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Artist On The Rise Staff: What made you decide to pursue a career in music?
Manuel Peguero: As a youngster in my mid 20's, i didn't really think of it as pursuing a career, but more like an interesting but earnest hobby. The most I'd done was a brief stint playing at a well known hotel's lounge. Then after many years of establishing myself in the corporate world, I returned to playing yet on a more serious level. It was now more about creating a strong second identity. I thought to my self, i work at a regular 9 to 5, but Piano playing, especially when I'm in a creative zone, gives me an alternate identity that i treasure and few within my circle know about. Even those close to me don't know the extent of this other part of me. So there was a decision to pursue it , and it became more about expanding on that wonderful second persona to one day make a modest entrance as a new pianist on the scene.
Manuel Peguero: As a youngster in my mid 20's, i didn't really think of it as pursuing a career, but more like an interesting but earnest hobby. The most I'd done was a brief stint playing at a well known hotel's lounge. Then after many years of establishing myself in the corporate world, I returned to playing yet on a more serious level. It was now more about creating a strong second identity. I thought to my self, i work at a regular 9 to 5, but Piano playing, especially when I'm in a creative zone, gives me an alternate identity that i treasure and few within my circle know about. Even those close to me don't know the extent of this other part of me. So there was a decision to pursue it , and it became more about expanding on that wonderful second persona to one day make a modest entrance as a new pianist on the scene.
Artist On The Rise Staff: What inspires you to be in the music industry?
Manuel Peguero:Industry has such as vast meaning. As to what inspires me to pursue Piano playing as a serious endeavor, first and foremost is my desire to reveal beautiful music. I have an instinctive need to "show and tell' especially when it comes to beautiful music. It's like, "if you haven't heard this before, here it is and I'm glad you're discovering it !" When I played at the hotel lounge many years ago, every now and then someone would come up to me and ask "what is that you're playing?" Which is a point of pride for me because I'm revealing this sound to that individual for the first time. And mind you these are not necessarily new melodies, just less known ones yet done in my own interpretation.
Artist On The Rise Staff: How would you describe your work style?
Manuel Peguero: If referring to the process of getting my pieces to the point of near perfect and CD ready quality, its actually kind of simple. First i select the piece and ask myself, "do i want to spend x amount of time on this piece to the point of mastering it ( in terms of playing it expertly) As to the why i chose it, this has it's own set of criteria but among them are; being a somewhat dark melody and also being a lesser known bit of music , as part of the choice process. Two examples are The Brides of Dracula, or Mad Max 2 Adagio from my new album. Then i practice the heck out of it. Hours can fly by and sometimes sleep is lost until i find the 'magic' in the piece. Within those practices, I seek to know where it can be enhanced. With no disrespect to the original composers, I look for the "boring" parts and try to make that the most interesting part. Just as much, if there's an exciting part, i try to bring it out. Music is flowing and mysterious. The piano allows a freedom of expression like no other instrument. My work style begins with the careful selection of the piece, then i go into the very real and tangible work and sweat that's put into the long practices, and ends with a unique interpretation in the final product. This is for either a cover song or an original composition of mine.
Artist On The Rise Staff: Where did you get your inspiration for your music?
Manuel Peguero: First up is film music. It's true that sometimes a certain scene in a favorite movie is exacerbated by the music. But what if we take that theme and make it its own stand out creation? What if we can wake up that "hidden gem" so listeners can hear that it's actually more powerful than what you heard in the film? One small example is when i saw the movie Braveheart. There's the Prima Nocte Scene when the king's soldiers pretty much steal away the young girl away from her groom. There's not much dialogue over the music while so flawlessly directed by Mel Gibson. I took this bit of hypnotic music and gave it my own Piano interpretation and included it in the Dark Piano Liaison Album. As another example, just check out the 3:10 to Yuma theme in the same album. (composed by Marco Beltrami) Honestly, if you've seen the movie, did you know this theme was that exciting ? As far as other inspiration, the classical guitar pieces such as Spanish Romance and Leyenda have always fascinated me, and why i made my own piano interpretations which i included in Dark Piano Liaison.
Artist On The Rise Staff: What do you hope to achieve with your art?
Manuel Peguero: I want listeners to discover that there's a strong voice in a piano lyric that you may not have heard in the orchestra version, or the vocal version, or in the movie. The discovery of and revelation of beautiful music for listeners is a high priority for me. One of the best compliments I've gotten is "I've never heard that before, what is it ? " or "where is that from ?" In the long run, I'd like to be synonymous with being a unique Piano artist that has brought back melodies as forgotten treasures. . I also would like to bring forth my own original compositions and have them be recognized and remembered.
Artist On The Rise Staff: What advice would you give to new artists entering the industry today?
Manuel Peguero: To please don't be plain. Please don't fall into the trap of "Well this is what's hot now, so i should jump on that band wagon". Please, find your own voice and pursue that even if you don't see success right away. Love your art, love the process and be unique. This can apply whether you're a pianist or a pop artist.
Artist On The Rise Staff: Your new album "Dark Piano Transcendence", can you tell us about this album what's the inspiration behind it?
Manuel Peguero: Absolutely, it's 70% film music. As with my previous trend from Dark Piano liaison, I wanted to chose themes that are not as popular yet worth bringing out for discovery ! An early 90's film called The Comfort of Strangers is probably not well remembered, but that opening musical score by Maestro Angelo Badalamenti, i just loved it from the start. So i made the only Piano version out there (that I'm aware of) and it worked wonderfully. As for the inspiration for my three included original compositions; Audacious Quest is just what that implies. Sometimes in life, our greatest achievements can come from our boldest actions. La Bebe, was inspired by my niece who was born only a few months before i composed it, and not one but two versions. The single of La Bebe in music box version, more resembles a lullaby. The Piano version is more like an afternoon at the carnival and is something to detract a little from the darker themes. I had composed Daliana's song for my Daughter which is on my previous album. Now, on Dark Piano Transcendence, Return to Glory is very personal to me. It signifies rising above tough circumstances when they've brought you down. I was inspired from within to compose a piece that lifts you to return to the top of your form when you've fallen back. Where Dark Piano Liaison means a first connection to dark and moving music, the word Transcendence in this context means taking your listening to another plateau that's yet more profound.
Manuel Peguero: Absolutely, it's 70% film music. As with my previous trend from Dark Piano liaison, I wanted to chose themes that are not as popular yet worth bringing out for discovery ! An early 90's film called The Comfort of Strangers is probably not well remembered, but that opening musical score by Maestro Angelo Badalamenti, i just loved it from the start. So i made the only Piano version out there (that I'm aware of) and it worked wonderfully. As for the inspiration for my three included original compositions; Audacious Quest is just what that implies. Sometimes in life, our greatest achievements can come from our boldest actions. La Bebe, was inspired by my niece who was born only a few months before i composed it, and not one but two versions. The single of La Bebe in music box version, more resembles a lullaby. The Piano version is more like an afternoon at the carnival and is something to detract a little from the darker themes. I had composed Daliana's song for my Daughter which is on my previous album. Now, on Dark Piano Transcendence, Return to Glory is very personal to me. It signifies rising above tough circumstances when they've brought you down. I was inspired from within to compose a piece that lifts you to return to the top of your form when you've fallen back. Where Dark Piano Liaison means a first connection to dark and moving music, the word Transcendence in this context means taking your listening to another plateau that's yet more profound.
Artist On The Rise Staff: Has your music career/journey had a deliberate direction, or did it simply evolve organically?
Manuel Peguero:That would be yes and no. It always had a deliberate direction but that was as far as just returning to playing in the Hotel lounge scene. And No, i did not plan on having an internet presence, so that part of it did evolve. A big part of it was because I had some help from my brother. I was not too knowledgeable on the more modern music creation outlets such as DIY recording and mastering on a professional level, therefore he guided me in the more technical aspects of music production. The one consistent thing before and after using the modern tools was my love of playing and my desire to display beautiful music to the public. The internet and modern production tools allow me to present the music on a much grander stage and that's a monumental understatement since we know the expansiveness of having world wide virtual stage.
Manuel Peguero:That would be yes and no. It always had a deliberate direction but that was as far as just returning to playing in the Hotel lounge scene. And No, i did not plan on having an internet presence, so that part of it did evolve. A big part of it was because I had some help from my brother. I was not too knowledgeable on the more modern music creation outlets such as DIY recording and mastering on a professional level, therefore he guided me in the more technical aspects of music production. The one consistent thing before and after using the modern tools was my love of playing and my desire to display beautiful music to the public. The internet and modern production tools allow me to present the music on a much grander stage and that's a monumental understatement since we know the expansiveness of having world wide virtual stage.
Artist On The Rise Staff: If you could pass on a nugget of wisdom to the next musical generation, what would it be?
Manuel Peguero: First, see my answer on question 6, lol. Please keep in mind that i haven't achieved all the personal success I've envisioned in my own musical journey. So i don't' consider myself top shelf as compared to other Piano artists with greater success. That said, I want to emphasize what' I've already expressed. Please don't be a cliche, and don't make music just with money as a sole motivation. Strive to be different. LOVE the music you produce , and make it your own personal journey despite critique from others. Even if you have a regular job which you need to pay the bills, that's fine but NEVER GIVE UP YOUR QUEST !
Manuel Peguero: First, see my answer on question 6, lol. Please keep in mind that i haven't achieved all the personal success I've envisioned in my own musical journey. So i don't' consider myself top shelf as compared to other Piano artists with greater success. That said, I want to emphasize what' I've already expressed. Please don't be a cliche, and don't make music just with money as a sole motivation. Strive to be different. LOVE the music you produce , and make it your own personal journey despite critique from others. Even if you have a regular job which you need to pay the bills, that's fine but NEVER GIVE UP YOUR QUEST !
Artist On The Rise Staff: Where can potential fans find out more about you?
Manuel Peguero: My music is on all the major streaming channels, but I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I've not filled in any significant bio details yet, but i plan to soon. I'm also completing my own website, and am in the process of putting that together. I did complete an interview not long ago and was able to obtain publications in the following magazines;
MusicWeek
Paper Planes
Loud Magazine