Meet Felix Aquije | Lyricist, composer, pianist

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

Hi Felix, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
I don’t think I have an end goal, but I definitely have short-term ones. First, I would like to release my first EP before July 2025. Then, I aim to form a band that is ready to play anywhere from the West Coast to the East Coast. Finally, from there, I will follow where life takes me.

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.
I am very proud of my work, even if it is small. These baby steps are important because they are my introduction to the world. I am also very proud of the systems and mindsets I have developed throughout my music journey. Learning to listen and being open have been crucial in my career, especially when interacting and playing with other musicians.

The most important lesson I have learned is that sometimes it’s not that our work is bad (although sometimes that’s the case), but that we need to give it some time and come back with fresh ears.

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 would definitely take them to two spots. On Monday, I would take them to Tiny Room Studios in Inglewood, where they host incredible jam sessions. The musicianship is outstanding.
On Tuesday, I would take them to Bar Lis in Hollywood. The house band is amazing and plays a setlist of classic American songs in jazz and R&B styles.

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?
There are so many people to thank for where I am now, but someone who was crucial in my career is my mother. She always encouraged me to follow my passions and dreams, and she never stopped supporting me, even when my dreams seemed unrealistic.

Secondly, my piano teacher, Amy Vinisko, played a significant role in my journey. In 2015, when I had just moved to the United States and Connecticut became my new home, she was the first music professional I met. She opened her doors to me, gave me free music classes, taught me the art of performing, and even found me my first music job as a church organ player. I will always be grateful for her support and guidance.

In the cultural sphere, I would like to thank two late Argentinian artists. First, the short story writer and thinker Julio Cortázar. His short story “El Perseguidor,” which I read at the age of eighteen, sparked my interest in the jazz genre, even before I had listened to any jazz music. His passion for jazz, expressed through his words, led me to discover artists like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis.

The second Argentinian artist is the singer and songwriter Gustavo Cerati. He was a South American legend who influenced many artists of my generation in the region, opening up the world to us every time he released a new work