Today we’d like to introduce you to Fabio Rojas.
Hi Fabio, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started playing the drums at the age of 13 in the city of Valencia in Venezuela. Some school colleagues were playing drums and suggested taking some lessons on drums; out of the three of us, I’m the only one that never stopped playing. By then, I was only exposed to mainly Rock and Pop. Then my family moved to the capital city of Venezuela, Caracas, where I got to study some Concert Percussion at the Colegio Emil Friedman. After finishing high school at 16, I went to the only music university in Venezuela (Which used to be called IUDEM), now UNEARTE. This was the first time I was exposed to Jazz, and it was the first Jazz program in the country at a university. Most instructors went to Berklee in the ’80s, which kept that school’s name ringing. For some reason, I have always dreamed about living in the US.
While this was happening, the High School/School where I started learning about Concert Percussion hired me as a Percussion Instructor when I was 17, which was awesome. And as I was teaching, I was still learning a lot from the orchestras and that environment. I had many performance opportunities that helped tremendously with my foundation as a musician. I got my first drum set when I was 19 years old when my family could finally afford it; all the previous years, I just practiced in pillows and pads for many years and imagined the sound of the drums in my head.
As Venezuela’s political landscape kept getting worse and the government turned out to be a dictatorship, I decided I needed to leave. I went to audition at Berklee College of Music in Boston and received a scholarship. But it wasn’t until a year and a half later that I could leave. Even with a scholarship, it was tough to afford to come to the US. So with many sacrifices by my family and myself, I came to study there. When I left, I had no idea when I would see my parents again; it took 3 years to see them again in person.
While at Berklee, I had an amazing experience and had the honor of studying jazz and being mentored by Kim Plainfield and Terri Lyne Carrington, which was a total dream before being there. I used to watch them on Youtube and think: what would it be to study with them? so having them as teachers and mentors was another dream come true. While my years there, I also studied Film Scoring and graduated in 2014 with a Dual Major in Performance and Professional Music. (Bachelor of Music).
I moved to New York City. The network I gained at Berklee helped me greatly in the coming years. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of performing with David Bixler, Greg Osby Band, Lonnie Plaxico, Geri Allen, Mike Rodriguez, Terri Lyne Carrington, John Cowherd, Kevin Harris, John Lockwood, Sean Jones, and in venues such as SXSW, Lincoln Center, Daegu Jazz Festival, Smoke Jazz Club, NAMM, RIFF, BU Agganis Arena, among many others. I recently released a co-led album called Contraluz along with Pianist-Composer Kevin Harris. I got to do drums, one composition, and sound design/electronics; Harris did compositions, piano, synths, and poetry. The album came out on December 2022, and we both co-produced it. On live shows, we combine the music with live visuals.
In October last year, I recorded my album debut as a leader, which I plan to release with my quintet this coming summer, 2023. I recorded at Flux Studios in Manhattan with Greg Osby on Alto Sax, Gustavo D’amico on Tenor Sax, Kevin Harris on Piano, Osmar Okuma on Bass, and myself on Drums and Compositions. So stay tuned for the new music coming along. Besides performing, I also write music for films and have some upcoming projects soon. Fabio Rojas exclusively plays Zildjian cymbals, Canopus Drums, Vater Drumsticks, and ADV Sound IEMs.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been smooth at all, not even a little bit. But it’s a good thing, as the best diamonds come from the biggest pressure. The main challenge has been the financial one, which has been present for many years, but that has helped me be more resourceful and financially aware, think ahead of the game, plan for the long run, what is best, and invest in my future. Having such a hard upbringing with all the political events in Venezuela has allowed me to appreciate everything more. And also enjoy the present more and being in the US, the land of opportunities. But preparing yourself, working hard, being diligent, and staying focused on your goals will eventually make everything fall in place.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Drummer/Film Composer/Educator in New York City. I am Faculty at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, where I teach drums and film scoring. I perform nationally and internationally with different artists. I also compose music for films and commercials. One of my projects is a Co-Led project with Kevin Harris called “Contraluz,” Here is a description of it: in Spanish, CONTRALUZ means backlight. This exciting album titled CONTRALUZ invites us to hold our truths and beliefs to a backlight that produces new perspectives from every vantage point. Contraluz is an invitation to creatively shift one’s views to see an alternative picture of reality or truth. In the same way that new perspectives warrant unfolding possibilities, Fabio Rojas and Kevin Harris believe this powerful project could be described as a modern symphony also continually unfolding.
Therefore, when we change our perspective, we see a broader spectrum of viewpoints not initially perceived at a glance. And as a result, we gain a broader understanding of ourselves and society. Harris and Rojas seek to explore these possibilities as a duo to convey purpose and hope. This album has elements of poetry, jazz, fusion, sound design, visuals, and synths. This album is available on all platforms for you to listen to and videos to watch. I have an upcoming album debut as a leader this summer, 2023, with my quintet. All the music is original compositions of mine, and I’m very excited to share this with the world and keep inspiring other people to share their stories through music. What am I proud of? Being resilient and keep going in the direction of my dreams, no matter how long they take.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some changes you expect to see over the next five to ten years?
We are living in fascinating times in terms of that. Because of the pandemic, many people have “awakened” with terms and conditions with industry models that are currently obsolete with the current times and that new models will benefit the artist more. Technology is more present than ever, and everybody has been working on tech because of the pandemic so more laptops will be on stage. As a drummer now, sometimes I use a laptop. So a hybrid of tech and acoustic elements will take everything to a whole new level. Music has always been hand in hand with the available technology, so why not use it?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fabiorojasmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fabiorojasmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabiorojasmusic/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiorojas
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fabiorojasdrums
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/fabiorojasmusic
- Yelp: https://zildjian.com/fabio-rojas.html
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fabiorojasmusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7LoJetlKgNapFb7eD4fEuz?si=9_WRLidHR2a2w0F1fGE3EA
Image Credits
By (file names-numbers): 1,2,3,5 Carlos Alvarado. 4, 6 , 8. Sara Ontaneda. 11, 10, 7. Allison Luntz 9. Yongwon Cho
