AIM Interview: Salvador Santana

Marioenmusica: Hello?
SalvadorSantanaBand: Hello
Marioenmusica: It's Mario from AOL Latino... Salvador?
SalvadorSantanaBand: It's Salvador, nice to meet you
Marioenmusica: Nice to meet you too!
Marioenmusica: Are you ready?
SalvadorSantanaBand: Yup, let's get going!
Marioenmusica: Nice! (listening to your CD for inspiration haha)
SalvadorSantanaBand: Cool. Do you have a favorite track yet?
Marioenmusica: Yup, ‘In My Dreams.’ I like the mellow jam...
Marioenmusica: What's your favorite track?
SalvadorSantanaBand: I go back and forth between Imacallya and My One True Love
SalvadorSantanaBand: I can't decide which hook is catchier
Marioenmusica: Ah yea... Imacallya's good.
SalvadorSantanaBand: Thanks!
Marioenmusica: So... I've been listening to the album, SSB, for a couple of days, and it's definitely a departure from your father's style...
Marioenmusica: Is he a big influence on your music or do you try to separate your style from his?
SalvadorSantanaBand: I feel that my music is definitely influenced by him but I try to find a middle ground
SalvadorSantanaBand: The best of what he's introduced me to and what speaks me
Marioenmusica: Good! Can you describe that for us?
SalvadorSantanaBand: Sure. My father brings many years and styles of music to the table, he and other musicians have seen this business change a lot
Marioenmusica: Yea...its totally different from what it used to be
SalvadorSantanaBand: Again, I like to take the best of what's out there already and update it for my generation
SalvadorSantanaBand: My dad never cared for 2Pac when I was in highschool, but then his outlook changed when he did a song with Wyclef and Lauren Hill. Anyway, moving on...
Marioenmusica: I can imagine. Yea...
Marioenmusica: So, do you consider yourself Latino?
SalvadorSantanaBand: Yeah, I'm part Mexican so I acknowledge my roots, in music and off the stage
Marioenmusica: How long have you been playing? When did you start to consider having a band and creating music on your own?
SalvadorSantanaBand: I started playing the piano when I was 7
Marioenmusica: Wow!
Marioenmusica: Young age!
SalvadorSantanaBand: As far as I can remember, music has ALWAYS been in my life... I first decided to put the band together in the summer of 2004 when we opened for my pops band at Montreux Jazz Fest in Switzerland
Marioenmusica: Switzerland? cool... and then the CD came along?
SalvadorSantanaBand: The original incarnation of SSB recorded a 5 track demo that we put out in early 05. One thing led to another, band members came and went... In early 06 Crunchy joined the band and helped me shape current lineup.
Marioenmusica: Cool. Did it have the same style or was it different?
SalvadorSantanaBand: The style has progress and evolved since the first incarnation
Marioenmusica: Nice, and how do you expect the public to react to the album? Here in AOL Latino we're dancing to Hella Tight...
SalvadorSantanaBand: : Thanks, I'm honored just to have finished the record... I don't have many expectations except that I hope that people take the time to listen to it and have as much fun as I had creating it.
Marioenmusica: They will! And what were some of the challenges that you found making the record? Anything unexpected?
SalvadorSantanaBand: Oh yeah!
SalvadorSantanaBand: There were a bunch of delays, a lot of times when we hit the road to tour while still recording the record. Also, people within the hierarchy saying that "this song should sound like this, that song should sound like that" instead of trusting the process. But in the end, I'm really happy with the final album and the way it all turned out. We recorded all over the place, mostly in calabasas, CA.
Marioenmusica: Did you feel threatened by that, in terms of what you wanted the album to sound like?
SalvadorSantanaBand: There were times when I felt concerned about letting go of complete control over my album... Then my thought process changed to be more open, and trusting in outside opinions
Marioenmusica: That’s good!
Marioenmusica: So Salvador... random but have to ask, what's the most interesting thing you've gotten from a fan at a show?
SalvadorSantanaBand: Hahaha… wow
Marioenmusica: AOL Latino tradition! Keep it clean though!
SalvadorSantanaBand: I'm trying...
SalvadorSantanaBand: Actually it wasn't tangible but, at a show, an elderly woman came up to me and said something very nice- "I followed your father’s music for years, I know you come from a very extensive musical backgound... If my father had been born in this generation, he would probably be doing what you're doing now."
SalvadorSantanaBand: That's always really stayed with me.
Marioenmusica: Wooow… that must be an inspiration for you
SalvadorSantanaBand: Yeah, I think about it all the time
Marioenmusica: So my friend, almost out of time... any words for the AOL fans that will be reading this and checking out your album?
SalvadorSantanaBand: I'm really excited, please check it out. I think there is something on there for everybody
Marioenmusica: Well...its been a pleasure, and let us know if you're coming to NY anytime, we'll be there dancing our... shoes.... off
SalvadorSantanaBand: Great, we'll be out there soon and you are more than welcome to come dance with us!
Marioenmusica: NICE!
SalvadorSantanaBand: Thanks for taking the time to CHAT with me
Marioenmusica: Thank you for taking time for AOL!
SalvadorSantanaBand: word