We had the good fortune of connecting with Giancarlo Castillo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Giancarlo, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I strongly believe that the general concept of developing good quality, and daily habits are crucial in achieving any goal in life.

In relation to my career, Having a daily guitar practice routine, which can be as little as 15 min on a very busy day and up to 1 or 2 hours is really important. This habit keeps me engaged with my instrument and helps me challenge myself every day.

Exercising for me is another habit that has helped me throughout the years, as it really helps me clear my mind. During the past year, I have been focused on running, to be precise. Running anywhere from 15 min and up to an hour run does wonders for my overall mood and attitude, things that are directly connected to my creativity. Sometimes I wouldn’t feel up for a run (maybe is too cold or rainy) but I try to do it anyways. And I will do it because that mentality will then be exposed again when I have to perform after a 5-6 hour flight for example. So by running I’m not only training my body, but also my mind.

Not to sound too obvious, but eating well, has been an incredibly important one. As a vegan for over 7 years, I have to be really careful with the things I eat. I have to make sure that my body is getting the right amount of protein, fiber, etc, and having a good diet will keep my energy levels up. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with a busy touring week, for example.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Definitely, my roots (born and raised in Lima, Peu) and my exposure to different cultures (lived in Barcelona, NYC, Boston, and Los Angeles) are really embedded in what I do creatively.
I believe that coming all the way from Peru to the United States, and having had the opportunity to play in almost every state of the country, plus traveling to countries like Australia in order to perform for thousands of people, is something I do not take for granted, and am extremely thankful for. There was definitely a struggle before. Nobody saw me play at the NYC subway for tips, or just in the street. But those things humbled me and shaped who I am today. I believe that is all part of a bigger plan, and I’m excited about what’s next.

I’m mostly excited about being an inspiration for generations to come. I want the next kid grabbing a guitar in some small town in Lima to know that they can do this as well. That they can get endorsed by their favorite brands, and play venues they only saw on a video on Youtube. That’s really what keeps me going. It is not an easy path, but the best part about it is that you just get better. And you get better by persevering and not giving up. That’s it, that’s my bran’s message – to keep going.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Ok, so this would be the week-long itinerary:

Day 1 – Beach day -Matador Beach in Malibu. The sunset there is beautiful.
Day 2 – Downtown LA – Grand Central Market / The Last Bookstore and The LACMA museum.
Day 3 – Venice Beach/Venice Canals and Santa Monica Pier
Day 4 – Echo Park / Victorian Houses/Silverlake. Brunch at Millie’s and maybe walk around the area, there are so many nice shops and great coffee around here!
Day 5 – Melrose Arts District (WeHo) tour – NoHo Arts District tour – Hollywood hike on Runyon Canyon.
Day 6 – Studio City tour – Warner Bros Studios tour
Day 7- Universal Studios Tour.

I think that would cover the basics. For some of my favorite food, I will definitely take them to Pura Vita (Weho) The Butcher’s Daughter, El Cocinero (Van Nuys), Crossroads, H.O.P.E Organic Cafe, and Monty’s Burger.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people I would like to dedicate my shoutout to that is almost impossible to pick one. But if I had to pick only two, it would have to be my parents! They literally gave me the opportunity to move to the US and become a professional musician. Everything started with that single opportunity, so thank you so much!

Website: www.giancarlocastillo.com

Instagram: space9_music

Twitter: space9_music

Image Credits
Jay Wennington Edith Amaya Adam Rioux Taylor Brown Mike Kimchi

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