Today we’d like to introduce you to Erick Casanova.
Hi Erick , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I moved out when I was 18. I had never sung before that. But somewhere deep down, I had a pull toward the blues even if I didn’t fully understand why. (Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf,Richard Johnson, Skip James)
The most meaningful time in my life was when I was growing up with my grandparents. For a time I used to visit him in a small town called Veta, Colorado ( small town of about 800 people ) I’ve always considered them my real parents. Mornings started with the Rolling Stones, and by the time dinner rolled around, we were listening to the Beatles. Music was always there I just didn’t know it would become something I’d follow. One day when I was 12 I was going up the mountain and I saw a bald eagle and ever since that animal became my favorite because of what it represents.
At the time, I didn’t think of myself as someone who’d ever sing. I was in college, living on my own, juggling two jobs; waiting tables and selling food on the street to get by.
Then one night changed everything.
My best friend and I went out to a bar. We met a couple, and later that night, they got into a fight. The guy asked if we could help him find his girlfriend. We agreed. It seemed like the right thing to do.
But things took a turn. The cops stopped us without cause. They beat us, took our money, our phones, and locked us up. Meanwhile, his girlfriend was alone in a city she didn’t know.
When we finally got out, my jobs were gone I’d been replaced. Then Covid hit. I had no phone, no ID, no money. I ended up on the street. For a while, that’s just where I stayed.
That part of my life taught me a lot about resilience and about what really matters.
In the middle of that struggle, I met Steven Michael. He owned a little shop in Tijuana called El Gato Negro. One day he saw me and said, “You look too smart to be out here.” He offered me a place to sleep in the shop if I helped him clean it up.
That act of kindness changed everything.
It took years to get basic things like my ID and cards back, but Steven stuck around. He gave me something to hold onto during the hardest stretch of my life.
Eventually, I started renting again. I was just starting to feel like I was getting my life back. Then I got a call a few days before my birthday letting me know Steven had taken his life. That news hit hard.
The last show he ever saw was one I played with a band I was in at the time Stone Avenue.
I never imagined I’d get the chance to sing in front of big crowds let alone open for bands I grew up hearing around the house like Molotov, Enanitos Verdes, and Maldita Vecindad. That part still doesn’t feel real sometimes.
Now I’m on my own as a solo artist. It’s not where I thought I’d be, but maybe that’s the point. The road teaches you things you can’t learn any other way.
And somewhere along that road… I found my voice
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wear rings for every person that has passed away that supported me, (8)
It has not been a smooth road and life is very hard. I’ve had weeks where I was short on food or I had no places to sleep, back then I learned I was prideful and very unappreciative. The life has a way of showing things and it’s not always very nice. I recently lost a stepsister and I’ve been trying to get back up because the only thing that helps most times is music.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work with AI integrations I’m a vocalist. I most definitely proud of being able to play in stadiums or big shows even though I’m in Mexico I sing in English and it’s not very common for English speaking bands to play locally.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Right now for the first time in my life I am trying to do something solo. My current solo artist name is Casanova. My literal name is actually Erick Casanova and it is going to be something a lot more tailored to my taste and genre, but it is strange to not have a band that would back me up, and I kinda would feel secure with. Now it’s doing it on my own and make sure that my vision gets represented in the best way possible
Contact Info:
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/MrxysWFISH0
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/XgLEkgqOYBw0bu5x2v
