Face of The Week: Ezra Faello, a talented Mexican artist

Ezra Faello, a talented Mexican artist born on January 19, 1995, is making waves in the music industry as a producer, singer, songwriter, and winemaker. With his unique blend of Dark Pop, R&B/Hip-Hop, and conceptual sound, Ezra’s music stands out as a testament to his creativity and passion. However, his journey to musical success has not been without challenges, as he has triumphed over a medical stuttering condition to find his voice in the world of music.

At the age of 17, Ezra Faello discovered his talent for songwriting, which soon led him to explore music production. In 2013, he began producing his own songs independently, showcasing his resilience and determination. His music captures a dark and introspective essence, combined with elements of various genres, resulting in a truly unique sound that resonates with listeners.

What sets Ezra Faello apart is not only his musical talent but also his connection to the world of winemaking. He describes his music as “liquid” and his wine as “auditive,” highlighting the parallel between the two creative processes. This dynamic allows him to explore a harmonious balance between his two passions, creating a seamless fusion of sensory experiences.

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, known as the land of tequila and mariachi, Ezra Faello’s cultural roots have influenced his artistic expression. Raised in Cabo, Baja California, he experienced a diverse upbringing that shaped his artistic identity. His exposure to a bilingual education system during his high school years, with classes taught in both English and Spanish by teachers from the United States and Australia, played a significant role in shaping his bilingual songwriting abilities.

During his time in high school, Ezra’s love for music began to flourish. In his Literature class, he discovered a platform for creative expression through daily writing assignments. In just ten minutes of “journal time,” he found himself crafting his first songs, honing his skills in both English and Spanish. This formative experience allowed him to develop a sincere and transparent musical style that reflects his true self.

Ezra Faello’s bilingual approach to music is not about imitation but rather an authentic representation of his identity. His songs seamlessly transition between English and Spanish, allowing him to connect with a diverse audience and share his experiences in a genuine and relatable way. Through his music, he invites listeners into his world, fostering a sense of connection and understanding.

As Ezra continues to make waves in the music industry, his ability to blend music and winemaking sets him apart as a true creative force. His passion for both art forms allows him to create a sensory experience that transcends traditional boundaries, captivating audiences with his unique vision.

Ezra Faello is a rising star whose music resonates with authenticity, creativity, and a deep sense of self. With his Dark Pop, R&B/Hip-Hop, and conceptual sound, he is making his mark in the industry and captivating audiences around the world. As he continues to explore the realms of music and winemaking, we can expect even more groundbreaking and innovative work from this talented artist.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do?

I’m a singer-songwriter, producer, composer, and winemaker. I basically make liquid music and auditive wine. I love the balance and harmony that my two projects have.

I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco the land of tequila and mariachi and I was raise in Cabo, Baja California. All my High School years I was in a bilingual system so half of my classes were fully in English with American and Australian teachers, we are talking Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Art, etc. one of my favorite classes was Literature and the first 10 minutes we did this “journal time” and I remember writing my first songs on those 10 minutes every single day. I learned how to write essays and poetry in English as daily assignments, so I think that’s why my music always have had that bilingual factor, not as a mimic but as a very honest and transparent way to really know me.

What inspired you to pursue your music career and wine business?

I’m a stutter so communicating efficiently, for me, has always been an important topic and it’s crazy that when I sing, when I’m talking on stage or when I’m on TV doing interviews, I don’t stutter at all, for me it’s almost magical how I’m the most fluent when I’m doing what I love. And in situations when the average person will get nervous, I don’t get nervous at all. For me it’s almost a sign of God telling me: “hey to this!”

Also, when I’m doing wine tastings with my brand, Faello Wines, I’m super fluent to the point that even people won’t believe that I stutter like crazy when I talk to my friends or family, I mean I even stutter when I’m talking to my dog Enzo.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your music career & business and how did you overcome it?

Wine wise, it’s dealing with all the bureaucracy that having a product like this requires, a ton of paperwork, lawyers, permits etc. I overcame it by learning that I can’t know everything and that there’s no need to stress out with things that are not in my hands.

And music wise… oh lord, there’s a constant challenge spree but the biggest one it must be dealing with some heartless people in this industry that will step on you the minute you blink, thank God I produce & write all my own music and of course that I owned all my masters.

And the main reason I can overcome it its by surrounding myself with amazing, kind, and talented people such as Daniel Noral and Artero from Mosaico, for real. More than my team they are my family, and that helps a lot.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

Genuinely by reading the lovely DMs and comments from my fans, like, I love my music of course, but when other people love it too it’s very satisfying and humbling. There’re some stories of fans telling me that my music saved their lives when they were having a rough time, stories of my music being a safe space for them, even one client of Faello Wines tattooed my label on her skin because of the meaning of my label. It’s just so beautiful that what I love to do its touching people in that way. I’m forever grateful.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career/business journey so far?

Don’t ever expect to be treat it the way you treat others. I always move with kindness and unilateral love (my therapist hates that last part), so when I expect to be always treated the same way and I’m not… damn… that used to really wreck me. So, I learned not to care about the outcome, just care about the love in my input.

It’s better to not expect anything while you always treat people with love and kindness, cause trust me they will always remember you for that. 

How do you define success?

A peaceful and healthy relationship between money, my ego, and witnessing how my dreams become achievements.

I’m not looking to be a multi-millionaire and I’m not power hungry; I just want to do what I love and have enough in my pockets to go to bed happy and in peace without worrying about my basic needs.

What is your biggest dream, and how are you working towards achieving it?

I have two, I would love to perform on a stadium or big theater with thousands of people just vibing with me. Currently I’m working on growing my fan base and making awesome music. It’s awesome and kind of sad at the same time that currently on Apple Music my audience is bigger in the US and France than in my own country.

And the second one, is having my wine on a ton of more places. Going to the supermarket in another country and seeing my wine on a shelf and people engaging with the brand, that must be a very gratifying feeling. Right now, I’m in a couple of restaurants/bars including the Madison on Park in University Heights in San Diego, and also in a couple of restaurants and boutique stores in Mexico but I want to increase the reach of my brand.

How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?

That’s an amazing question cause a lot of people may thing that everything is about work, hustle and always working but no. For me it’s very important to have my “me” time, a healthy relationship with my work and respectful schedules for things, if there’s a meeting at 1 pm I’m going to be full focus on that, but if I have my 1-hour gym training you can count on me not answering my phone at all.

It’s a balance between my responsibilities as a business owner, and my necessities as a human being.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?

Try to perfectionate your art or demos by yourself before going to a music studio, try to educate yourself with YouTube videos at least, about such topics as production and technical terms. I always go the music studio with a full model of my song, full beats, full instrumentation, full lyrics, full arrangements, full demo. And of course, with my co-producers I have some aperture for new ideas, maybe perfectionate the beat, the instrumentation, etc in depends on the song.

Of course, also it depends on the music studio and the people you are working with, but in my case with that way I make it so much easier for my team to nurture my original idea, cause at the end of the day if I don’t properly project my concept on a song, I won’t release it.

Also, be honest and truthful with yourself, if you just want to be a singer, that’s completely fine, but then you must trust your producer. I have seen a ton of this examples and that’s why I rather be my main producer, songwriter, and performer.

What is something that people often misunderstand about your work?

For example, what I mentioned before, some people think I use Spanglish in my music as a mimic, as being fake or as a marketing tactic, when in reality that’s exactly who I am. And even in the beginning of my career some producers advised me to not include English in my lyrics… when in reality I have friends and fans all around the world that at least can understand the English parts of my music. It annoys me that I have to explain my art when in it comes to that topic.

I don’t want barriers in my art because I don’t live with those barriers. If I want to make music with my Belgic producer friend, I can. And of course, the communication would be between English and my A2 French. If I want to do an interview with my awesome friends from Dizzy Diddy of course I can, my English won’t be perfect but it’s not a barrier.

What is something that you’re passionate about outside of your work/business?

I love painting, there’s something so personal and intimate with that. I’m not a professional and I’m not planning to sell it or anything, I just love to put some Lana del Rey on vinyl and paint whatever I want to paint. It feels therapeutic.

What is something you wish you knew when you were just starting out in your music career?

That more than a romantic dream is a full-on business industry. Which is completely fine, but I was so naïve to understand that before. There’s no fairy godmother with a magical wand that will make you famous, nor a talent hunter that will bet in you project magically because “they believe in your talent”. And that has helped me a lot to understand which tools I currently have, and which subjects I need to polish more, so maybe in the future if I need a record label to invest in my project, I can knock that door with an already stablished fan base, sound an image completely curated by me, the artist.

How do you deal with failure or setbacks?

As an independent artist, failure and setbacks are constant and of course are huge feelings that have made me feel very sad at moments, but now I understand it’s part of what I do, and what I signed for. It’s not something personal to me anymore when record labels won’t promote your music even when they promised to on a contract. To me that’s not failure, that’s a breach of contract. It’s not something personal to me when a fellow musician wants to make me feel less because of my stream numbers, to me that’s not failure, that’s someone with insecurities that everybody in my city knows buys their streams.

“Failure” in my industry is such a tricky term, because you would think that it can be showed in your stream numbers, but I have seen millions of streams on a song but just 10 people showing to that artist’s show. I have seen a sold-out 300 people venue in your first show with just a few monthly listeners. I have seen artists with an amazing engagement with fans on social media and not even a thousand streams on a song. I have seen artists lie about the most horrendous things in order to get a million views on a TikTok.

What I want to say is that people in this industry have a very different meaning of “failure”, but my personal one goes hand to hand with my values, and morals. I rather be a “failure” of an artist than a “liar” or “failure” of a human being.

What is one thing that you have accomplished that you’re most proud of?

My wine brand, working hand to hand with my business partner and created something so amazing and full of liquid love is something that always makes me so incredibly proud.

How do you stay innovative and adapt to changing circumstances in your music field?

I’m always studying and learning by watching documentaries, reading books, articles, essays, etc. I think that’s what makes my music and art so meaningful for me and my fans, because it goes beyond “what’s happening to me” or “who am I in love with now”, since my music is very conceptual, I’m always growing my musical universe by growing myself.

Finding inspiration in non-conventional places is what makes my music what it is. I could transform my love for fashion, architecture, literature, cinematography into a song. That goes beyond what’s trendy in the music industry, is more of a what was happening culturally when I wrote, produced, and recorded such song.

I can listen to a song and think “oh I remember I was in love with Hemann Hesse’s ‘Steppenwolf’ at that moment” and that sends me to a beach in Valencia when I was in love and thought the world was mine and how I was so angry with the main character of the book. That sort of undirecting stuff.

Finally, can you share something about your next projects?

Wine wise, we will be releasing our first Nebbiolo, which I’m super excited because it’s my favorite grape variety. And the grape that made me fall in love with wine.

And music wise, I just released my conceptual EP “Proyecto: Energyyy” which I love so much. Please keep streaming it. And currently I’m getting ready for my next single that is very very sensual, Dark Pop, Hip/Hop, and at the end it has this cathartic climax that I’m obsessed with, it’s my favorite song I’ve done so far. It’s technically finished since the end of last year and I can’t wait for all of you to listen and vibe with it. And you know me, of course it’s going to be part of its own new full universe such as my debut album “JUNGLE, ULTRA”.

ABOUT DIZZYDIDDY+PLUS FACES:

“Celebrating Impactful Achievements Across Various Fields”

DIZZYDIDDY+PLUS has launched a new initiative called “Face of the Week,” which aims to showcase the achievements of men and women who are making an impact in various fields, including entrepreneurship, entertainment, education, communication, and more. Each week of the year, from January to December, a new face will be introduced to the public through DIZZYDIDDY+PLUS’s platform.

Many of these faces of the week will also be honored at the Crownys, which are the DIZZYDIDDY+PLUS Awards and where all the faces and people who worked or partnered with DIZZYDIDDY+PLUS will be celebrated. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to give recognition and exposure to individuals who are making a positive difference in their respective fields.

The initiative will culminate with the release of a printed magazine in December for the Face Of The Year.

By highlighting the achievements of these individuals, DIZZYDIDDY+PLUS hopes to inspire and encourage others to pursue their passions and make a positive impact in the world.