Jandro - Artist of the Month - October

To start this month off, we are going to look at one of the young guns from the Southwest. Jandro is from Albuquerque and has been making some serious bangers these past couple of years. At just 21, he is a young contender for being one of the more well known artists from our state. This last year he was able to tour with Snow Tha Product and grow his audience base and performance skills. I interviewed him and asked the Big Bad Wolf himself about a lot of the aspects that go into making his music and where he finds inspiration. Peep the questions and answers below!

Photo by: @wokeito

What got you started making music and recording?

What got me into recording was getting caught up with almost a pound in school, which ultimately led me to the YDI foundation. From there I found they had a small studio in the facility which I used to start recording and dropping music.

What's the idea behind your name Jandro?

Well my first ever rap name was “Aktion” which I started to realize was not really marketable and had no real meaning or attachment with me. So I switched it to something that was natural to me which was a nickname to my birth name Alejandro Aka “Jandro”.

How long have you been creating music?

I started music when I was 16. I'm 21 now so about consecutive 5 years of straight GRIND!!

Has the response to your music been what you expected?

Honestly no. I didn’t ever realize the impact music has on people till I started releasing music myself. I'm still in disbelief of the love and respect I get from the fans as well as my local artist community, and major artist community.

What was the motivation to make the song "Tequila"? It's real hype.

Well, to sum things up. I was pretty fucked up when I made that song with Grammy winning producer “Bongo By The Way”. But like I’ve learned over the years. “One must never deny a vibe when presented naturally!” *Wise Old man Voice*

I feel like you really pull a lot of sounds and concepts from your Latino background, how do you think your ethnicity and culture affects your music?

My music is a representation of me. Anything you ever hear in my music genuinely comes from a place of things I’ve experienced, things I’ve thought about, things I’ve dreamed about, or childhood memories. Growing up it was instilled by my family to never forget where I came from and never forget what made me what i am today.

What producers do you like working with or maybe even want to work with? Local or non-local.

Truthfully I like working with producers who don’t think they know it all and are willing to try new sounds and patterns to evolve or to create new sounds. If I had to choose one producer I would love to work with it would have to be Timbaland! He’s got hands down some of the most memorable production rhythms, patterns, and cadences! #LinkMeWithTimb

What made you want to create an animated video for your song "ILLU$ION"?

Haha you said answer honestly so LARGE AMOUNTS OF WEED and a LARGE IMAGINATION!

Every artist needs a good team behind them, do you feel you've found that yet or is it a work in progress?

I feel I have somewhere in between both. Yes I do have a solid team but yes I’m always looking and ready to expand and work with people who are hungry and talented. Especially people from back home!

How was the tour experience with Snow Tha Product? Looks like it was hella lit.

TOUR EXPERIENCE WAS NUTS! I loved it and shout out to Snow for believing in me and taking me with her. I got to travel to places I’ve always wanted to go as well as grow my fan base with down to earth people that now I call my team.

How do you think the place you're from, New Mexico, affects how you make your music?

Growing up in New Mexico was tough, but I love home and it was everything I needed to show me this world can be cruel and kick you while your down. You just gotta show that shit didn’t affect you, get your ass up and keep working. If I can say anything about how NM effects my music I would say “Be fearless and relentless in what you are perusing, but also don’t forget to show love and compassion to those in need.”

What was your inspiration behind "Wolf Season Vol. 1"?

Honestly it was a compilation of different songs that I had made that weren’t quite able to fit a album, but were still good songs that needed to be heard!

Is there gonna be a Vol. 2?

I plan on dropping these avidly as my mix tape such as a “Lil Wayne - Dedication” type thing. So, yeah expect another one, just know you’ll never know when I’m releasing music until I want you to!

What would you tell your younger self if you could go back 10 years?

Not a God damn thing. The mistakes I made growing up is what made me what and who I am today! The harder the lesson, the better you remember not to fuck up again!

Do you see yourself as a new wave of Latin hip-hop artists like Kap G. or Cardi B.? Or even the OG Big Pun?

Hell nah! I'm me nothing more nothing less. Of course I look up to the success of these artists, but I don’t want to be classified with them because of our similar cultures. I want be known a dope artist that happened to be Mexican as opposed to a Mexican that happened to be a dope artist.

Red chile or green chile?

Both depending on what plate is in front of me! But I’m in CA now so I can’t eat chile as much I want to!

Do you plan on performing more or trying to grow your fan base via streaming platforms and the internet?

Yes, I plan on dropping more music to bigger platforms. As for performances i perform all over a lot of the times randomly.

How many times have you staged dived to your track "Fuck Your Rules"? haha.

Haha so many times! Snow had to tell me to stop stage diving cause I was gonna get her caught up in a lawsuit! But I came off tour with hella bumps and bruises and scars to say the least!

Do you prefer solo work? or collaboration? and why?

I prefer making good music with anyone who appreciates the art as much as I do. I'm a firm believer of if you have good intentions with your art, you can create good music. So as long as I can create like that with who ever I collab with then I’m with it.

What should we expect from you in the next year?

Expect bigger and better progression! Expect to see more music come from me and the team!

Anything else you would like to mention?

I'm going to be releasing a new project soon. It will be my first official project ever.

“The Big Bad Wolf” Coming 2019….