Meet George Martinez | Content Creator & Musician

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

Hi George, why did you pursue a creative career?
I almost feel like the creative career chose me. Ever since I was a child I was always into art, music, and performing.

My dad is a musician and influenced me to start learning an instrument.

I realized really quickly that not only did I have a passion for the creative arts, but I was actually pretty good too. Haha

Before I knew it I chose to be surrounded by music and art all the time.

It didn’t matter if it was recording in a studio, performing live, or teaching a future generation of creatives.

I needed to create something. And luckily in my case, people wanted to join in the ride as well.

To be able to do what I love everyday is the biggest blessing I could have ever asked for.

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.
I was a professional studio drummer/musician for over 15 years in Miami, Florida.

I had the opportunity to work with Producer/Engineer Jimmy Douglas, and Ill Factor on many studio records.

Because of the training I had from school and instructors, I was able to create and play drum parts in a very effective and precise way. It was honestly some of the best times, but also the most challenging as well.

You see time is money in studios, so you never want to be that person that is wasting anyone’s time.
So there is a bit of pressure involved when recording. But I loved every second of It.

During the lockdown in 2020, I decided to start helping drummers through social media. This was really a creative way to not think about the state of the world. I had no idea where to start or what to do, but I told myself, it’s better to create something, rather than nothing at all. So I started the SkinnyGeorge brand and the rest is history.

I currently create content revolving around the drumming and percussive arts. I basically equip people at any level to understand, perform, and enjoy their drumming. My social channels have become a great resource for anyone who is looking to grow as a drummer or artist themselves.

Now with a combined social following of over 170K people, It’s been incredible to connect with drummers from all around the world and help them reach their goals.

I wish I could say it has been a walk in the park, but thats just not reality. Growing a following organically is a lot of hard work. There are many days where you work extremely hard on content and no one even sees It. There are many times that you second guess if you’re actually making a difference, or wonder if anyone cares.

But I learned quickly that I cared about what I was creating, and that is enough to encourage me to continue on this journey.

I’m always humbled by the stories of drummers who have used my content to better themselves and ace an audition for school or a band. There is nothing like being a small part of changing someone’s creative trajectory.

So I look forward to what the future has in store, not only for me, but for the future generations of drummers to come.

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 would probably start by taking them to the different beaches we have to offer down here in South Florida.

Monday: South Beach during the day, and then Lincoln Road for food and live music at night.

Tuesday: Hollywood Beach, which has a great boardwalk filled with things to do and eat.

Wednesday: Wynwood during the day when it’s a little emptier to really enjoy all the art galleries, coffee shops and unique finds .

Thursday: Little Havana to give them a taste of Cuban culture and cuisine. Clubs at night for latin salsa dancing.

Friday: Downtown Miami for Miami Heat Game, and the views from Bayside marketplace.

Saturday: Brickell City center for lots of high end shopping and food, and games etc..

Sunday: Doral City Place for some final fun before having to catch a flight by the airport which is down the street.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely attribute my success, to my band directors in school, Peter Muller, and Steve Rivero. Also my drum instructor growing up Dennis Llinas. They always challenged me to take my drumming to another level. They also introduced me to the drummers that shaped my life, including Buddy Rich, Carter Beauford, Scott Johnson, and sooo many more. But nowadays my family have been such a source of encouragement to keep moving forward. They are literally the best cheerleaders an artist can have.

Instagram: SkinnyGeorge

Twitter: SkinnyGeorge

Youtube: SkinnyGeorge

Other: TikTok: SkinnyGeorge

Image Credits
MSP_Branding

Chris Sosa Photography