Meet Oscar Jesus Bugarin | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Oscar Jesus Bugarin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Oscar Jesus, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born at the Kaiser on Sunset Blvd. so I’m an Los Angelino, born from California Natives and Mexican immigrants. Both sides of my family are musically and artistically inclined. My father, the Bugarin side (Boo-gah-deen), has self taught musicians and my mothers side, Sanchez, is rich with creatives and musicians. I had my first guitar around 6 or 7 years old, and started playing in church around 11. All my life I’ve been focused on music and trying to be like my heroes in the music scene, but I didn’t know where I’d fit in as a Mexican kid who loved the blues. So as young kid playing in church half of my friend group were adults sharing music that was much older than me, so during the early 2000’s I was listening to everything from early blues to 70’s classic rock. So I feel like that’s a big part of why I make music that is very much made up of styles that are few generations before 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 started playing guitar and making music when I was around 6 or 7 years old, I begged my dad for little orange guitar I saw a man selling on the boarder as we were crossing back to the US from a family reunion down in Mexico. He showed me my first two licks, “La Bamba” and “Changes” by Band Of Gypsys. That pretty much set the tone for what I was going to be as a guitarist/musician. I remember falling in love with the 50’s and wanting to be Elvis, I looked up to Buddy Guy and of course the original Chicano rocker, Ritchie Valens (a.k.a. Valenzuela). From there I followed the lineage of Rock’n’Roll which also lead me to the Blues. When other kids were listening to Blink 182, Limp Bizkit, Creed, and turn of the century Rock and Pop – I was learning about B.B. King, The Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix – to say the least. So it’s no wonder the music that I have released so far is very much reminiscent of those artist of the golden era of music and the art of recording. My first professional album, with songs that I wrote, were recorded, mixed, and mastered fully analog and released on vinyl through an independent label called “Hi-Res Records”. That means no auto-tune, clipping takes together, no computers editing the audio – just people playing instruments, myself and others performing into microphones. I loved being in those sessions, singing and playing into those mics-I felt like I was in the Beatles, or Queen. I know most people don’t understand that, but today almost all the music you hear is digitally altered, converted to 1’s and 0’s and reconverted to the audio you hear coming out of the speakers. To me as I was discovering music in analog form, it didn’t feel the same, I loved the stories of artist putting their heart and human souls into the music through these sessions – like painting straight onto a canvas brush stroke after brush stroke. No it’s not easy, but when you’re left with that finished project, it’s oh so much rewarding. After the Army I worked and practiced to try to hone my skills and will to be able to perform like that. I was lucky enough to be able to do that in this day and age, and have people believe in me enough to allow me to do that. I know, and always knew I guess I was going to do just that; make music like my heroes did. It was a lot of learning about just what it takes to make an all analog record and learning how to work with other professionals for the first time, but I was happy to go through it. In all my music I strive to be authentic and true to being me, not for fame or celebrity status, but because this is what I was made to do, I don’t know how to be anything else really, anything else is a lie. Right now I operate as a Singer-Song Writer in “Calling Cadence”, A Blues Artist as “The OJB Blues Revue”, and Rocking in “The Ghost Of Hollywood”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well Los Angeles is one of those cities that is such a melting pot that I don’t know how you can do anything short of a week. You should definitely catch a Dodger game, or see the Lakers play, and spend some time down town – but definitely bring a local to steer you in the right direction. Spend a Day cruising up Venice to Santa Monica on the board walk. I”ll most likely be at Harvelle’s, Hinano Cafe, or playing or somewhere Hollywood at a Houston Brother’s Club. Go see Santee Alley if you wanna shop some deals. If you’re a vegan, Pure Vita is a must, Chef Tara can convince the most carnivorous eaters rethink their diet. You’ll never find better Mexican Cuisine around here, especially late night taco stands. There’s also some great ramen around town that I frequent late night after a gig. Hotel Cafe can also be a great place to check out some local talent and cruise up and down Hollywood to check out the other clubs. There’s also the eastside, China town, and Korea town where find myself from time to time, The R Bar has become a favorite for some late night eats, good peoples, and Karaoke.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Grandpa Dan “The Man” Sánchez and my parents (Big Oscar and Shelley) they supported my love for music since day one.

Website: https://callingcadencetheband.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oscar_jesus_bugarin/

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBl_O90MJy7-NNQxHaIO-ow

Other: https://theghostsofhollywood.squarespace.com https://www.instagram.com/ojb_bluesrevue/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn_Z4qbb9eQ

Image Credits
photos by Michelle Shiers