LMS: RGV Got Talent: Episode 11 - Aldo Gonzalez (Grand Champion)

We finally made it to the finale. Let’s welcome your grand champion Aldo Gonzalez. Since this episodes was recorded Aldo has graduated with his music degree from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Aldo then also co founded the popular Latin boy band Iluzol located in the Rio Grande Valley. They went viral after there cover of the cantina song from Star Wars and currently bookings shows and releasing new music. Follow them on Instagram and Spotify. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

With RGV's Gotham series or smalling a tree songs. With uh the season one winner. Um RGV got talent. Let's see if I if I get this right.

SPEAKER_01 0:24

Thank you, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 0:25

Season one winner, RGB got talent. He's rich. Sold him won a million dollars. He got a contract for uh Vegas, and he's uh the king of my can. Uh but it it was it was a good good season, good show. Um and let's just get get into the show. This is the second time Aldo is gonna be on this on the show.

SPEAKER_01 0:58

Yeah, pleasure for me. Thank you, Alexis, for the invitation. Like always.

SPEAKER_02 1:02

Love you. The only person's been on here twice so far. Uh and okay, let's get into. And I mean this episode's gonna be mostly in Spanish.

SPEAKER_01 1:17

Oh yes, please. Because I'm I'm a binar. That's my secret. But it's okay. We can do some in English and then some in Spanish or whatever, it's okay for me. Yeah, yeah. We'll mix it a little bit. Yeah, let's do some poche stuff. Some chicken.

SPEAKER_02 1:35

Some some Miguel. Saludos para Miguel. Miguel, uh little little Julian. You know who Julian is?

SPEAKER_01 1:50

No, who is Julian?

SPEAKER_02 1:51

Julian, he he played Vola for a slan or Juvenil Aslan. But this is back in 2017.

SPEAKER_01 2:00

Oh, well, no, no. I I don't think so, yeah. Yeah, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_02 2:04

And uh he taught Miguel at uh high school.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

Oh, okay, I get you.

SPEAKER_02 2:11

And I know I know Julian because he now Julian's in Austin and plays over there, and I played with him a lot. He was actually on the show, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:20

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_02 2:21

And uh call him little Julian.

SPEAKER_01 2:23

So that's why Miguel is little Julian. Yes. It's Julian 2.0 version.

SPEAKER_02 2:31

He talks exactly like Julian would. He plays like him, and Julian plays very well.

SPEAKER_01 2:37

And he sings like him.

SPEAKER_02 2:40

Miguel sings better.

SPEAKER_01 2:41

Oh, okay, okay. We're not talking bad about anyone.

SPEAKER_02 2:46

No, uh, Julian, don't care. But yeah, uh Miguel is a better singer. He sings a lot higher, uh Miguel he's really good.

SPEAKER_01 2:55

Yeah, I Franco Scamilla. You know who is Franco Scamilla? Um he's a comedian from Monterey. Oh, oh yeah, oh yeah, he looks like that's why he looks so familiar. Oh Miguel is like a mixture of everyone, you know, he has something of everyone.

SPEAKER_02 3:16

Yeah, so we can call him up.

SPEAKER_01 3:17

So Alexis, he's gonna look like you.

SPEAKER_02 3:27

Okay, okay. Frank. He probably they talk the same too. He talks like so. Grand Champion season one. Thank you. Uh RGV got talent. Although um that's how I'm gonna address you every time. Okay. Grand Champion season one, RGV got talent. Uh the last time you were here, we were you were we were in what week six?

SPEAKER_01 4:02

Yeah, I would say it was week six because what was it?

SPEAKER_02 4:06

It was before after I got eliminated, and that was week five. Yeah. But you were gonna do Juan Gabriel. Yeah, Juan Gabriel.

SPEAKER_01 4:14

Yeah, for week six. I remember about that.

SPEAKER_02 4:18

And uh I guess we can continue from there since we already kind of talked about um leading up to there.

SPEAKER_01 4:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 4:26

Uh you had a battle round.

SPEAKER_01 4:29

A battle round. Oh, yeah, the day it was the sing off. Because I I didn't know about this, but uh I I chose a song that also chanted shows, and I was like, okay, let's see how it goes. Because she's a really good singer, right? So I was nervous and I was like, well, I want to start. I want to start with this. But before before that, uh I remember when I was choosing the song for that night, I was planning to do song for I Sinatra because it was uh tribute night for people who have passed away already. Well, not people, artists who have passed away already. And I was talking with Nena with Amadita Redondo, and she was like, What are you what are you gonna sing for next round? And I was like, I was thinking about some Frank Cinara, or maybe John Lennon, or I don't know. She was like, No, no, no, no, no. And then we looked at the same time, and we were like, Juan Gabriel, and we said the same name at the same time. It was really, really curious, you know, interesting how it happened because we were like kind of connected. And then I told her, What if I sing like a sa que te conocine? And she was like not like that convinced to do that song. And then she told me, Well, um I'm gonna choose some songs for you, and then you're you're gonna choose from there. And I was like, Okay, well, even though I'm gonna look for something that it's kind of like really good and I can be like good for my voice. And before she sent me like all the information, I was like listening to songs from Juan Gabriel. And I know like a lot of his repertoire because my mom, she's a fan of Juan Gabriel. So she used to do the course in the in the house, you know, to clean everything and things like that. And put like the city of Juan Gabriel when I was little. And I used to know like a lot of songs. Well, uh I have heard like a lot of songs of Juan Gabriel. And when I was looking in YouTube for a song, there was a song that I was like, oh man, this is really good because I like to be really dramatic. And I like to be like really powerful in some songs. And I chose this song who is called Ya lo sé que tú te vas. And when I told Amadita, she told me, you know what? Are you sure that you want to do that? Because I'm planning to do to sing that song in the finals. And I was like, okay, I'm sorry because I didn't know that. Uh so I'm asking for your permission. Uh would you like me to sing it if you don't like it, or do you want you don't want me to sing it this night? It's okay for me. I'll just choose like another song. I know, like several from Juan Gabriel. She was like, you know what? Just go for it. Go for it. And I was like, okay, let's do it. And you know, the song is really high. It's really high, like in register. I I know that you know it, right? Yeah. You you have to hit a high B flat. And I was yeah, high B flat. And I was like, I was not in the mood because I was really tired. I I don't know, it's because being like in several things, like at the same time, including school, and you're a music major in voice. So you're you're like kind of tired in the middle of the semester, like till the end of your voice. And I was like, no, I don't want to do it because I I don't feel like like I can reach that note right now. So I was just like, well, let's lower the key. And I lowered the key like a whole step. And it was good for me because I was like, okay, yes, I I won't risk it. Yeah, and uh and that's how I I chose it. And then that night, uh, I didn't know we we had a a sing-of until I asked Chanti, and I was like, What are you gonna sing today? She was like, Oh, Juan Gabriel, ya lo sé que tú te vas, and I was like, Oh man, it's gonna be the same song, and she sings really good, and this is her genre, you know. Yeah, I was like, Okay, she's gonna win, or I don't know, I'll just give my best and let's see how it goes. And yeah, that day I remember I uh they just said, Okay, we have a single, and I was like, Oh, now it's our turn. And then it was me and Shanti, and they were like, Okay, so who's gonna be first? And I was like, I wanna be first, because if Shanti sings first, she's gonna be like really good, and then we're gonna sound like crap, right? I was thinking about that. And then I I started to sing, and I'm glad with my interpretation. I think it was like decent. I won't say that it was perfect, but I like it. I'm like comfortable with my my with my interpretation that day. And I don't know, like I feel like I I I did my best. I just tried to to to do my my interpretation like kind of playful in the dynamics because I started really soft, like really, you know, susurrando. How do you say susurrando in English? I I forgot about that. Susurrand? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:53

Like this. Whisper?

SPEAKER_01 9:55

Yeah, whispering. Oh man, I forgot about the word and I had it in the tip of my tongue. Yeah, so I started like kind of whispering, kind of kind of uh telling the story, you know. And then I started building like the the energy. Well, with being like really piano, and then like kind of mesoforty, and then just starting really 40, and then just going down again. Yeah, and that that was my way of of looking at that interpretation. I think that that was like a good way to approach it and to sing it. Yeah, and then and then Shanti was the next one, and she did it really good. Yeah, I like it. And the judges agree with this. Uh she she did a really good interpretation too. It was powerful, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:45

Yeah, it was good. I I went to that to that one. Um that was pretty much the last show I went to. So I got really busy after that, but uh for showing up and yeah, I saw the two of you perform. It was it was good. Uh so usually, right, in uh in a sing-off, they choose a winner, and that winner is safe for the night, and the other one is not eliminated automatically, but they're just they're not safe. Yeah. And they broke the rules for the two of you. They were breaking the rules every week. But they uh it was the first time, right?

SPEAKER_01 11:28

That that they broke the rules for the sing of yeah, yeah, I think so.

SPEAKER_02 11:34

So Aldo and Shanti uh won.

SPEAKER_01 11:38

Yeah, we were the winners, we were already safe for the night.

SPEAKER_02 11:43

Yeah, and then they uh was the first and second, Shanti won first.

SPEAKER_01 11:51

Yeah, I was yeah, uh well, she was the first one, and we don't know the the other particular order, do you remember? They were just the top three, so I don't know if I was second, but I was part of the top three, right? Yeah. Who was the other one? Um I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 12:13

I don't remember.

SPEAKER_01 12:14

I think that day it was Zeke. Yeah, because he sang a Zik? Yeah, he sang More Than a Filling. I think so. Oh yeah, yeah. Is that right? It was Zeke, right?

SPEAKER_02 12:25

Yeah, it was Zeke.

SPEAKER_01 12:26

Yeah, I remember that yeah, I was surprised. Yeah, he did he did a really good job with the high notes in that song. Yeah, I loved it.

SPEAKER_02 12:35

Yeah. Um I don't know if you want to talk about it, but I want to.

SPEAKER_01 12:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 12:45

Part of the requirements, right, is is to is a show.

SPEAKER_03 12:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:51

And you went out in your hairstyles outfit. I say hair styles out.

SPEAKER_01 12:58

You're roasting me already.

SPEAKER_02 13:00

No, um hairstyles because he dresses like Juan Gavier. Have you seen that? Yeah, I have seen that already. Yeah, so in your your nice shirt, right? Yeah, everything all colorful and designs. And um Shanti did not dress the the part, right? But they still picked a tie. And so you know, just to me that that was very that was really an interesting choice. Because they put a lot of emphasis on that, right? From the beginning. You gotta dress, you gotta act, it's more than just a voice competition. And you did, but still they tied. So, and then that was a theme kind of throughout the show. Yeah, because sometimes they would take that into consideration, and other times no. Right. I mean, it's all subjective. Like we were talking, like when I did the episode with Andre with the finale, um you could have put 20 different judges and maybe half would have chosen Andre, half chosen you. Yeah. So at the end it's really subjective. But I don't know, I just feel there should be a a s a stricter guideline for the judging if you're gonna make these rules and these things very clear.

SPEAKER_01 14:25

Yeah, I guess follow them, right? Fair for everyone. So be everyone is the same, right? Yeah, yeah, I get that point. And also for the finale, uh Amateur she showed me the the scores. The scores of the finale. Oh yeah. Yeah, and it's supposed to be like top secret. But even though she she showed me, and Andrea and me were really close. Yeah, we were like, yeah, it was really tied, like in the in the points, because it's supposed to be like the ones with the with the less points is gonna be the the higher one. I I know it's weird, right? Because uh generally like regularly is the opposite. The one who has the the most points is the winner, right? Or things like that. Yeah, but but this time it was the opposite. So the ones with the less points is gonna be the winner, and things like that, right? And Andrew and me, I think we just got like a difference of two or three points. We were like really close, yeah. And I was really surprised, but but I think that he he did really good, like really an outstanding job for the finale. It's something that everyone will remember, you know. He's crazy, man. He's a monster. He took like oh oh everything, like he put everything on him, like really long number, but really, really beautiful. I really loved it. And with the with the props, like uh man, like that that takes effort to do like the the the thing that he did, the the mirror. Yeah, yeah, it was really good, man. I really like it. I uh I really admire Andre a lot, yeah. And everyone else, also, right? Like everyone has something to to to show. Yeah, because everyone's different and everyone sings really good.

SPEAKER_02 16:16

Um and then we go to the next week, which was Power Ballad, Power Ballad. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And you did El Triste. Yeah, I did El Triste. How was that? How was that?

SPEAKER_01 16:33

Okay. So let's start with this. When they said power ballad, I was thinking more like something in English, because power ballad is regularly like kind of rock ballad. Yeah, that's what I understand, right? But Jonas uh he told us, you know what, power ballad, it can be like whatever ballad. You know, it has to be it can be like uh Michael Bolton, you know, it can be Wendy Houston, it can be something in Spanish, you know. Uh it has to be just a ballad. I was like, okay, what can be like really powerful in Spanish? Because I I was thinking maybe I can do like Brian Adams. Do you know Brian Adams? Yeah, and I was like, I like Brian Adams. Maybe I can do something, a song from him, right? I was thinking about Michael Bolton with his too high, man. He's too high, like no, no, it's he's out of this word. Like Michael Bolton is a top singer. And then I was thinking, what's like something that can be for my voice? You know, without moving the key. And that can be like really outstanding, or something that I can feel comfortable with. And then I I was thinking, what if I do El Triste by Jose Jose? But I was like, is that considered a ballad? Because you know, it has like some some stuff that that comes from jazz, some characteristics, like the syncop the syncoptation, the harmony, but also it has like the big band because it has the the trumpets and all the stuff, you know. Yeah. And I was like, it counts like a like a ballad. Let me ask Jonas. And I asked him, and he was like, Yeah, it counts like a ballad, and I was like, okay, let's do it. And then I told Amarita and I told Canela. And I was like, okay, I'm I'm gonna sing this for next week. And Canela was like, Oh, okay, oh, and then was like, you should dress like like like Jose Jose, like you know, all white and things like that. Oh, I think Canela told me that instead. She was like, You should wear like a tuxedo, like a white tuxedo, like like Jose Jose in the 80s and things like that. And I was like, and then we reconsidered the the the outfit because it was not Jose Jose in the 80s or 90s, it was Jose Jose in the 70s. Yeah. And he was like dressing something different, and we took like the idea from the from the the performance that was really on the standing outstanding in this festival, in the Hotie. Yeah, that it was like the the first time that he sang in public this song. Which he lost. Yeah, he lost. He got the the third place. Yeah. But but I I would say something, he lost the the contest, but he won the people, you know. He was the first place for everyone because everyone remembers him, you know. Yeah. And we took the idea from there. And and Canela, she helped me. She helped me with the outfit because she's uh an amazing designer, and she did uh the arrangements for the for the shirt that I bought. And also she lent me the the coat, the blazer that I used that day. And it was really cool. I I really appreciate uh the the help that she gave me. Because from there till the finals, she was helping, she was helping me with the with the design of the outfits. And I really appreciate it. And thank you, Canela. Thank you so much. Yeah, uh, and that day, uh don't want to talk about that day, right?

SPEAKER_02 20:25

Yeah, so um El Triste is such a you know powerful song, and it's it's a very difficult song to nail, to master, you know, perform. Um preparing for that song. Did you already know it? Have you already done it before?

SPEAKER_01 20:48

I knew this song, so basically I didn't have to memorize it because you know my dad my dad is from that era, my my mom too. So it was a song that I already knew. But I haven't sang it or no, yeah, I haven't sing it like for a while because I I I don't think that before I I have like the technique to do it like properly. Yeah, you know. So basically when I was like thinking about it, I was just like, okay, let's just not do that much to prepare it. Because I think that sometimes if you like over-train, you like stress your body and your mind. Yeah. And I was just like, okay, I was looking for a for a backing track, and I found the real one, you know, like the original without the voice of Jose Jose. And I was like, oh man, I love this. Yeah, because it wasn't like with with crappy instruments, you know, like regular ones. And I was like, okay, I will download this. And I uh I downloaded and I just like practice it once in my house. Just like I I think. Well, it was every Sunday, right? The content was every Sunday. And I just practiced it. I think it was at 30. And I was it was just once because I was like, okay, let's just do it once. And I just keep it like that. Just save it. You know? Because I don't want to stress too much. Just enjoy it and that's it. And yeah, and then I did it, and I was like, okay, the the wrench is good. I don't feel that I'm straining. Just like I was just like, be aware about the final, the the end of the song, because it is long, you know, it has to be like for 10, 12 seconds.

SPEAKER_02 22:36

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:38

And it and it's a hard, hard note because it's an E. And it's in a high note, you know, so it has to be, you know, and it's like kind of a close, a close vowel. You know, it's not like an A, like, you know, that it's like kind of easier to do for me.

SPEAKER_03 22:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:56

Yeah, but but I was just thinking about that. What is it? A G? Yeah, it's a G. It's a G.

SPEAKER_02 23:03

A G on the E vowel shape. Which is really hard for people that don't sing because your your mouth will naturally close or get smaller.

SPEAKER_01 23:14

And and your throat also. You don't have to maintain everything really open. Yeah. I know where you're talking about vocal technique. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:23

I mean, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:24

For me, for me, the hardest, the hardest vowel to do is the ooh. Ooh, like in high notes, it's ooh. I don't know for you, but for me it's just like, oh, it's a pain in the butt to do an ooh. Yeah, but but that day. Uh also Canela, she she helped me with with uh putting my mind in the game, you know, putting my head in the game. Because I was really nervous. I was like, oh man, what what if I crack? What if I do what if I mess around, you know? And she was like, you know what? Just put yourself in the game. This is your night. Just do your best. You're gonna do really good. And trust in yourself. And I was like, okay, thank you for those words. Because that really worked. That really worked really good. And I and everyone was liking and complimenting me for the for the outfit. They were like, oh man, you look like really good. You look in shape, you look outstanding. And I was like, oh thank you, man. I really appreciate that. And and I was always like saying, you know what? Just go with Canela because she's really good. She will help you, you won't help with the outfit. She has really good ideas always. And she is the one that is helping me with this. And they were like, oh, thank you, thank you. Yeah, we know about that, but I don't know if everyone else took advantage of that help, but I did. I wanted to. And then that day. You know what? A secret is that the first in the audition, I didn't warm up. In the first two nights, I didn't warm up. And in the first night, I think that that I crack in a note.

SPEAKER_03 25:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:13

And then the second night, in the second night, I crack in two notes, I think. And I was like, you know what? I have to warm up because it doesn't work, it doesn't work for my body, for my voice, you know, to to be like oh oh oh cold. Like oh no, no, no, it doesn't it doesn't work for me. And and from the third night till the till the end, I I started to go to a restroom and just do, you know, some warm-up exercises, just like doing like and just like um make the the air flow and the vocal cords to to get used to sound. And that's what I did for for design for ultrasound, because uh it's a hard song, so I had to do it yes or yes, you know. Yeah, and and I used it that and when it was my turn, I was just like really nervous, but at the same time I was like excited to do it because I I was preparing for that, like mentally, physically, like everything.

SPEAKER_02 26:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:20

Did you win that week? Oh yeah, yeah, I I won that that day.

SPEAKER_02 26:26

Oh, for the power ballad?

SPEAKER_01 26:27

Yeah, with the power ballad. That was the second time you won. It was the same, it's the second time that I won.

SPEAKER_03 26:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:34

Yeah, it was it was really cool, really cool that day.

SPEAKER_02 26:39

Yeah, and then there was country night, right?

SPEAKER_01 26:44

Yeah, next day it was country night. How was that? So you know what? I I was like I I I wanted to know like the themes for each week because I needed to know like what to sing, you know? And I knew that the next week after this one, it was it was gonna be country night. And I don't know anything about country man. So I was I I was lost. So that's why I was like, you know what, I have to go with something really good so I can have the opportunity to win the night before. So that's why I chose El Triste. Because that one is maybe for a final, you know? Yeah, but but I was like, well, maybe I have more songs that I can sing for final or semi-final, you know. Yeah, yeah. And we didn't know yet like the themes for the final, for the semifinal. But remember Jonas uh was saying for the final, you have to come with everything, you know, like the DA game for you, you know. It has to be with if you can do it like with live music, just go for it. If you can do it like with everything, like the best that you can do, just go for it. And I was like, okay. Because I was planning for for the I think it was a third or the fourth night when I sang Mexican La Play in La Piel.

SPEAKER_03 27:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:00

I was planning to gather my people, together my friends, and to sing with with live music, like Mariachi, you know. Yeah. And Jonas told me, no, don't do that because it's gonna set the bar really high. And I was like, Oh yeah, you're right, you know. Yeah, but but but it was good that he told me that because if that was the case, I I would have to play with Mariachi every night, or with live music, you know. Yeah, and and then uh that's why I chose Eltrece. So so coming back to night number six, I chose Eltre because I I wanted to do something like really really hard, you know? And something that that would be like really emblematic. And to give me like the opportunity to be the winner that day, because I know that for Crown Tree, I don't know anything. And that would have been like my weakest my weakest night of the contest. And that would have been like my the opportunity for me to to be out of the contest. So that's why I chose El Tissia, and thank God like everything went really good and I won, and I was and I had the immunity for the next night, and I was like, okay. It's not that I can chill, because even though I'm my mindset, it was like you have to get your best every night, right? Yeah, it has to be always like that. Yeah, but but the thing is that I was like kind of chilling because I didn't feel like a lot of pressure, kind of, because I was safe for the night, but even though I was like pressured because I was like, it has to be good because last night was good, so it has to be even better, or or the same, you know, kind of stuff.

SPEAKER_02 29:48

What did you sing in Country Night?

SPEAKER_01 29:49

In Country Night, okay. So I didn't know what to sing. I didn't know like that that day in the night, I was talking with Amadita and I was like, What should I sing? And I was like, I was thinking about Tennessee whiskey because it's the only one that I have heard about it. But Amadita told me, No, no, you sing another one. And I was thinking about it, and I was like, Yeah, because I would say that Tennessee whiskey is gonna be sung by another one. And I was thinking exactly about Chris because Chris has like all the stuff about melisma and things like that, like whoa, you know, yeah, and I was like, Yeah, I don't wanna sing that one then. And then she told me, you know what? This one's gonna be really good for you. And it was uh uh Turner, what was his name? Josh Turner. Josh Turner, and I was like, okay, let me check it. But it's really low, man. And I was like, okay, thank you, Marita. I love you, but it is not like for my my for my voice type, you know, because this one that what is it called? The it's a really famous one.

SPEAKER_02 30:55

Uh your man?

SPEAKER_01 30:56

I I think it's that one, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 31:00

Yeah, but I can't.

SPEAKER_01 31:02

It's an F-sharp. Yeah, F sharp. It's an F sharp, the lowest one. Yeah, you know, it's low for me. It's low for me. I'm a tenor. And even though I'm not like a high tenor like like Chris or like Andrew, it's low for me, you know. Yeah, even though like I'm like a medium low tenor, yeah. But I couldn't with that one, and I was like, no, I have to choose another one. And I have a friend of mine, and he likes country, he loves it. It's like it's his stuff, you know, his thing to be a country guy. He always like uses like the hat and things like that. He always goes to school and he uses the the boots. Yeah. So I was asking him, like, what is something good for a tenor in country? And he's like, that's a good challenge because real early country is for like berry tones, you know, for like people who seem like you know, like kind of low. And like, okay, just give me options. And he got really excited. He was like, okay, do this one, do this one, do that one, do that one. And I was like, chill, chill, just give me like three options. He was like, okay. And he and he showed me this one by this one which is called is by John Strait. Do you know John Strait? George. George Strait. Yeah, yeah. And this is called Heartland. Yeah. Okay. And I chose it because it's not too long. And I had few time because by the time that I asked him, I think it was already Thursday or it was Wednesday, and I had to memorize the lyrics, I had to memorize the song, you know. Yeah. And I was like, okay, I choose this one because it's not too long and it repeats, so I need it, and it's just like two minutes long, you know. Yeah. And then I was like, thank you. And I chose it. So it's Harlan. And I started already to hear like the song every time that I was on my way to school, every time that I was in the car, you know, every time that I was in my bed, because I I had to get familiar with it. And I and I look for the lyrics, and it was really easy to memorize it, you know. Yeah, because it's not, it's not, I think it's just like the chorus and one bird, and that's it. Yeah. And when I was looking for a backing track, I think that, oh man, it's gonna be weird because I don't know how to dance. So basically the intro of that song is like really long because you have the violin the beginning, like and then I was like, what should I do in that part? You know, I will feel like really awkward because I I don't know what to do. And I was like, oh man, I think that you have to record the backing track again. So I I was thinking, whoa, it has the electric guitar and it has a solo. Maybe I can do something like in the second night for the rock night. And I was like, okay, I'll take my guitar. But that that week I I think that I was really busy. I remember that I was really busy with school and with everything. And I didn't have time to record the the backing track. But I was listening to the song and I was like, okay, this is the key. I think it was C flat. And I was like, okay, I used to do like on Sunday before the contest because I didn't have time any any other day. But that day, I had another compromise before the contest. I had a friend of mine needed me because he had a gig. And I was like, okay, I'll go. I go because you need my help, okay. And I I think that I I got it's supposed to be like at one the geek, but I don't know how, like, it was like an hour behind. So we started like at 2 and we finished like at 3, 3:30, and I was like all stressed because I was like, oh man, the contest starts like at 7, I have to do the backing track. And then as soon as thanks got that that it was in the basilica, and I lived really close to the basilica. Yeah, and as soon as we finished, I was like, okay, man, uh thank you for for the invitation, but I have to go, you know. And then I I went to my house and I started to do everything. I think that it was a record because I did like all the instrumentation, I recorded everything in Studio One, but the guitar, but I had to learn the guitar part also. So everything I think was like in two hours and a half, three hours. Yeah, because I was yeah, I was done like by six. And I had to go back to my house and I ate, and I think that I started recording like at four. So it was like in two hours, and I had to do everything that time. Also, like putting like all the instrumentation and like equalizing everything, you know. Yeah, I I don't know how I did it, man, but I was really stressed. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:09

So you learn the whole song, memorize the lyrics, learn the guitar solo, and recorded everything in just a few days.

SPEAKER_01 36:19

Yeah. Yeah, that was I think that was the the the hardest week for me. How'd you do? Well, it was not that good. It was not that good. But they told me that Jonas is like it. He he liked it because it was like a a throwback to the to the rock night. And he really liked my performance that day.

SPEAKER_02 36:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 36:49

And thank you, Jonas. Thank you. And also Jonas told me, you know what? I felt that you were like disconnected. And I didn't tell anything, but I was thinking about myself, yeah, I was disconnecting me because I was really stressed and I was tired already. Because yeah, I was doing like everything, I was rushing this everything. Yeah, I was rushing everything, you know. So yeah, that that's why I was disconnected that day. Like I did I didn't feel it that day because I was just like, okay, I just want to to to be done with this, you know. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, but but I was lucky because I I didn't get eliminated.

SPEAKER_02 37:32

Yeah, well, you or had a uh immunity that week. So yeah, that helped. But the next week was the um was was it movie night? No, no, no, no. Or something before movie night.

SPEAKER_01 37:55

Because that day I think they they put like uh Judges Pick. Some papers. Let me check because I don't remember that good.

SPEAKER_02 38:04

Yeah, it was Judges Pick. And I remember the first thing you picked was you're like, what is this?

SPEAKER_01 38:10

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think that that it was uh the Judges Peak, and and they put like uh a jar, right? With with the with the names, yeah. With everything. Okay, let me check. Just to be sure. Yeah, country night was week a and then the next one is Judges Peak. You're you were right.

SPEAKER_02 38:32

And then you got a Luis Miguel song. Yeah. The second time.

SPEAKER_01 38:35

Yeah, the second time. But the first time I got a song by Jeva. I remember what what was the name? Um no no no no no no I don't remember the name right now. Let me look for it because because that was really funny. Let me check, let me check. Uh boomerang. Boomerang. I remember boomerang. Boomerang. Yeah, boomerang by Jeva. And when I when I picked that one, I was like, What the hell is this? You know, what's this? And then Jonas asked me, like, do you want to keep the song? And I was like, no. And then we would start laughing like yeah, and I was like, who chose this one? And and I was thinking, I'm pretty sure that it was Mirka, and then and I was right, yeah, it was Mirka. Yeah, yeah. And then just like by the by the force of the destiny, I chose another one, and it was a Luis Miguel one. And I was like, man, like how how this happened? Like, how did this happen? Because there were a lot of songs over there, maybe like 50.

SPEAKER_03 39:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:41

And and it was Luis Miguel for me, and I was like, what? Yeah, yeah, I I was surprised because I don't know how it happened, you know, because nothing was prepared. I was I just took like something, you know, everything was fair. Uh-huh. Yeah, but I don't know, it was it was really curious.

SPEAKER_02 39:57

Yeah, so and there wasn't a lot of Spanish songs.

SPEAKER_01 40:00

Yeah. Maybe like six. Like six or five, maybe like that. Yeah. Uh uh, and I got to to get the the Luis Miguel one. You know, it was weird because it wasn't a Spanish one, and it was a Luz Miguel one, you know.

SPEAKER_02 40:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:15

Which is my favorite singer.

SPEAKER_02 40:17

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 40:18

So yeah, that worked out really well.

SPEAKER_02 40:20

Um, I don't remember what Shante got. She got that's where she got eliminated.

SPEAKER_01 40:26

Yeah, she got the the Miami sound machine. That one the Conga. Conga.

SPEAKER_02 40:33

Uh huh.

SPEAKER_01 40:34

It was Conga by Miami Sew Machine.

SPEAKER_02 40:36

Yeah. Yeah, that was interesting. But then, so you the Luis Miguel song, you already knew it?

SPEAKER_01 40:43

Yeah. Yeah, I already knew it. So I could show, you know, I was just thinking, show all the word the key, and I was like, nah, let's just go for this one, you know. Uh-huh. Because it's it's kind of hard because, well, let's talk musical. It's like a fun song, but even though it's like in a not that comfortable register, because it's always like in kind of the passage, you know what's the passage? Like the notes that that is between like the height register in your voice and the middle one. Uh-huh. And and you don't know like where to put the voice in your head voice or in your chest voice. Yeah. So it's like in the F sharp, G, like and the A flat, and then when you go to the A flat, it's just like, oh, okay, that's like kind of comfortable with because you know like where to put the voice already. But even though he goes like every time to that note, he goes like to that note, to that note. And it doesn't sound like that because it's like really effortless in the in the recording. But where it's like kind of hard to sing it and to be fun. Yeah. But I just chill for that one because I think uh it was a the two-week break, because it was the anniversary of Rockwell. Yeah. Yeah. And so that's why it was a good night to have the the judges speak because everyone could prepare better for for that day, because we had the break. Yeah. So to be honest, I just showed because I already knew the song. I was just thinking, like, what could I do? Like, let's watch song Luis Miguel. So Luz Miguel, like, in live performances. And I was like, okay, he doesn't know how to dance. Me either. So let's just go for something that I can do, you know. Just move like whatever I want, not copying Luz Miguel, you know. Just open your shirt. That's all you gotta do. Yeah. Open my shirt and just like show my my tree my three hair over there.

SPEAKER_02 42:46

You get a tan, whiten your teeth, and open your shirt, you're Luis Miguel.

SPEAKER_01 42:50

Yeah, and that's it. You know something curious about Luz Miguel? Is that every time that I see an impersonator of him, they wear the glasses, the sunglasses, and I don't know why, because he never uses the glasses.

SPEAKER_02 43:06

Yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 43:07

Yeah, he never uses maybe he uses like in public, you know, but not in performances. And I don't know, I don't know why they always use the the sunglasses, and I was like, hmm. When I was little, I was like, oh, it's because it was Miguel, you know, who always uses the sunglasses. When when I when I grew up and I started watching like performances, and also I went to his concert when he came to the break of that arena in 2019. He never uses the sunglasses in performances.

SPEAKER_02 43:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:36

So I don't know why why is that stigma for him. Yeah, but but that's the thing.

SPEAKER_02 43:41

Um so that night went easy. Yeah. Um did you place did you place that night?

SPEAKER_01 43:49

Oh yeah, I I got I I got in the in the top three. Yeah, top three. And I don't know why, because I didn't think that I did my my best. That night I was really tired, man. I think that. At night is when I had a gig before I was helping a a a friend of mine with his van and it was in Brownsville. It was for a for a place when they put like a a really like a recognized band, and then you you are like the opening band, you know, for them. Yeah. So it was, you know, Grupo Super Estrella. Was like like cumbia stuff. Yeah. Yeah. So so I was there and it's supposed to be. And it was the night when they like uh change changed the schedule. The when it was supposed to be 3 a.m. and it was already like 2 a.m.

SPEAKER_02 44:40

Oh yeah, yeah. Time change.

SPEAKER_01 44:42

The time change. Yeah. So so basically I think that they got like some confusion because the time changed already. And we just we just played like one set of one hour, and it was supposed to be like one set, and then the other group, and then we had another set, and then like closed at night. Well, the thing is that I ended really really late, like at 3 a.m. Because I I had to wait for my payment, also, right? And then and then like I had to drive the hour all the way back to four. And I got but I was hungry, man. I was really hungry, and I had to get a world burger. Yeah, yeah, so so I got to sleep like at 5 in the morning. Yeah. So and every every Sunday I tried to go to church because I like to sing. And I sing in church. So I didn't wake up, man. I was just like, no, I don't want to go to church, it's really early for me. And that day I was really tired. And I was just like, you know what, Jonas? I'm really tired. Yesterday I had a kick. I don't feel like, but I'll do my best. Let's see what it how it goes, you know. And then I I I was tired like that day when I sang the Luis Miguel one. When I tried my best, I was like, you know what, just just enjoy it. Let's just pretend that you're Luis Miguel for one night. And everyone just comes to see you, you know. Even though it is not like that, you know. And I just tried to do something different because uh as I was saying when they were like asking stuff before the performance, that was like kind of new in the concept for me, and also new for me because I'm not like a dancer artist, you know. I'm more like a serious, like dramatic. And you know that's why it's like, yeah, we agree because you're always like giving like a strong or really uh how you call it, well, just like strong and interpretations, like kind of dramatic. And now you're gonna show you something different, and I'm like, yeah, I want to show something different, you know? Something like more like fun, like upbeat, yeah. And that's how I did it. And also when I was looking for a backing track, everything was just like but then I found like the original track where the voice of Luz Miguel was like, eh, yeah, I like this one, and I downloaded it, yeah. And then I just try my best. I try to dance, but I don't know how to dance, man. I don't know how to dance, but apparently everyone liked it. So yeah, I I enjoy it.

SPEAKER_02 47:21

And then we had movie night.

SPEAKER_01 47:25

Movie night for semifinals.

SPEAKER_02 47:27

Okay. So semi-finals, so at this point, there's only 10 people left, right? Yeah. And uh so it's top ten. Yeah. How nervous were you?

SPEAKER_01 47:39

I was really nervous.

SPEAKER_02 47:42

What did you what did you decide on to sing?

SPEAKER_01 47:44

Okay. For that day, I already knew that for the finals we had to get whatever we want. Whatever we wanted to, right? Yeah. So I was thinking, the song that I sang that day, I was thinking it was good for the finals, but I was like, not really, because it is not that like a really famous song. So I was like, maybe this is good for the semifinals because it's like musical, movie night, like theater, musical theater night. And this is from Jesus Christ Super Sir, you know that musical? Yeah, it's like a rock opera musical. Yeah. And I was like, okay, I'm gonna sing this one, but I was thinking already, like, if I go to the finale, like why should I sing? You know, I was thinking already about my options just in case I I went to the finale, you know, I made it. And then um I was thinking about two songs for the semifinals. I was like, maybe I can do New York by Frank Sinatra, you know? And or I can do this one by Jesus Christ Superstore. And by the time I messaged Canela, and I was like, Canela, I know, I I was talking with Canela because I was returning my stuff from from the night before. No, no, no. Why, why, why, why let me check, let me check. Ah yeah, I I was returning her from the night of the country. Well, it was two nights before, and she like um she lent me some the the the blazer for that night and also the hat, I think. Yeah, so so that's why I was returning her stuff, and I was talking with her, and I was like, hey, what do you recommend me? Because I was thinking, like, should I sing this one from Jesus Christ Superstar? Or should I sing New York New York? And she was like, What are you thinking about Jesus Christ Superstar? What are you singing? And I was like, Semani. And she was like, Whoa, go for that one, don't think about anything else. That one's really good, and that was gonna be like a good opportunity for you to go to the finale because that's a really good song, and I was like, Okay, let's do it. You know, and she was like, I helped you with the with the outfit again, and I was like, okay, and she's like, uh, I'm gonna give you like two options, and I was like, Well, let me check them. And she was like, Okay, I have this one, I have that one, and I chose that the first one that she told me, and she was like, Okay, I like the idea because it's like really like classic for this like musical, and I was like, okay, let's go for that one. And I repeat myself a lot with the okay. And now when I got to the to the semifinals, I didn't wear my my my outfit already. I was like saving it for the performance. And yeah, I dressed like like Jesus Christ. Or I or I try to, you know. And my girlfriend was telling me, why don't you like cut your head, your hair? And I was like, I don't want to because I want to save it for for the semifinals or finals because I was thinking about song already. And I was like, I have to impersonate Jesus, you know, be like kind of look alike like Jesus. And then um when I get to the semifinals, uh I I save my my my outfit for for the performance, and I took my chancles so I can like wear them. Yeah, and I just put everything on, and Andre, he was doing the hunchback of Notre Dame. Yeah, it was really good. Yeah, also Eli. I remember his he was rockin' man.

SPEAKER_02 51:47

Oh, really?

SPEAKER_01 51:48

Yeah, it was really fun when when they did like that oh yeah with the helmets, the other one was really good. I also remember who was I I remember Alyssa also was really outstanding. Um yeah there were there were a lot that were like really good. I I remember Alex, he sang from Tarzan, uh he sang a song from from there. Oh okay I remember that one because everything is really good from there, but yeah, yeah. I just came back from the from the restroom and everybody was like, Why are you singing? And I was like, Do you know Jesus Christ Super Sir? And he was like, No. He was like, I think that he already knew like what I was gonna sing, and I was like, I'm gonna sing Hit Samani. He was like, bro. He was he that blew his mind because he also knew the song, and he chose a song to to sing in a in an international contest in New York. I don't know if he commented that already.

SPEAKER_02 53:07

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, no, yeah, he did.

SPEAKER_01 53:10

Yeah, so so you're you already know the story. Yeah, so I won't repeat it. Yeah, so so I chose it. And I was really nervous because that day I was also really tired because the day before I I think I also had a gig and I didn't get to sleep like really good. And this song was like an hour stop, man. Like I really need to be like in really good conditions, like to actually make it, you know. And that day, I was really nervous. Really nervous, man. Like, I was like, I don't know if I'm gonna make it. You know, I was I was telling my girlfriend, like, I don't know if I'm gonna make it because I don't feel it. Like, I feel tired, I feel nervous, I'm hungry. Like, yeah. And she was like, oh, it's okay, my love, you know, just do your best. And I was like, well, let's see what happens. And then we uh before I I go like to the stage, my sister told me, you know what, let's do like a circle and and let's do like let's give you like really good vibes. And I was like, okay, let's do it. And I was really tired, I was not in the mood. But then we we like grabbed our hands, and she was like, let's do like whatever we can, you know, like God bless you, and you're gonna do the best of you, and I was like, okay, let's do it. And then I think that it worked. Why? Because when I started to to go into a stage, and then they told me, What are you gonna sing? I'm gonna sing this from Jesus Christ Super Sure. And that was uh uh also uh an opera uh that Canela was part of when he was putting in Puerto Rico because she's from there, right? So she was part of it, and she already knew about it, yeah, and I think she also she also has Judas in in that in that opera, and Judas that it's a really interesting character because has a really deep voice in the musical. So it's like oh that's really good for for Canele. Yeah because she has like a deep voice. And I I think that's that's why she was looking forward for me to sing it, you know? Because she that was like a throwback for her when she was like part of the of the of the musical. Yeah, and then we'll let you know. Okay, I'm gonna try my best. Then I'm telling that it worked when we did like the circle, because when I started singing, I started to feel like an energy coming from my from my arms. I'm I'm not like not inventando, like I'm not inventing this. Like I was actually feeling it. I don't know, it was like I know. I don't know, it was weird because I was feeling really tired, and then when I started to to be like in the mood, I started to feel like all the energy coming from the tip of my of my fingers, like to my whole body from from both arms. And it was the first time that I felt something like that. I don't know why why I felt that. Maybe I have something in my body that and I have to go check with my doctor, you know. Yeah, but it was like really I I was starting like all the energy, and I was starting to feel relief for some reason. And I just did my best, and I think that it came out like I was decent. I think that I can do better, and and I know that I'm really harsh with me, but I'm really like perfectionist, and I like things to be like really high quality. So basically I was just like trying to show something different, also because this song is like rock and it goes really high with the falsetto, it goes just like to a high G, but beyond the high G, you know? Instead of it goes to the octave like higher. Oh, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 57:29

So like whistle tones area.

SPEAKER_01 57:32

Yeah, yeah. So so I had to sing those notes, and it has to be three times. Yeah, and you have to sustain it, yeah. Yeah, and I and I try my best. I I didn't like them when I saw the video, but I think that okay, I I just made it, you know. Yeah, and then I would say they they like them because I went to the finals, and it was really, really, really funny because I remember when they were like giving the results, we were all nervous, you know, and they were like, okay, you you are not going to the finals and things like that, you know. And they were doing like all the you know, like always just like being like very mysterious and just like giving like the hype to everyone. I mean, like, for example, like Andre, and just like you, just like everyone waiting, you know, yeah, and just like you go to the finals and things like that, you know. But with me, I think it was really funny because Jonas was like, I'll do, and I was like, Oh man, and then uh Lalo started to put like a beat, uh hard beat, like, lalo. And then Jonas was like, Lalo, no, she was like, Stop, stop, this is hard for us, and it was really fun because with everyone, he was like, You are in the finals, and things like that. But when it was like, Aldo, you're in the finals. Because we were well, he was like really, really hype and things like that. He was like, You're in the finals, and I was like, Okay, I'll take it. Why do you even show up?

SPEAKER_02 59:13

You're gonna be in the finals.

SPEAKER_01 59:14

I don't know, just keep going. I don't know if that if that was intention, but it was really funny, you know.

SPEAKER_02 59:22

Yeah, so semifinals, half the people. Yeah, half the people. Got it.

SPEAKER_01 59:27

They call like the half the people. And we were in the finals, it's supposed to be it was Andrew, it was Chris, it was Alex, it was Alyssa, and it was me. Then Alex uh he he didn't get to make it to the finals because he was he had something like some familiar issue with with his something like a family issue with his wife. I think she was in a hospital or something like that, and he has to be with her, you know, because yeah, that's love. Yeah, that's love. That's really cool. And really sit, really sweet for him, you know. And he just like he gave his place to Alice. And it was really cool because also everyone deserves to be in the in the finals, you know.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:18

And and Alice did really good during the whole contest. And yeah, it was really cool.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:30

Now we got um the leading up to the final. Okay, you decided on Granada.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:42

Okay, okay, let me tell you something. Let me tell you something. So before I I was thinking like, what should I sing? And my my girlfriend was telling me since the beginning, you know what? You have to sing something like classical, you know, like you know, like something about that, like an aria from an opera or something, you know, you have to do because you have been like giving like something different every week or trying to give something different, and you're missing that. And I was like, You're right. I have to sing like opera, you know, with the with the classical training technique. And at first I was thinking about Nesum Dorman. You know Nesum Dorman? No, it's a really famous one. I think it was also a mean. It it danced like with a really high B, like uh really high note. Yeah, I don't know if you have heard about that one. I'm sorry about my voice. Yeah, but um, I was thinking about that one because it's really powerful and and I like it, I love it. But the thing is that it was too short. Yeah, it's just like two minutes, and I was like stressing out already because you know, in school I was preparing for my recital, and also we had the choir concerts, and and I don't know, it was like a lot stuff going on, and also my van, I had to practice with them because we had the Gibbs, yeah, but geeks, sorry, gibbs, not with B, with G. Geeks. Yeah, the English is running out. Yeah, it's running out, it's running out. We're running out of English already. Let me go, let me go to the R3 and buy some more. Yeah, and um, but I I was really sure about it, you know, to sing Nesum Dorma. What I was thinking, you know what, it's gonna be really hard to get the orchestra because I'm gonna need like 16-20 people, you know. I won't have money to pay them because it that's gonna be fair for them to be paid, you know. Yeah, and I was like, no, man, if I win, like with Nesum Dorma, like all the 1500 is gonna be for the musicians, you know. Yeah. But I was talking with my girlfriend, and she was like, you know what? You should do Granada. And I was like, I forgot about that one, but you're right, I should do Granada. But the thing is that let me tell you something. Okay, before this, I went to to an event that the mother of Andre she invited me. And I was part of the band, and she wanted me to sing with them. It was like a fundraiser for for a friend of her. And uh let me I went okay, it was for a friend of her, and she invited me because it was like Hispanic people, and I wanted to hear like something that I sing, you know, like Jose Jose and things like that, you know, Luis Miguel. And and they invited me, and that night we were talking about what it was before the finals, it was like that week, you know. And we were talking uh about what we were gonna do in the finals, and they told me, you know what? I'm thinking about the founting of the opera. And I was like, really? Oh man, that's gonna be really cool. Because we were thinking the same, you know. We were thinking to sing opera, you know, like kind of operary stuff. And he was like, Yeah, I'm gonna do like a middle, I'm gonna do like a middle. Uh well, I think he talked about this already.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:34

Yeah, yeah, he told the whole story.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:37

About like we were talking about what we're gonna do in the finals.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:41

No, that he didn't say.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:43

Okay, we were talking about that, and and we were like open about it because I don't, you know, it's like I'm not like envious. Uh and uh and I don't think about like competition was like he's my friend, man. It's like yeah, I don't feel like like something like, no, no, I don't I won't tell you like what I'm gonna sing or things like that, you know. And I was like really open and was like, I'm gonna sing Nesum Dorma. And he was like, oh, the the one from the meme. And I was like, yeah, yeah, but but later on, like I changed the opinion because it was hard for me to find musicians. And also with Granada, I was struggling because I was gonna sing it, I was going to sing that one for my recital. So my pianist already knew it.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:30

And I was like, oh man, because the final is gonna be November 20. And if you don't know, that's the day of the Mexican Revolution. And my pianist is from Reynosa, but he works here and he lives here, right? Well, he he doesn't live here, he lives in Reynosa, but he he works here in U Church B. And I was like, let me ask him, because he might be like uh busy, right? And yeah, he was busy. He was like, it's because that day is the Mexican Revolution, I already have like a geek and Like that, and I was like, Oh man, what should I do? And I was stressing out, man. I was really stressed, and I was like, What should I do? What should I do? And I was like, Granada, can be done with mariachi. Okay. So it was Wednesday. It was Wednesday. And on Wednesday, I asked a friend of mine, Alex Martinez. Man, he's really good. Like outstanding musician. Yeah. He's from Los Presidents. And then I told him, bro, I have the contest and I need your help. Do you think that you can help me? And he was like, I can help you with the with the guitar. And I was like, no, no, no. I would say like I can gather people, right, to play it. He was like, no, no, just with the guitar, you know, don't make like a like a mess with this. And I was like, well, let's see, man. And he was like, well, let me check because I think that I have a geek with the with the church. And I was like, oh shh. Like what should I do? You know? And then I I was really stressed because also I told Abdiel. I was like, Abdiel, do you think that you can help me? Like with something, I don't know, guitar, guitar on, like whatever. And he was like, let me check because it's my birthday. And I think that I'm gonna have like a like a dinner or something. I was like, oh what should I do, man? And and then I didn't have people, you know, and I was stressing out. This was on Wednesday. Okay. And then the next day on Thursday, I I didn't receive any response, and I was like, oh crap. I have to sing with a backing track, you know? And I was looking already for a backing track. Yeah. And I found one that I was like kind of decent, but it was too long the intro, and I was like, I'm gonna edit this, you know? And I have to lower the key because it was too high. Just like for my for my range, because the highest note in my in my in my arrangement, it has to be an A. And for the one that I found, it was a B, I think. And that was too high, and was just like, no, no, I I won't risk it because I can crack in that one. Yeah, and an A was like alright for me, you know. And basically, the next day, yeah, on Thursday, Thursday night, my friend of mine from Los Fresnos, he told me, you know what? And I was like, oh man, like I started to feel relief, you know, because I had already won. And I was like, yeah, we have to be like before six because it has to start at six. It was supposed to start at six, the finale, right? And then uh he told me, okay. And I was like, Thank you so much. He he was going to play the guitar. And then I changed it because I was like, You're a trumpet player, that's your first instrument. Can you play the trumpet? And he was like, okay, what do you want me to play? And I was like, the intro, and it's like, you know, their arrangements over there. He was like, okay. And then I called Miguel, and I was like, Miguel, can you help me? He was like, Yeah. And I was like, Oh, thank you, Franco. Thank you, Franco's coming in. Thank you. What's his name?

SPEAKER_02 1:09:15

Julian.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:16

Thank you, Julian. No, really, really, really nice. He he made some parote, you know. Thank you, Miguel. I really appreciate it, man. And he was like, Yeah, yeah, go for it. And I was like, Okay, can you play the guitar or the guitar on? And he was like, Okay. And then my girlfriend, Alfita, she just told me, you know what? I remember that I sold my my biguela because she had a biguela and she sold it to a guy from over there from GRGB. I was there when she talked to him. And she was like, He he plays he plays a guitar on or bigwella, and he also has a friend who plays the guitar on. I was like, okay, why don't you ask him? Let me let me send you a number. And then I she sent me the number, and then I was like, oh, okay, bro. So this is really quick. So I'm in a contest, you know, and I nurse her to explain everything. And I was like, Can you help me? And he was like, uh I don't think so because I'm out of town and things like that. And I was like, okay, thank you. It's okay. Like I just needed to know, like, can you? And he was like, okay. And later on that day, he called me again. He was like, you know what? I can. Like my friend, like my friend can't do it. The the one of the of the guitar, because we are gonna be back, but I can't do it because I have another compromise. And I was like, okay. And then um uh he he he gave me his number of his friend. His name is Ryan. And then he was like, okay, I'll be there. Like I was like, can you be there like at 540 or 545, you know, so we can like practice because we didn't have time to practice before, you know, because everyone but everyone was busy somewhere off to somewhere out of town, other ones like couldn't do it, like you know. And then like when it was close to to the to the to the day, I think it was on on Saturday, Abdial sent me a message. And he called me, he was like, you know what, I won't do anything on my birthday. It was gonna be like this Sunday, but I don't think that that I can that I can do it this day. Let me do it like between the the the week, you know, like maybe on Thursday and things like that. So do you need another another instrument, instrumental list? And I was like, oh man, like everything like accommodated, like really good. Yeah. And I was like, okay, go for it, you know, just go and play viuela or whatever you want. He was like, okay. And I already had the trumpet player, I had the the the guitaron, the viuela, and the guitar. But this guy from the guitaron, he told me, you know what? It's because I I want to get paid. And I was like, bro, if you wanted to get paid, it's okay. But just tell me since the beginning, you know. Yeah, and he was like, Oh yeah, okay, okay. But I was like, but but I'm happy to pay you because I think that everyone deserves something, yeah. And you're making me like a like a like a help, you're helping me, you know. But I was not planning to pay you, but it's okay, I'll pay you even though. But my plan was like, if we win or we win something, I'll pay you, you know. But if I don't win, like I don't have money, like how should I pay you? But you know, even if I win or uh or if you don't win, I'll pay you. It's okay. Like for me, it's okay. I was like, okay, okay. But I was like, okay, just go for it. It's like I don't care, you're you're making it making it work, you know. Yeah, yeah, it's not a complaint, it's just like something, you know, that happened. But yeah, it was like that. And and that was, yeah, but but that was my plan. I was like, okay, if I go in, I'm gonna pay like each one of them, you know, because they deserve it. They were part of the of the night. And then and then I was planning like like to rehearse before, right? And then it was Sunday already. And I was even thought nervous because you know, sometimes things happen, like people can't come because something happened and things like that. And I was like, oh man, let's see if they come, you know. And they were there, they were there before six. And I was like, oh. And then we started to rehearse in the back. I didn't know if we had if we could like be over there when where did you just go to to decide all the results?

SPEAKER_02 1:13:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:32

But I was like, Well, I don't see why not. And we were like, okay, let's go. And we're in the in the little because I don't know if you had entered over there, but the thing is that there's a little hole, a pasillo, you know? Yeah. And then it goes like an L. So it goes like straightforward and enter, right? And all the way till the end, there's a room, a big room where where they put everything, right? Like it is like a warehouse, I would say. But we didn't go all the way till the end. We just stayed over there in the in the in the pasillo. Yeah. In the first one, in neither in the in the one that that goes like to the room. And and a worker from there from Rockwell, he just entered the the pasillo, the the hall. And he was like, Oh, sorry guys, I didn't know that you were here. And I was like, Oh, I'm sorry. But I was I was gonna ask you, like, can we be here? He was like, Yeah, but uh what I think you would be like more comfortable when I go to the back because there's a room over there. And he took us to the room, and I was like, Oh, that's better, man. Yeah, and then the the one from the guitar run, he wasn't there yet. And then he arrived and he went like back to with us, and we rehearsed, and we were like kind of playing around. But but it was really fast, you know. We took like 30 minutes to put everything together, but I think it was like thanks to to Alex because he knows how to orchestrate everything really good with the mariachi. He was like, you know what, you do this, you do that, you do that. I was just like kind of helping with the with the chords. Yeah, yeah, because I was like, no, I think that one is bad, I think that one's a different one. And he was like, What is it? And he was like, Oh, I think it's this one, and this is like that. Um, but he was like putting everything together. Yeah, but they were really good, and I really appreciate them. I'm really grateful with them because it came out really good, you know. Without them, I I would I would say that I wouldn't have won, to be honest. Because Andre did really good and everyone else like did really good. But I would say And that Andre was really outstanding because he took like the the musical to to the to the rock wall, you know. He was like watching the musical over there. Yeah. He took like other level, yeah. But but yeah, it came out really good, and I was really glad because uh my professor from UTRGB, the one who gives me lessons, voice lessons, he was there, man.

SPEAKER_02 1:16:08

Oh, he was there.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:09

And I and I wasn't expecting him to be there because he's he's like 70, 72 years old. Yeah. And I think that and I was like, maybe he's gonna think like, well, this guy, like he wants me to go. No, I don't wanna like I'm too old for this, or I don't know, you know. I was thinking like, no, maybe he's what he was gonna not gonna be there. But yeah, he was there. He was there. Showed up, yeah, he showed up. Yeah. And it was really cool. I I felt like I was feeling nervous, really, really nervous. And a friend of mine, uh, Eric, he was there. And he was like, I w when I was in the restaurant like warming up, he was like, you know what, man, just give your best because the people over over here, they're not wanting to see someone who is like really really nervous, really like pressured, you know. They just want you to give your best, you know. They they just want you to to see Aldo being Aldo, you know, and to to enjoy the the stage and to be just you. And I was like, man, I really needed to hear these words because I was really nervous and I was like panicking. And he was like, and for some reason you are here in the finale, because you are good. And I was like, thank you, thank you. I I didn't take that in account, but I would say like he's right, right? Because that's why we're in the finale. And I was like, thank you, man, I really appreciate it, and it really helped me because I was really nervous. And before the the contest started, we had to do the the duets, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:17:49

That's right.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:49

Yeah, and I sang Oy Tengo Ganas a tea with Amadita, and I felt really cool. I was really nervous even when we were singing it, I was I was shaking, and she could feel it, and she was like, hey tranquilo, tranquilo, tranquilo, that's time. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah, we sang that one, and and I felt pretty comfortable with her singing it. And yeah, Granada was a really cool option. I think that it was. You know what? It's really curious because when I was in Mexico in my high school, I was part of a contest, and I won it the first time with Granada. And then I I passed to the next level, which is like kind of a state level between all the schools that are like my same school in other parts of the state. Yeah. And I won with Hetzemani. So it was the opposite this time, you know, because this time, like in the semifinals, I sang Hetzemani. And in the finals, I sang Granada. And back then I sang in the kind of semifinals because it was the first filter, Granada, and the second time I I sang Hetzemani. You know, it was like weird. Yeah. Um and then well, coming back to the to the person in in the finals, even though I was nervous, but I was just like, you know what? Let's just do it. Yeah, because my friend helped me with those words. And I think that it came, I came out, it came out like really good. I like it. I I like it. This is the first time that I would say like I like it. I would say for me that the ones that I really enjoy that I think that they were good, like for my all my performances, it was Yalo Sequez, El Triste, and Granada. Those were like my top three for me. Like there were ones I think that they were not that good. I don't know. Like, what do you think?

SPEAKER_02 1:20:01

No, I think um yeah, Granada was really good. Yeah. Um there was um your audition I think was really good.

SPEAKER_01 1:20:18

Oh, okay, okay.

SPEAKER_02 1:20:19

Do you remember what you sang? Yeah. What was that? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:20:25

Were you there?

SPEAKER_02 1:20:26

I was there.

SPEAKER_01 1:20:27

In person?

SPEAKER_02 1:20:28

Yeah. Um there in person. And then I sang, but you had left already.

SPEAKER_01 1:20:33

Oh yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:20:34

You you left after I went up because I sang Volver.

SPEAKER_01 1:20:38

Oh, okay, okay.

SPEAKER_02 1:20:39

Um, but yeah, I think your audition was really good. Thank you. Um and Rock Knight, you know the Rock Knight was good, but man, it cracked. Yeah, it cracked like twice or twice. And at the main part. Yeah. But um, yeah, you mean you put on the show. Uh and then yeah, I think yeah, that's uh triste was was done very well. Granada, I guess I'm just more used to hearing it in mariachi. So it's a little different, right? Stylistically. Um, but yeah, it w it was it was done very well. It's just um it was with the mariachi, yeah, but you still sang it a little bit more classical opera style, so there's a little bit of a clash there. But um, yeah, but I mean yeah, it was still very good. That arrangement, who came up with that? Or is because that's kind of like the Alejandro Fernandez arrangement. Um who did that?

SPEAKER_01 1:21:46

No, um well, the thing is that I I I have the score of the arrangement for piano, and we took like that uh as our path, you know, to do it.

SPEAKER_02 1:21:56

But uh because the mariachi version is a little different, it does it doesn't repeat back to the the beginning, it just kind of goes straight through.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:07

Okay, so so isn't it doesn't go back to the rosa, the suave fragancia?

SPEAKER_02 1:22:11

Okay, it only does the part once in mariachi.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:15

Okay, well in the classical world they they they used to do that, like always they always go back to the roses and then we finish with the high note. Yeah, okay with that one, yeah. So so that's what I took it, like, and also Alex Martinez, the one from the trumpet, yeah, he was taking as a model um a Mariachi, Mariachi arrangement. Yeah, so in the last part yeah, oh yeah, yeah, in that part. I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 1:22:47

Yeah, I mean that that's that's pretty um common way to end the Mariachi's Aviat Solis version like that. And I think Alejandro Fernando's one too. But yeah, I mean it was it it was good. I w I wasn't there in person. Um you didn't ask me to play, so that's oh man, I didn't know. When you didn't know, yeah. Why don't you ever ask me? Wait, I play.

SPEAKER_01 1:23:18

It's because I I thought that you were really busy with your masters, and you were right.

SPEAKER_02 1:23:24

I was and I was out of town that weekend, but that's why. That's why you didn't ask.

SPEAKER_01 1:23:32

We we could do it through Zoom, right? I could have done it over Zoom. We put it with DJ Lado in the computer over there, and it cuts off every five seconds.

SPEAKER_02 1:23:44

No, but yeah, I I wasn't, it was the 20th, right? Yeah, it was the 20th. I believe I was in Houston for a conference. Yeah, yeah. Um either that or something. I don't remember. But yeah, man, yeah, I I I really wasn't able to go to most of the shows after had been eliminated. But I still watched um the live sometimes, or um, and I didn't know what was going on at first during the the final performance because like I saw Andre um live, right? On the on the Facebook Live, and then I was like, oh, okay. And I was scrolling and I go back 10 minutes later, he's still on there. I'm like, what's going on? And then I was like, oh, it's a 13-minute performance. Yeah. And then I saw there's like changes, and you had to set the stage again. But um did you feel like you sang that perfectly?

SPEAKER_01 1:24:48

No, no, I didn't sang it perfectly. But I would say it was my best interpretation of all yeah, of the whole contest.

SPEAKER_02 1:24:57

You came in a suit or a tuxed.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:59

Uh the tux? You were you were like in a tuxedo or yeah, yeah, I was in a tuxedo. Yeah, yeah, I was in that one. The thing is that there were some notes that I was hesitating, especially the low ones, just like in the granada. I don't know if I could do it like gra or gra you know, like kind of I don't know if I could take it like from the lowest one, granada, or from the e granada, you know, because there are like several options, and I was like kind of hesitating, like how should I do it? Because regularly it's from the E, right? From granada. Yeah, but I could say like Granada. Yeah, but but because of that, I didn't decide like in the moment, and I was like kind of hesitating in those parts, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:25:47

Yeah, I mean those are those those things where the voice teacher comes in, right? Yeah, or they kind of tell you that this way. And maybe you know it's always up to debate which one's better, but you kind of need someone to tell you what to do so you decide. Because if not, you go up on stage and you're still not sure, and then you might even mess up because you never decided how you're gonna do it. Did you go over Granada with your the voice, your voice teacher from UTRGV?

SPEAKER_01 1:26:19

It was it was just once when he was like telling me because it was part of the program for my recital, okay? Yeah, and I have 11 songs or 12 for my recital, and there was a time that he was like, I wanna hear it. He was during my lesson, and also my girlfriend was there because she has to to do some paper for uh for another class, and she got to to to be part of the lesson and just like take notes and things like that. Yeah, and that's why she told me about it because she was there that day. Okay, so basically, um that day, it was the first time that he heard me sing it. And and I don't know why, but my teacher, he's like very expressive. You know, when he doesn't like something, he he will be like, you know what, he he doesn't care. Like he will be like, you know what, like just like making faces or things like that. Yeah. And when he likes something, he will do the same. You know, he will be like really making like oh surprise face and things like that. And when I was singing that song, like for the first time with him, you know, uh, he was really surprised. I don't I don't know why. Like he really liked it. And he was like, oh when I hit the the last note, he was like, Oh, it sounds really good, you know. And I was like, Oh, thank you. Yeah, but but the when it went over it like again, because that day I I think that I wasn't hesitating that much. I I would do it just like whatever, you know. But I don't know why that day, like I started to hesitate like a little bit, you know. I would say it was just like in that note.

SPEAKER_02 1:27:59

Yeah. I mean when you get a certain level you start hearing every single thing, the way the phrases connect, or that they don't. And I mean that's the level that that eventually you get to. Yeah. So after um everybody sang, right? The five finalists. Yeah. And then the results coming up, what was that like? All five of you were on stage, or what?

SPEAKER_01 1:28:29

Yeah. We were just like in the floor, but in front of the stage, because Jonas's band was playing the two beerdies. They sound really good, man. They killed it. Yeah. Yeah, they're they're awesome. Stanal Puro Centavaso, Puro Mion. Oh yeah, yeah, they sound really professional. Yeah, I really liked it. They were playing and then. Whoa. No, no, everything everything was set, like the drums and everything, but they were not playing until they were announcing the first and the second place. So the fifth place goes to I think it was Alice. Right. And it was like, oh yeah, yeah. And then then the fourth place goes to I think it was Alisa. She got the fourth place. And then it was like the third place it goes to Chris. And then Chris. And then it was like between me and Andrew. And I was really nervous because I was like, okay, let's see what happens, you know. You know, like I could I couldn't believe it. Like I was part of the of the first series, you know. And then they were like, the second place goes to. And I remember me and Andre we were like with the with the head together. And you know what? During that moment, I felt like a lot of peace. Like I disconnected from everything. I was just like, I don't know if Andrew felt the same, but but I I felt just like, oh man, whatever happens, you know. And I and I felt like relieved when we were like this. Because I think that everyone deserves to be the the the winner, right? Because everyone was really really good. Yeah. And when they say like, uh, and I was like, well, we are both with an A, right? And he was like, you wanna set like the second place was uh Andre. And everyone was like really happy, and I and I was like, Oh Andrew, he was the second place, and I didn't realize that I was the first. I just was like, Well, so that means I know this first place, and I just like looked to my side and and I saw Jake, and Jake was like, Oh, he was like really excited. You look, he was like, You're the one. Yeah, I feel it felt really, really beautiful. You know, it was a beautiful moment, something that that I won't forget, forget for my life.

SPEAKER_03 1:31:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:31:14

That place was packed that night. I remember seeing that, right?

SPEAKER_01 1:31:17

Yes, it was really packed.

SPEAKER_02 1:31:19

All your family went out?

SPEAKER_01 1:31:21

Yeah, my family was there. Yeah, my friends, my teacher.

SPEAKER_02 1:31:29

How long? Uh what time did you go to sleep?

SPEAKER_01 1:31:33

No, I think it was like at 12. Oh, 12. Yeah, because it it was it was not that long like other nights. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, because we were just like five. Yeah, and the five performances of the duets and things like that, it was not that long. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:31:53

So what did you learn?

SPEAKER_01 1:31:57

I learned that don't waste your money in put up. No, I'm just kidding, I I keep the money like just like saving it, saving it, you know. Uh I'll say I learned about um being uh being a good uh a good colleague, a good person always, you know. Because sometimes I think that it's really weird in the in the art field in general, especially music and acting and things like that. People tend to be like very envious, I mean like very like selfish, you know what I mean? Yeah, and I learned that not everyone is like that. And then learned it in in this contest because everyone was really friendly and we will help each other and not talking bad about anyone, you know, just like mean there for everyone because we're a family. And I'm really glad, I'm really grateful to be part of this because I don't know. I feel lucky and blessed to be able to meet these people, including you. Because everyone is really really special, you know. Everyone is really easygoing, you know, some someone that you can come with. And instead of putting like rocks in our in our ways, we just try to to be to be a family and to be to be helping each other. Yeah. And I learned that to be honest, it helped me to to grow as an artist, to grow as a singer. Yeah. Yeah, I think that it helped me a lot. It helped me to gain confidence in myself. And also I learned that there's talent everywhere. You know, and I learned that even though that there's a winner and there's a loser, everyone has a space in in this field, you know. And even though I was a winner, you know, there there's people who's gonna like Chris. Because I have heard people like a lot like the cell of Chris. There's people who's gonna like a lot Andre. There's people who's gonna like a lot Alexis, Alexa, Alisa, you know, Alice, Andrea, uh, Sick, Iram, uh Eli, Jake, who else, Michael, uh all the contestants, uh Juan, Natalie, like everyone's gonna like something about them. Shanti. Shanti, how to forget Shanti. Yeah, yeah, everyone's gonna like and Alex, Alex also. I think Belinda Belinda, Belinda, and I would say that's it, right? I mentioned everyone. Yeah, you said Michael Zick. Yeah. Yeah. So I would say yeah, I also say it Eli. Yeah, I said Eli. Yeah. So I would say that even though that there's a winner, uh you have a place for everyone, you know. So even though that there's gonna be someone who likes your music, who likes your art, you know, even though if you were not a winner. So this is just like I would say that the the contest was a place to to make friends, to make connections, to to gain confidence and to grow as an artist. But it is not like the end of the of the path, you know. It is not the end of the way. So that that's why I'm telling this, because for people who who maybe did not get to to make it to the finals, or even to the third night, or to the second night, this is not the end, you know. You have to keep going. And someday you can make it big. You don't know. Just keep going and and work for your dreams, yeah. Okay guys, I wanna say thank you to everyone and thank you for listening to this boring conversation and my my really bad English. Um let's just keep in touch. Like you wanna follow me in my social media, Aldo Gonzalez, with double Z and both Z in TikTok and Instagram, and just find me as Aldo G in YouTube and in Facebook. And yeah, don't forget to eat your vegetables, and don't eat too much these holidays because you're gonna be a torque nets next Thanksgiving. So, and go to your gym. Let's go to the gym. Let's go, baby! Yeah, see you, take care, God bless you. Thank you, Alexis.

SPEAKER_02 1:37:30

All right, this has been uh Los Maniachi Sagas, RGB got talent with Aldo, grand champion of season one. Let's see you all next time.