Meet Carlos L. Cortez | Artistic director of Qiensave

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carlos L. Cortez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carlos, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
Every artist reaches a nexus In which one has to take steps in their professional career to prepare for growth. Having a growth mindset can be essential to prepare for success, as an independent artists. We had to cross the rubicon and decided to take steps for longevity by creating an LLC and treating the band as an entertainment business, to prepare for growth. This also provides financial benefits for our band and business as far as credit a bank account and other services. Even though we haven’t reached our max potential it’s good to start putting all our ducks in a row and all the birds in line to take the steps necessary to be prepared to grow. Since we’re independent we are self funded so this will help us all around. Working in the non-profit world has given me insight manuvering into a business. Art like business it’s using resources available and using or leveraging to make something new or bring life back to something old.

Conventional advice I disagree with:
Put your best foot forward, I think you should be your best self always. I don’t recommend over extending to look good, you’re create false sense of who m are yo really are. This can create challenges when you get into a crunch I say it’s best to be you best self and that way people notice those peaks in yr performance. You don’t have to max out ever time to grow.

Risk:
Coming from humble beginnings risk was always a game of survival so we had to risk in order to live. My family all had some type of small side business to survive the high corpse of living in California weather it was selling produce door to door in LA or working in the fields of Salinas there was always an element of risk. Learning from family and mentors I always new there was gonna be risks so go into things with that in mind and you may fail, so do research and keep cool.

Habits for success:
Use things to the fullest and take notes. Use things to the fullest, half of us don’t use our expensive phone to their full capacity, I know I never bothered and know many other that don’t but once you put to use some of the features on your devices it can be a game changer.
Notes, are key to keep tabs of your progress, success failures, ideas, everything. keep notes in a journal or in a device what ever works but notes Can really help I know this is common knowledge but we all human and learning.

Factor to success:
The members of Qiensave artists and staff. Our Community I say surround yourself with like minded individuals, create networks and helping one another creates bigger success. Sometime we have to create a full on community in order to gain success. Community within other businesses or community in people who have believe in your brand. Also having a vision and a mission and sticking to it is very helpful. As we grow when changes occur and you need to realign or have to find answers from y vision and mission should guidelines you to success.

Lessons business has taught me :
Don’t take thing personal, and stay open minded., and breath. Always find time to breath.

Work balance:
As I get older find myself being more strategic with my moving through time and also finding ways to bend time to enjoy life and breath An eternal second through meditation. I love what I do so I can do it 24/7 And it can be tough to stop when you love what you do but I now find balance and am learning to hit the pause button and enjoy when I can and just be. Sometime it feels a 42 hour a day job.

Idea:
Started as a band and is evolving into a business one step at a time. The idea has always been to create music and art that Moves you and tells the human experience. as it went from an individual artists idea to a band the idea or vision/mission was always the same.

Why did I choose and artistic or creative.
I followed my heart I always wanted to use my creativity in many ways. The more people told me it’s not possible the more I took it as a challenge, I’m a big fan of buckminster fuller he once set out to see what a an adult male can achieve with no job limited funds and education and lots of love/heart, passion and understanding he did this with science I’m decided I will do this with art. So far I’m still alive and moving through this challenge every day.. Buckley along with knowing that the artistic journey is long so we must be patient and knowing we have to keep working helped me make the leap. This society isn’t made with arts in mind as a resource artists are seen more as aesthetics and entertainment but if we learn to use the resource of art and support it use in a broader way we can change the narrative of arts and maybe even the world.

Im inspired by life endless possibilities and its humorous irony, we are all just playing in this plasma trying to align some of the pieces together hoping we can preserve the stories to help validate oneanothers experiences..

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.
¿Qiensave? (Quien-Sa-Be) is a dynamic Cumbia Urbana group hailing from Salinas, California, with deep-rooted ties to Michoacán, Mexico. Blending traditional cumbia rhythms with urban flair, ¿Qiensave? crafts infectious dance music that has graced audiences across California, Arizona, Mexico, and Colombia. The band’s journey began in 2009, and in recent years, they’ve gained significant momentum, marked by the release of their acclaimed album “Mujer” in 2019.

In 2020, ¿Qiensave? treated fans to two memorable singles. First up was their electrifying cover of Chico Che’s cult classic “Mata De Mota,” featuring a collaboration with Los Angeles-based Psychedelic Cumbia sensation Tropa Magica. Following this, they dropped a nostalgia-inducing quebradita, “El DUI,” produced by Eduardo Arenas of Chicano Batman.

2021 saw the release of “La Poderosa” on International Women’s Day, a song that celebrates the unwavering support of poderosa women throughout the band’s journey. Later in the same year, they unleashed “Para Poderte Olvidar,” a single that garnered rave reviews from over 20 outlets. Produced by Sam Pura of Panda Studios, this track recounts the story of someone desperately trying to move on from a past love.

The summer of 2022 brought the powerful release of “Quemayama,” originally penned by poet and musician Patricio Hidalgo. The song delves into themes of pain and healing, leaving a lasting impact. To cap off the season, ¿Qiensave? gifted their eagerly awaited EP “El After” to their devoted fanbase.

Currently, ¿Qiensave? is hard at work in the studio, crafting fresh material in anticipation of a late Fall 2023 release.

The heart and soul of ¿Qiensave? are its five talented members:
Carlos L Cortez (Rhythm Guitar/Vox)
Alejandro Gomez (Lead Guitar/Vox)
Mario Cortez (Guida/Keyboard/Vox)
Ricardo Cortez (Drums/Vox)
William Cortez (Bass)

Throughout their vibrant career, ¿Qiensave? has graced the stage alongside an impressive array of acts, including Grupo Kual, Ozomatli, La Misa Negra, Celso Piña, La Santa Cecilia, Las Cafeteras, Little Jesus, Fuerza de Tijuana, É. Arenas, Tropa Magica, El Dusty, La Ronda Bogotá, Bang Data, and numerous other outstanding bands

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d visit friends all over LA and with traffic it be most of my day, I like hanging out in downtown and North Hollywood area and south gate. As for food I can always grab a burger from tams burgers there’s nothing like an LA style burger. el zarape in noho is good and If I’m feeling fancy I may go to cascabel in north Hollywood. Can’t leave LA WITHOUT some zankhu chicken. There’s so much great food in LA I can write about.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost is like to thank great creator and the members of Qiensave? Artists and staff. I’d also like to shout out the growing community of people who continue to dance with Qiensave. This who supports our music and art Our parents, friends and family. Salinas, LA, the bay and all the Fresno and Santa annas in between. My mentors and people who’s ears I talk off through out the journey.

Website: Qiensavemusic.com

Instagram: @qiensave

Twitter: @Qiensave

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qiensaveband

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@qiensave

Other: https://linktr.ee/qiensave

Image Credits
Andrew Sandoval of One Drop Media / Sandoval Photography