NEW
DEMOS

MUSICAL BIO

     The first language I could read on paper was not Spanish, nor English... it was musical notation. For nearly a decade and a half, I have been playing on the 88-toothed smile of the piano. Performing classical pieces for 14 years under Natalia Kiralova brought me joy and an outlet for stress, but it was not until high school where I truly began defining my current perception of music.

High school

     Under high school band instructors, Sarah Bost and Elliot Weeks, I expanded my repertoire from classical to jazz. Apart from the relationships I formed with them and peers, improvisation was by far the most valuable asset I gained in the Seattle Prep Jazz Band. In 2021, I learned "Dear Theodosia" from Hamilton by ear and began improvising over it. After a few sessions, I'd created my first song, an instrumental parody now published as "Daydreams." Now I was not restricted to merely telling stories others had written. I discovered that I could create and tell my own stories and express my own feelings beyond the limits of the sheet music.

     In sophomore year of high school, I fell in love with composition in the classical style I had been learning for over a decade. Spending up to two hours a day improvising for the majority of my sophomore and juinor years of high school culminated in the 4 classical ballades I released in October 2023, "Soto Parra Ballades," significantly inspired by Frederic Chopin's ballades which I performed privately and publicly, internationally. At the same time, I began exploring Bossa Nova and Synthwave, leading me to release an 80s-style remix of Lena Raine's "Infinite Amethyst," amassing 30,000+ streams on social media platforms. I began producing with FL Studio in early 2024 and released an album of 13 demos by december, "XXIV." 

College

     For years, I believed instrumental music was superior to music with lyrics because words limited expression, but after becoming enthralled with Luis Miguel's 80s Latin Pop ballads, I realized that my favorite type of music is the one that brings the most people together, motivates one the most, heals the most, and so on. Realizing lyrics act as conduits rather than limitations within music led me to begin songwriting in the summer before college and begin vocal training at Brown University under the focused, expert direction of Boston-based vocalist Tyler Cesario in October 2024. In a matter of  months, I was accepted into the Brown University Applied Music Program for Voice, directed by Fred Jodry, allowing me to take part masterclasses and performances. Beyond vocals, I also picked up the guitar and began composing for an album, focusing on a lead single yet to be named.

       At Brown, I was also fortunate enough to meet Julian Dahiya, a fellow classmate who shared a profound vision in music creation. After collaborating on a project in a music theory course, we decided to continue creating music together, spending hours in the piano practice rooms and in the dorm stairwells with our guitars. Though I decided to work on music independently at least for the near future to balance medical responsibilities more easily, I find extreme value in music collaboration especially with friends and musicians like Julian.

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MUSIC'S TRANSCENDANCE

     I believe music was created to be shared. Whether it's playing in recitals, performances with the Seattle Prep Jazz Band, at Sacred Heart School Parish, in concerts at Kline Galland elderly home, or at any public place in the world, I have seen firsthand the power of music and how it can connect one with experiences and people, even loved ones who have passed away. I am fascinated with the fact that each note that is played can be interwoven into a story that has real life meaning and impact, and all that positive power is at the tip of one's fingers. ​​​​​​

     Among many, the most meaningful musical experience I have been part of has been creating a music club at my high school and playing for elderly residents and memory care patients at Kline Galland Home. Initially, I explored musical service on my own. Playing for the residents was overwhelming in the sense that I did not know how to interact with the community and underwhelming in the sense that the my performances were concluded with only a few, weak claps. But after coming back each Friday, I began to understand that the residents' appearance may not been what I thought. At one point, Mr. Dick even asked to play the drums with me, and we did! We ended up improvising Bossa Nova for the audience. Eventually, I performed with members of the music club I founded at Seattle Prep, and our musical/personal growth became a source of joy for all of us, inspiring us to return to our new friends weekly. It was at this moment where I realized that another component of music's transcendance is its ability to break down barriers between even the most unlikely of connections.

     I've also been able to share my music elsewhere, which you can find below.