Today we’d like to introduce you to Elis Sanchez.
Elis, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The switch from consumer of music to a creator of music started when I was around 11 or 12 years old. Guitar Hero was my favorite game and really made me appreciate music in a different light. After finally pestering my parents enough, they allowed me to get an actual guitar. I took lessons for a few weeks but really didn’t vibe with it the way I had hoped for, so I just taught myself. That mid to late 2000s screamo era made a lasting impression on me and before I knew it, I got myself into a metalcore band in high school. We played all throughout our high school career and got a following in the city. But as college came, our schedules and lifestyles really wouldn’t allow us to schedule band practices or book shows. So the band dissolved soon after.
Up until that point in time, the only “producing” I had done was little electronic dance intros for live shows on GarageBand. Around late-2015, early-2016, I started getting actually producing beats. I really didn’t have an end goal. I was just producing for fun. I showed a couple of my friends a few beats, and they were like, “We HAVE to make a tape with this.” We were only able to afford an hour of session time, mixing not included. So I was left with the task of mixing the whole tape myself. It was leveled, but it wasn’t loud one bit. That really kickstarted the engineering side of my life. Fast forward a few years later and this is where we end up. I’ve consistently been making music ever since and evolving my sound bit by bit. It’s a long process, but I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been pretty alright, I’ve been pretty blessed to have had a good life so far. I don’t think I have any glaring complaints about the road I’m on currently. All roads have potholes, you just gotta learn how to deal with them. But the “biggest” struggle I’ve experienced this far is honestly just saving up money to be able to buy the gear that I’ve been wanting. Self-producing and engineering my own tracks is great fun and saves me the need to pull up at a studio. But it was definitely a long haul to get it situated to where it is today. I swear that music is one microtransaction after microtransaction. It’s no biggie though. Being able to take something from an idea all the way to bouncing a mastered copy is an extremely satisfying process.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
So I’m RITO 3K, self-proclaimed popstar extraordinaire. Just kidding. I do a little bit of everything, I guess, a jack of all trades. I’m primarily an artist/producer. I’ll produce the beat, mix it, bounce it out, then record vocals on it. I’ll mix and master it myself too. I’m pretty proud of what I can achieve on my own now. But not only that, I’ll be designing the artwork myself and promoting the song, all while getting another song ready for release. It’s a whole lot to juggle, but it keeps me busy. It also allows me to have full creative control over whatever it is I’m doing. If I want a track to sound a certain way, I can do that. If I want the cover art to have a certain direction, you can bet that the GPS is pointing the right way.
If I’m not doing music, then I’m doing a few other passions of mine, like fashion and skating. I LOVE being able to express myself not just sonically, but also visually. I wouldn’t say my fashion and music tastes are intertwined, but what I wear and what I create are definitely on brand. I’ve been skating ever since I was little and it’s continued to be something I love to do.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
One of the absolute biggest influences that has pushed me to continue making music is my best friend for life, Astronomikal. We met by coincidence too, but honestly, it was probably fate. I switched one of my classes to another timeslot midclass. I went to the new class the same day, and we happened to sit a chair apart from each other in a lecture hall of 250 students. He produced too and we quickly became inseparable. His level of producing really shaped my sound early on and I honestly wouldn’t be where I am today without him.
Another big influence is my cousin and frequent collaborator, XEAL, formally known as Fyeoken. Back in the Guitar Hero days, our band name in the game was called Doomlords. Now we use that same name as a duo making music together. We’ll produce the beats and co-write the songs. It’s hella rad.
Pricing:
- Beats – $35
- Graphic Design – $40 base
Contact Info:
- Phone: 5105088352
- Email: rito3k@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rito3k/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rito510/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RITO3K
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/3000visuals/?hl=en
Image Credit:
Sydney Gibson
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