Today we’d like to introduce you to Ishmael Meza.
Hi Ishmael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
You ask for a brief version of my story but even at my age, I can probably write a whole biography novel, and it still continues to grow. So, starting out, I’m an artist. I live to perform and create, and I continue paving my road. I have paved my road and continue paving my road to build upon myself as a musician and actor. I have learned many different aspects of my trades to make it a career, and if I was able to quit my 9-5 occupation to dive completely into just working on all my artistic ventures, and get paid for it, I’m ready.
Being an artist is tough, and I’m someone who chooses not to release my art until I’m completely satisfied with the results. I’m a perfectionist, and that’s one reason why I’ve learned so many aspects of the artistic and performing industries, because I know that I can do things correctly instead of depending on others to make myself grow.
But that isn’t to say that one shouldn’t seek help when help is needed. Networking and building bonds with the community is just as important as learning your trade.
I’ve learned that there’s three levels of affirmation that it takes to succeed as an artist: affirmation of the audience, affirmation of close relations, and affirmation of self. Without all three levels of support there’s no true success as an artist. Everything that I do is to create these levels of affirmation, which leads to true success in the artistic and performing industries. Finance and fame are things that ride along in the back seat when one has truly created these bonds through these levels of affirmations.
After so many years, pretty much my whole life, of pursuing the arts, I can say that I have created some big successes for myself; I have been playing and singing in San Diego since 2010 and I’m currently in a Latin rock band called “Sol Sacrifice” where I am the lead singer and a percussionist. I have played big San Diego shows such as “Xavier the Xman’s ‘Cruise for the Cause,” SoCal Taco Fest, Chicano Park’s 47th Anniversary, Old Town’s “Dia de los Muertos,” and Christmas City USA, where I opened for the band “Malo.” I have played in venues like the House of Blues San Diego, San Diego Zoo, and Sycuan Casino. The latest big project that I’m a co-star in, called “Why the Nativity?”, has won some awards and gained a lot of recognition, and has just won San Diego Film Week’s “Production of the Year.” I’ve produced five 48 Hour Film Projects and the last two have been official selections for the Best of 48s and the San Diego International Film Festival and have both won Best Makeup. I have featured on a few major TV shows and small commercials. As a figure drawing model, I’ve modeled in many art studios and colleges all around San Diego, including USD and SDSU. As a music teacher I’ve been able to teach students all around the country and even coached some students through national competitions. I’ve also graduated from Cuyamaca College with two associate degrees.
This short list of accomplishments aside, the biggest thing I’m most proud of is bringing together a vast network of local artists and talent. I absolutely love my city and the people I’ve been fortunate enough to create friendships with.
I have so much to be proud of, but I never allow myself to feel as if I’ve done enough because there’s always more. I plan to continue pursuing my arts and create much more success for myself.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing about pursuing the arts is a smooth road: learning lines in a script or lyrics in a song, writing the perfect deliveries of action and dialogue in a script, writing lyrics and creating instrumentation in original music, casting the right people in a role, working out to maintain a certain look and keep a certain amount of energy, bringing together a team of people and create something they would all love to be part of…it’s all a challenge. The only time I would say there’s been a smooth road is the slight chance to be “chosen without directly earning.” However, that’s not to say that if I was referred to a casting director, a music producer/band leader, an art instructor, etc., by someone else who I’ve worked with or they’ve seen my work, that I’ve already proven myself and earned the right to be referred. I just have to make sure that I live up to that right when it comes time to perform. Even if I’m not chosen, let’s say by a casting director after an audition, even after being referred, I at least try to make a lasting impression so they may be able to use me for future projects.
Proving to myself that I can do the things I do has probably been the toughest part so far. I have to stay consistent in practice so I can not only be impressive towards the audience but also towards myself. Surprising myself through performance isn’t often, but when it does happen, it challenges me to maintain and gives me knowledge that I can reach beyond certain peaks of my own skills. It’s not easy to maintain a level of fresh and captivating professionalism. My job is to entertain and be charismatic and occasionally be enigmatic to keep a certain level of interest. Nothing about that is easy, especially as an honest person.
Sometimes I don’t receive the role, the recognition, or the affirmation. Sometimes, I don’t succeed in performing live. Sometimes, I study and educate myself only to be turned down because of some technicality. Having to keep an even level of emotion and accept that there can only be one person chosen per “role” is definitely difficult.
And occasionally, there are people out there that create challenges within a project because of attitude and ego, and in the arts, one has to keep their minds open to improvisation and happy accidents. Yes, people make mistakes all the time, but acceptance and constructive criticism can make the project improve, and when you’re working with people who can’t handle that, it creates blocks and difficulties, and no one needs that when working on a project.
Sometimes, even accepting recognition by people closest to me is difficult because I’ll watch or listen to something I’ve done and know that I can still make it better after it’s already been completed. Knowing that I can never go back and improve something bothers me because I want perfection in myself.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I guess I kind of explained my biggest accomplishments in the “story” question from earlier. As a musician, I’m a singer/vocalist, a music teacher, lyricist/poet, drummer/percussionist, I can work my way through basic music programs and live stage setup, and I’m the lead singer for “Sol Sacrifice.” I teach online, locally, through Wyzant.com, and at Muse Academy of Music in Rancho Bernardo.
In film, I’m an actor, producer, scriptwriter, composer, director, stunt coordinator, casting director, and intermediate editor.
I started as a figure drawing model in 2014. I’ve modeled in many schools, colleges, and various private art studios including SDSU, USD, PLNU, SDAI in Balboa Park, Watts Atelier, and Palomar College.
I’m a voice-over actor and have acted on projects such as Sidekicks and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
I’m very proud of all the talents I’ve been able to hone in on. All the years of study and hard work have brought me to a level of being able to bring a lot to any table. There’s so many talented and wonderful people in our city, and some that have had more success and reached higher levels than I have, but I’m not sure there are any that have acquired so many skills as I have just listed.
What matters most to you?
The most obvious answer to the question of what matters most to me is family, and of course, it does. I have some friends that are as close as any family member would be. The San Diego community is very important to me, this city deserves to be taken care of. Creating relationships with people, I believe, should matter to everyone. And when you may need each other for whatever reasons, big or small, those bonds are what help cement success. Hard work matters to me. Earning affirmation, recognition, and positive reinforcement matters to me. My tenacity and drive to continue my pursuits matters to me. Talent matters to me; I’m not someone who looks at mediocrity and accepts minor efforts. A decent representation of oneself matters to me; I always make to be the best version of myself when I’m out and meeting others. A constant pursuit of education matters to me because you never know when you may need to refer to your knowledge. Work ethic is a huge one for me, too. I appreciate people who respect their time.
Pricing:
- Music Tutoring: Online $40/hr, My in-home studio $45/hr, Travel to your home starts at $50/hr and may increase depending on the miles. Please inquire for negotiable musical, film and modeling services.
Contact Info:
- Website: ishmaelameza.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ishmael_a_meza/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamishx
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishmael-meza-1981a9101/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ishmaelmeza
