My friends in Chicago have an awesome hip hop group called “1773″. They’ve been hitting the scene for quite sometime, as well as making some noise over seas. They’ve been popping out Mix tapes like crazy lately…One track in particular off their Vol 1 Mixed signals is special to me because the fellas sampled bits of my song “Chicago” on it. The track “Chicago” can be found on my bands latest record “anthems for a broken world“. It was exciting for me to hear and see how they’ve creatively cut and pieced this song together with their so creative genius touch. Listen to the track and let me know what you think. Also, make sure you visit 1773 and download some of their great music. Keep your radar on this guys…Great things in the making. Listen to “Chicagoan” below. Enjoy.

Chicagoan (feat. Visual, Elevation, Free Will, Love Jones) 1

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I am proud to say that I am a Latino, born and raised in Chicago. I realize that times have changed and the Latino voice is being heard and listened to more closely then ever. Though we are becoming a majority in this amazing country, I realize many  still refer to us as minorities. I realize I may still have to work harder then anyone else to prove myself. I realize that I come from parents that were not natives in this land, but are from Mexico. I know almost all the stereotypes attached to being a Latino.  I still eat rice and beans and tortillas. No matter how  long I’ve spoken the English language, I still have a noticeable accent. My birth name is Jesus Santoyo, my nickname “fuser.” The part that out weighs any difference is that I, like every other human being on this earth,  am a child of God. Designed and wired for a specific purpose while here on earth.

I am working on becoming the best husband, father, son and friend. I am working on becoming the best Latino song writer and performing artist I can be. I am working on becoming the best well crafted Latino actor and screenwriter I can be. I am working on becoming the first Latino author in my family. I am working on making a difference in this world through all my creative endeavors. I am working on giving all the glory, honor and praise to God, the one who made me as I am. I am a proud Latino with a dream, a dream my father probably could not see for himself , yet still  had enough faith and a  courage to pursue  for me…

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Me, Reina and Alex are featured on the main page of the BNA talent group representing Latinos in TV and Film here in Nashvillle!

We grew up in the traditional Mexican home. Had the traditional meals and customs. We spoke only Spanish at home. My parents wanted us to learn our native language, because we would eventually learn English in School.  Because I was a latino I always felt that we had to work harder to get good jobs. We had to work harder to be recognized. We had to go above and beyond to succeed in the United States. This was just the way it was. We were different.  I grew up with the mentality that it was all about having a good paying job, owning a house, a car, having a wife and many kids in order to be viewed as a successful Latino in America. Had I shared the dreams I am pursuing now, I am not sure of the response my parents would have given me.

I grew up in a part of town where having big dreams just wasn’t possible. We had to dig for inspiration. It wasn’t something we were surrounded by or could find in the streets or even in our homes at times. If I landed a job at a factory then I was a man, because I could now hold my own. I started working when I was about 13yrs old. I had a job of passing out flyers for a Chinese restaurant in town. We would walk from block to block passing them out. After about 5 hrs we’d make about $25.00.  My sophomore year in high school I landed a job working as a bank teller. It was quite the experience.  I would be in school till about 3pm then work at the bank till about 730. I got made fun of alot by my friends because I wore ties to school. I wore them not because I was trying to be stylish but because I was ready for work. Everything was about having a job. It carried some kind of credential of respect, especially at that age. I loved music and I loved film and acting, but I couldn’t tell my family it was my dream…I was a Latino from Pilsen and the odds were already against me.

to be continued...

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Click right HERE and listen “Home“

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So one of the reasons for being here in Nashville was to work on becoming a better song writer. I’ve never been musically trained. Nor do I have the best formula to write songs. I learned in the hood. From 18th place and Damen in Pilsen to the Southside of Chicago. I wrote down my thoughts, my everyday experiences. I listened and continue to listen to many artists, bands and composers. My greatest musical hero is Ruben Blades. He’s a story teller and puts music to his words. He is brilliant in how he communicates thru the art of music.

I grew up listening to Depeche Mode, U2, the Doors, and many latin artists. One day I decided I’d give it a shot and I would write a song. Whether it was a good song or not, I wrote what I called my first song. I picked up and old guitar figured out how to play it and bam!! There was no stopping me after that. Since then I’ve been writing. Trying to get better, trying to learn better ways to communicate what’s going on in head in beating fast in my heart. I don’t know too many songwriters here in Nashville yet, but I am hoping to eventually collaborate with some artists and hope they will invite me into their world of song writing. I have lots to learn so I have my pencil and notebook ready to write and begin.

HERE is some of the stuff I’ve written. Take a look around, listen and let me know what you think. I’ve got tons and tons of ideas and songs ready to be crafted and produced.  Any song writers out there wanna hang and write? Hit me up on facebook or follow me on twitter and drop me a line.

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As a songwriter, if you can touch people and make them feel a little less alone in the world, then you’ve done your job.
Tom Cochrane

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After being in the hospital with Reina as they removed Zion from her body, I realized how much more amazing she is day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. It was scary seeing all these Dr’s operate on her. As I wiped her tears in that room, I felt so weak inside but did everything possible to be strong for her in the outside. Then within minutes there was a sound in the room that took all worries away. Zion’s firsts words in this world. It was amazing. He is God’s gift for us!!!  Having 2 children requires double the attention and work, but it made me realize there is so much room for us to grow as a couple, as companions and lovers.  New adventures, new words, new gestures, new jokes and dreams. There is so much more…Love my Reina more and more…

Performing in Asia was really cool. I felt like the saturn project was making moves so loud the whole earth can hear our anthems. It was cool walking out of that auditorium  to screaming fans who embraced our songs and our mission. It had it’s weirdness of course, flashing cameras and autograph signing everywhere, but it let us know we are up to something good on it’s way to being great. Arriving here to the US, we didn’t have screaming fans at the airport, nor billboards displaying “The Saturn Project Rocks!” Just proves there is so much more room to grow as an artist and a band. So much more to achieve, so much more to do and share the anthems for a broken world story. We are eternally grateful to those who have and continue to believe in our sound and what we do…the best is yet to come…

As the creative arts and worship pastor for life pointe I have a team of leaders, artists, directors and producers that I lead. There is always that challenge to be the best possible leader I can do. From time to time I drop the ball and maybe don’t lead as I am meant to lead. Just proves there is so much more room for me to grow. It is a blessing to be able to fly out from time to time with the Saturn Project to share  our talents with the world. From Cambodia to the Philippines, Europe to South America and the US. None of that is possible without the amazing  staff and teams I have the privilege of working with at LPC.  When you are encouraged to dream and follow those dreams by the people you work and experience life with, it really encourages me to be a better leader, artist and “pastor”. There is plenty of room for that…

Me and my crew live in Homestead Fl, many of my family and friends live in Chicago. I don’t have the luxury of driving over to my Mom’s for Dinner, nor hanging at the pool with my brothers and bust each others chops. I can’t drive over to see a show in wicker park with my fellow chi-town artists. Just shows me there is more room for me to grow as a friend, brother and son. I am challenged to constantly reach out and say “what up?”, or constantly post pictures and videos of my crew so my family in Chi-town can see them. Out of sight, out of my mind shouldn’t exist for me. But rather push myself to be available to all my distant peeps.

We are all constantly growing, learning, dreaming and living. The day we stop that process, the things that wage war against growth, lessons, dreams and living will begin to eat away at our bones and quickly lead us to our death bed.I wanna constantly live and grow. As my  1773 friends in chi town would say, “Constant Motion”.

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“i should write a book”…Who would read it?