Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Molina.
Hi Benjamin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey in music started at a young age when I discovered my love for dancing. Being the center of attention at family parties, and grooving to the music, ignited my passion for entertainment. I stopped dancing though, because at times I just felt like a circus monkey whenever we’d go to family functions.
My first experience with wanting a music career came when I listened to the soundtrack by Danny Elfman to Spider-Man. I wanted to become a film composer then. I never played an instrument growing up, though I always wanted to. By the time I got to 7th grade, we had a rock band program at my school, but I had the fixed mindset of “if I didn’t learn violin in 4th grade with everyone else, I’d never learn to play music.” The next year in 8th grade, I made a pact with my best friend; we were going to become famous. I’ve held on to that pact since, and it pushed me to do the music I do now.
Entering high school, we needed to figure out how to become famous. Since we had no experience, we did theater classes at school to learn to act, and then I auditioned for the school musicals. Through that, I gained experience in acting and dancing and learned to love performing. The year after in 10th grade, I became desperate to learn piano, it was such a beautiful instrument and I always longed to, but could never afford lessons. I had begun to open my mind that maybe I could do what I set my mind to, after all, I started acting late but still got good. Every day during lunch I would go to the practice rooms and teach myself piano from YouTube, even though I wasn’t allowed, but sometimes the teachers would look the other way and let me practice. In a year and a half, I had taught myself piano, and from there learned to play guitar, bongos, and the bass all by myself.
COVID took a toll on my plans. I had a performance lined up at the Kennedy Center, but it fell through because of the pandemic. I decided to go to St. Mary’s College of Maryland since it was pretty isolated and I could enjoy college, unlike some bigger schools that had to lock down campuses and send everyone home. My time there was essential, though, even if I hated feeling isolated and out of place. I practiced singing and releasing covers, making the art, booking myself performances, and mixing my music. I even formed my band, “Chipelo and Crew” there, which would all be essential once I debuted as an artist.
After my sophomore year at St. Mary’s, I transferred to Towson University, which was close to Baltimore and DC, had a very large student population and a big population of Latino students, and more opportunities for me to perform. I debuted as an artist on September 23rd, where I performed in Washington DC at FiestaDC with my band. My stage name was a nickname I had growing up because it used to be my dad’s nickname and it was passed down to me. My debut single, “SIN TI,” is a Latin dance banger that showcases my talents in melody, performance, and relatable lyrics. It’s a personal expression of moving on and embracing life, with a high-energy choreography that adds to the captivating experience.
I wanted to make sure people would take me seriously, so I had to put choreography and my band in it for the full experience. I then performed in Baltimore, Atlanta, New York, and other places as I continued to build myself up as an artist. I took a long break in September, due to school and other reasons, but returned at the end of the school year with my second song, “JUEVES.” This encompassed the college experience from a Latino point of view, celebrating “Thirsty Thursday” but at house parties with dembow playing, as opposed to at college bars with pop music.
During the school year, I’ve been working with I AM MENtality, a non-profit dedicated to helping turn young men into leaders. I began working here because I want to be able to help young Latino youth thrive and get the tools they need to succeed. I see music, theater, and dance as a way to keep Latino youth off the streets, but also bring representation since there isn’t much.
As an artist, my goal is to take audiences on immersive journeys through my music, connecting with them on an emotional level. My experiences and background as a Latino artist are an integral part of my identity, and I’m proud to represent my culture through my art.
Looking ahead, my future is filled with exciting performances, new releases, and a continued focus on honing my craft. With each step, I aim to leave a lasting impact on my audience and inspire others with my passion for music and storytelling.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Something I struggle with currently is getting people to take me seriously. I see myself doing this as a career one day, and so I make sure my work is professional; I get my music mixed and mastered professionally, I have a website, I have done professional photoshoots, and when I perform I usually have my band with me or I have choreography to truly make it entertaining. Even so, since I am fully independent, I have no manager, so it’s hard to book gigs, let alone get paid for them since I am not huge.
Another struggle is doing everything myself. I have no team, so all the marketing, updating the website, cover art, promotional material, music videos, blog/radio pitches, instrumental tabs, etc, has to be created by me, edited by me, or I pay someone else for it. It takes up a lot of time that I could be using to write and record music. The last struggle, of course, is money.
As a student in college, I already have to pay for that, and to compete seriously in the music industry, I have to pay to have my music professionally mixed/mastered, and sometimes have to pay for cover art. It starts to add up, so sometimes there are big gaps between music releases.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As an artist, I try to express myself and create music that I’d like to hear at parties, dance to, or cry to. I specialize in producing Latin dance bangers with a unique blend of Spanglish lyrical language that reflects my experiences growing up in America, where Spanish was spoken at home and English at school.
My music is a blend of everything I have listened to and have been exposed to, I am known for my high-energy performances, incorporating choreography and my band, “Chipelo and Crew,” to deliver captivating live experiences and make sure people are entertained. I’m very proud of how my releases have come out, and the image I’ve created for myself as an artist. I want to be true to myself but also perform like the stars I’ve always wanted.
What sets me apart from others is my relentless determination to succeed and my commitment to representing my Latino heritage through my art. As a first-generation Latino artist, I take pride in showcasing my cultural background and using my music as a platform to share stories that resonate with the Latino community and beyond.
What makes you happy?
I love to dance and I love having fun. Music is a way to bring people together and forget the problems they have, which is why I love music and performing, it brings me immense joy to express my emotions, thoughts, and experiences through songs.
When I see others connecting with my music and relating to the lyrics, it’s an incredibly fulfilling feeling. It’s like a form of communication, and I love that it allows me to connect with people on a deeper level.
Being able to help and inspire others, especially young Latino youth, is a way for me to give back and make a positive impact on their lives. I believe in the power of music and the arts to uplift and empower young minds, and it brings me joy to be a part of that process.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chipeloandcrew.com
- Instagram: @_chipelo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChipeloAndCrew/videos
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/og_chipelo
Image Credits
Raza Ry and Ethan Terhune
