Meet Gilde Flores | Music Composer/Producer

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

Hi Gilde, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
For me, a risk is the thin line that separates dreams and reality. I’ve taken any and every risk my entire career if the desired outcome lines up with my vision. It always starts with an understanding that fear and doubt will almost always try and either create a comfort zone, or try and derail any thoughts before it becomes an action. If it makes sense to take a risk that will push me into the first step into my path, then I will take it by all means. I learned this early on, through perspective. It was always the fear of “what if” that catered to the thought that I would fail by taking the risk. Eventually, I realized that it was shifting my perspective to visualizing the outcome of taking the risk in my favor, to open that door, and start the journey. So for me, taking calculated risks is a necessity in obtaining my ultimate goal.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Coming from a small Texas town, Hereford, I’ve always had this unique love for music from the early stages of life. From playing along to jingles on the radio/tv on my dad’s keyboard, to being in my room visualizing performing to oceans of people while strumming away on my “beginners guitar.” I always had this thing for entertaining the masses through music. This “unquenchable thirst” eventually led me to pursuing the nudge as a touring musician. In this, I learned a LOT about music, people, creativity, and overall life through different lenses and experiences. To note, I did get to meet and tour with the late Selena Quintanilla while playing with a band signed under her label. A cherished memory indeed.

Living from a suitcase and traveling for months at a time is a whole different lifestyle and almost feels unreal at times. It also wasn’t easy, as life goes on outside of this; which I recall being away and missing important events, the passing of relatives, relationships, which eventually led me to being caught up in a mental fog. This ultimately became a challenge in my life as I felt out of place and disconnected.

I eventually opened my palette to other lanes in music. I found myself as a chief sound engineer for a recording studio in Lubbock Texas (shout out to Don Caldwell), a music producer for artist, which transitioned me into a composer for visual media. I consider myself taught through experience, but also through passion; which I finally identified as that “unquenchable thirst” early on. I always stayed open to what life offered as a means for growth. While attending Texas Tech University (in yet another of my pursuits in life, counseling), I would often sneak into the symphonic band halls and study their rehearsals while taking notes on my iPad. I would pay special attention to the communication between the players and the conductor. Aside from this, I also read and watched videos on orchestration, learned to identify the voicing of instruments, articulations, etc and till this day I carve out time for “learning and improvements.”

All this to say that music, and all of the many lenses I’ve experienced it through, has given me intangible gifts and created a passion in me that I am living out every day in my career as a professional. If there were any take away from sharing a glimpse of my story, I would encourage one to push, pull, whatever it takes to fulfill that passion within regardless of the narrative. I believe we are all given something “inside” that can be identified as a passion which will never dissolve regardless of how deep it’s pushed away. It’s when we take the pursuit to fulfill that passion that we find the true purpose of who we are and what we are meant to be/do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Being that I have become a recluse in the process of my career, that is a tough one. In all seriousness, here is an itinerary off the top I would share with them for the FOOD, places, Experience overall.

Day 1:

Visit Hollywood and see the Walk of Fame, the TCL Chinese Theatre, and the Hollywood Sign
Grab lunch at a Fat Burger. Walk around the hot spots in the area, etc. Later, have dinner at MA’s Italian Kitchen in Burbank, especially for the Butterscotch Budino experience, then visit the Griffith Observatory for a great view of the city.

Day 2:

Visit the Getty Center and see the art collections and gardens, Have lunch at the museum’s restaurant, the Getty Center Cafe. Next Spend the afternoon at Venice Beach, checking out the boardwalk and street performers followed by having dinner at Gjelina, as I love this restaurants vibe and food!

Day 3:

Visit the Griffith Park and the Griffith Park Zoo, have lunch at the Tam O’Shanter, Visit the Walt Disney Concert Hall, then Have dinner at Bestia, another Italian spot in the Arts District.

Day 4:

Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art, have lunch at Umami Burger for a dash of Togarashi fries, visit The Grove shopping center, and then have dinner at the Tasting Kitchen; a superb seafood spot.

Day 5:

Visit the Universal Studios, have lunch there at Universal City Walk, possibly at Buca di Beppo, visit the Hollywood Bowl and check out a concert or show, have dinner at Spago.

Day 6:

Visit the California Science Center and see the Space Shuttle Endeavour, have lunch at the Endeavour Cafe, visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and have dinner at Mozza (you can see my love of Italian cuisine by now).

Day 7:

Visit the Santa Monica Pier and beach, have lunch at The Lobster, on the pier, spend the afternoon s in Beverly Hills, shop and chill, and Have dinner at The Little Door in West Hollywood.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely. My shoutout for what and where my career has lead me to today is actually two individuals that shaped my path, and both by taking the risk to jump in their radar.

George “FM” Mathews, and Timbaland. Both of these amazing humans gave me the opportunity in their own spaces which has lead me to where I am today.

Early 2012, George opened the door for me into the “visual media” side of music. He was a music publisher that helped usher my work into television, which eventually lead to all visual and interactive mediums that I work today,

Back in 2015, Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley and I connected which resulted in me aligning with his team and eventually becoming a part of. His time and words helped shaped my perspective in music which sharpened and evolved into where I am today.

It’s the generosity that these two amazing individuals gave from their busy schedules that opened up doors through their advice, wisdom, and opportunities, that truly catapulted my career. And for that, I am genuinely grateful and honored to shoutout their support, mentorship, and encouragement I needed in my career/life.

Website: https://linktr.ee/gilflo

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gilfloproductions?igshid=YWJhMjlhZTc=

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gildeflores

Twitter: @gildeflores

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@gilfloproductions

  
Self, and Amira M (studio pictures)