to design my own logos and brands, I’ve had to put my own gear to produce shows, I’ve had to write, record, edit, mix and master my own songs, I’ve had to go to every event to network, I’ve had to reach out to labels and brands on my own, I’ve had to do everything myself; because no one else is going to do it for me. Many quit along the way, that is why you cannot do it thinking of the reward, you have to do it because you love doing it.

If there is something I want the world to know about my brand is that is not about me at all. One thing I fear is that others think I am embarking in this artist/producer career to feed my ego, when I actually do it to share the joy of making music with others that have the same passion I do. It is all about creating a space where others can express themselves or at least feel connected in some way.

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.
Oh wow, I guess that depends on who’s asking. I can tell you my favorite spots are Friend’s Market and Bistro in Brickell (they have the best açaí bowls in town), Rebel Eleven (one of the recording studios I closely work with), The Anderson is a great place to have a drink and listen to live music, Veza Sur is another great place to have a drink and experience live music, Wynwood’s Walt Grace is a beautiful music store with vintage cars and guitars, Wood One has the best ramen I’ve tried, Bar La Real is one of the best Mexican cuisine I’ve tried, the Miami Beach botanical garden is a beautiful spot for a date, and if you get the chance to rent a jet ski and ride it in the inter-coastal you have to do it. Miami is a big city, I recommend exploring it and the many hidden gems you can find in this magical city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people deserve credit and recognition in my story. It would be unfair to pick just one, I truly believe that what I am achieving today is thanks to all the people who has seen some value in my project and tagged along. However, the most valuable are those who make you see things from a perspective you had not seen before. Those who point out things like “you could grow your business if you do this or that”, and those who believe in you and see strengths and weaknesses in you that you have not seen yet, those are the ones that have sparked quantum leaps in my career.

Website: https://eduardoatriamusic.wixsite.com/home

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eduardoatriamusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EduardoAtria

Image Credits
Juan Lugo (@fotolugo)