Broke Boyz From Fresno
Hey everyone it's Martin from the Broke Boyz From Fresno Podcast, my goal here is to entertain, inspire, and uplift our community. I'm all about keeping it real, sharing my daily struggles, and motivating others who might be going through the same. Join me as we navigates life’s challenges, supports one another, and builds a stronger, more connected community together.
Broke Boyz From Fresno
Musical Triumphs and Inspirational Journeys with Nico Vargas
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Meet Nico Vargas, a remarkable singer-songwriter and producer from Fresno who defies all odds. Diagnosed with autism during childhood, Nico overcame early expectations to emerge as a musical prodigy with perfect pitch, teaching himself piano and singing. In this episode, Nico opens up about his creative process, from crafting Christmas variants for the Broke Boyz Holiday Special to collaborating with Rockstar Turtle on a cover track. His journey is a testament to the resilience and creativity required to overcome life's obstacles, encouraging us all to embrace our unique gifts.
Nico’s story is deeply personal and inspiring, illustrating how passion for music can triumph over challenges. His musical journey began at age nine with piano lessons and has evolved through classical training with the Youth Orchestras of Fresno. Despite difficulties like sensitivity to loud noises and misunderstanding from others, Nico shines as a songwriter and a member of the cover band Eminent Groove. His repertoire spans oldies, cumbias, R&B, soul, and Latin pop, all performed live. The episode underscores the idea that music is a transformative force and a medium for personal expression.
Support and inspiration are the bedrock of Nico's life, particularly from his faith and family. Influences like Juice WRLD and XXXTentacion, along with artists like Rockstar Turtle, have played a significant role in his artistic evolution, offering avenues for emotional expression. We also explore the dynamics of the music industry, weighing the benefits of independence against the pitfalls of major labels, with insights from icons like Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny. Nico's path is an empowering narrative of growth and connection, urging us to pursue our passions with authenticity and determination.
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Intro Music by Rockstar Turtle- Broke Boyz (999)
Christmas Intro Song by Nico
Christmas High on Santa's sleigh up to the sky. No way the Grinch will get nearby. Ain't got that Christmas house right.
Speaker 1Ain't no Christmas house. Oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh, thank you again for the songs that you've made for the Brooklyn Wings Holiday Special. You are incredible, like I told you before, you inspire me. You are such an impactful person and this has been waiting for a while, but now it's here. Now it's here Exactly.
Speaker 2Yeah, wow, it's actually an honor. It's beyond me right now that it's wow, jesus. Sometimes I don't even know or I can't remember how I started. It's just that the Holy Spirit moves me in a way that when I come to know that foundation of that podcast here, just like what you said long time ago, it's about about having a good time but also keeping in touch with the reality of our daily struggles. Yeah, so that's, that's what really got me going and wanting to voluntarily produce those variants of the christmas. You get what I mean. Absolutely, yeah.
Speaker 1And I showed them to DJ and I told DJ I was just like, look, listen to these. And it was hard just to sit there and then to pick one because they were all so good.
Speaker 3And when he showed me I was like dude, he produced a lot Like. When we get this guy on the podcast episode, it's going to be a good one for sure. Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2For sure, I hope so yeah.
Speaker 3I hope so, of course, you're great.
Speaker 1You do great. Yeah, and I told everybody that I think getting enough people to all talk all four talk that way it eases the conversation. You feel a little bit more comfortable, right, my whole goal is to make you feel comfortable and make sure that you're okay. Yes, and at any given moment that you need a break, you let us know there's nothing wrong with that Cool.
Speaker 2Thank you yeah.
Speaker 1So welcome back to another episode of the Broke Boys. I'm Martin and I got my boy, DJ Dan Julian. And we have special guest Nico, who is a songwriter and a producer here in Fresno.
Speaker 2Thank you so much. My name is Nico Vargas y'all. Thank you so much Martin, my boy Martin, for having me here on this episode. Like he said, I'm a singer-songwriter, producer and a complex individual with autism. Yes, and I'm glad to be producing those variants because, come on, as I've studied other radio shows, they they've had christmas variants or some podcasts. They had christmas variants in their episodes. So, yeah, and some of, maybe some of the jingles right there, maybe they switched up the lyrics just for the holidays and for the festive touch. So, hey, I thought, why not for this one?
Speaker 1no, yeah, exactly no, and that was such a great idea and thank you, and I know right now you're still working on the cover song. Yes, with uh, rockstar turtle yes and even the snippets that you sent me, the samples of those. Yeah, that that's coming out incredibly.
Speaker 2Um, well done as well thank you, it's still in the works, yeah it's still in the works. So, um it's. I'm almost like like I said, like I'm very detailed oriented in that way, so hopefully it's like radio ready.
Speaker 1Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2Yeah, so that's going to be awesome, that's good.
Speaker 1Now we're here today to talk about your story and I told you this before. You really inspire me and you would be such a great impactful influencer. Thank you for a lot of people out there thank you much bro whenever you feel like you're ready and you know, tell people your story all right, so what?
Speaker 2became of nico oh right, all right. So, beginning in wow, during my, during my infancy years, way back in, uh, back in the 90s, late 90s, early aughts, so my brother and I were both diagnosed with autism at the age of three, but at the same, at the same time, those doctors were pretty much given that false prognosis, in a way that that it sounds discouraging, but much but to y'all listeners right here, look where we're at now. We, we defied the odds of what those people, what those doctors, were saying, although I'm like where's their license at? Although they were saying that we were not going to talk. We're not going to talk, we're not going to be educated, we're not going to be independent, we're not going to move. Yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada. But we defied against that. Call them out. Call them out right now.
Speaker 1Right.
Speaker 2You doctors? Where's your license? Where is it? Provide some proof?
Speaker 1Starts dropping addresses.
Speaker 2Starts leaving me address right now, right, uh. So let me shame on you. But hey, grace be upon you, but still wrong prognosis. Yo, absolutely, that's right, uh. So by the time, uh, it was after we were diagnosed, around the same time, actually at that part two, I started to hum along to certain songs on the radio, and no, not nursery rhymes, no kiddie songs. I wasn't getting into them at the time. So I was pretty much God was developing that auditory process in my brain, in my neurological function, so very much, so much so that four years later, at the age of seven, I started to teach myself how to play piano and sing.
Speaker 1Wow, so you taught yourself.
Speaker 2Mostly yes, although a couple of years later on I forgot to mention Also, at seven, I discovered that I have perfect pitch. Wow, for those of you who are not familiar with perfect pitch, it's a rapid auditory processing, identifying a pitch instantly, in a second, without a reference point.
Speaker 1Kind of like Charlie Puth. Yeah, Charlie Puth has that.
Speaker 2Charlie Puth has that. That's what I've heard, of course. Wow, yeah, that's incredible, thank you, it's a gift. So it's oh before we, oh, before I got into, before I got into lessons, I was just going along with that. I was given the sheet music by my dad at the time because he thought I wanted to read it. I thought you know what I'm just going to play, what I feel. Of course I've gotten the keyboard, just a tiny little little keyboard, but which I've learned it from there very much and uh, by identifying those pitches, I started to sing along to naturally, to sing those pitches naturally, yeah, yeah. So from there on forward, I, I was.
Speaker 3That's where the rest is history, as I will tell, or y'all, y'all have questions, y'all welcome to ask yeah, well, one of the questions I had is so like, with being diagnosed with autism, what's one of the main things that you struggled with?
Speaker 2one of the things I struggle with is not knowing where I fit in the real world and especially having that neurological, that that's distinct neurological function, much more like, as some people call it, a deficit, right. But I really yeah, I would in a way, but in another part of me says, no, it's not so, it's more like being self-aware of, of that kind of gift in a heart, but also kind of had me distanced from reality, from the realities of the real world, right? So there's this. That's like the uphill battle, the constant battle in being juxtaposed, in being so abstract and artistic and then being in touch with the real world. I was like, how am I artistic, how am I this, how am I that? Right, being in touch with the world where I was like, how am I artistic, how am I this, how am I that? I mean it's good to be on either side, but being in between God, it's an uphill battle, unless music takes me over reasonably. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3Right right.
Speaker 2So, continuing on, by the time I got music lessons at nine, continuing on, by the time I got music lessons at nine, I had this piano structure. I fought against him during that, not physically but rather verbally, convincing him that I wanted to play Journeys faithfully at the recital, at the winter recital. Matter of fact, speaking of Journey, one of the influences I had, many influences growing up, as my parents exposed me to many great artists Vicente Fernandez, earth, wind, fire, journey, garth Brooks, what else? Phil Collins, lionel Richie, bruno Mars, whitney Houston, wow.
Speaker 1Yeah, so that's a wide range, that's a lot Good one. That's a wide range, that's a lot Good ones, yeah.
Speaker 2It's a wide range right there, so they've been exposing me to a lot, but even having bilingual parents, of course they also encouraged me to learn how to sing in Spanish, of course, being influenced by Vicente Fernandez and Pepe Aguilar Nice.
Speaker 3Yeah, viva Rest in peace.
Speaker 1Viva la raza A real king.
Speaker 2A real king, right. So, going on with the lessons as years passed, I've also been involved in Youth Orchestras of Fresno for a few years. What was that Gaining? Oh shucks, wow, I just lost my book. Oh yeah, gaining classical training and enhancing the, the craft in that way. So very much. It's, um, it's more like, it's like more like. I sought out training and enhancement in that way, not just relying on the natural talent there, right? So, as I've learned from many, many, many, many performances growing up, even one certain live album from Earth, wind, fire, that's always been mesmerizing me, right. And speaking of being mesmerized, I also struggled with as a young, as a young kid, being sensitive to loud noises like a vacuum cleaner, alarms, sirens, the emergency alert system, that one where the amber alert goes off. Yeah, I've always y'all be like. I remember in that one episode of a halloween episode, you were scared of that. Yeah, I, I was beyond scared.
Speaker 2No lie, no lie there, oh gosh. So yeah. But now, looking back, I thought so no wonder why, how I got mesmerized and I got more sensitive into those noises and also mesmerized by the music growing up. Right, you get what I mean.
Speaker 3Yeah, so it is quite a wonderful process that way. That's a good time to gift to have though you know a lot of people don't really appreciate music for what it is and obviously the gift that you were given you're able to at least be able to naturally find your tune in it. You know, not a lot of people can appreciate good music, so I'm not gonna do nowadays exactly.
Speaker 2It's pretty sad like that way. You know what I'm saying because like back then, back in the decades before, come on, people, be appreciated in more it was more authentic.
Speaker 2Yes, absolutely uh and uh by the time I reached. Yeah, a lot of autistics have encountered bullying too, because being intellectually gifted or being gifted on another part of the brain, or whether it be in art science and, of course, I'm being one of them. I know it's cliched, but hey, what I've been through may not be like anybody else, but I'm still on the same boat as others.
Speaker 3Yeah, absolutely so. With that being said, obviously I know you've been bullied. It's something that we all go through, I feel like. But being born with autism, do you remember one of the most memorable times of being bullied or anything that really stood out to you like that?
Speaker 2One of the things. Actually, it was not being bullied by another student. There was this one incident that even my parents have told me that went over my head, but basically because I was a big fan of the show at the time. I still am and uh, the simpsons, that's what I. Those are the, just the two words I wrote on the on the black concrete ground. Right, it was not gangster, there's not nothing affiliated to it, but it's. I just wrote it.
Speaker 3But they think of it as graffiti.
Speaker 1The staff, the teachers, they thought of it as graffiti.
Speaker 2Was it with like chalk, or With chalk, just chalk? That's it, just the words. No fancy font, no gangster font, nothing, just that, just how I wrote it as a kid. Only what? Seven, eight years old? That's it Right.
Speaker 3But they didn't like years old, that's it Right, but they didn't like the show. That's why Maybe not Exactly, maybe not.
Speaker 1Because it was the 2000s.
Speaker 2And maybe that second decade of when the show was running. That's probably what I think. I think they probably thought that I got influenced heavily by it, but who knows? Yeah. But I consider it like well, thought that I've got influenced heavily by it, but who knows? Yeah, but I consider like well, that goes to show them like, oh shit, that autistic dude, oh, what a noise maker he wrote, that wrote those words on the ground.
Speaker 3You're costing me money to make it well, just to get back on topic about, like, obviously, with your talent and and being into music, yes, so what are some of the things that you're doing? Now, I know you're a songwriter and producer, so what are you getting into?
Speaker 2right now I'm I'm involved in, oh well, I'm involved in the cover band eminent groove. Okay, which um? The genres that we play in particular are a variety, if you ask me, but mostly oldies, cumbias, r&b, soul, latin pop, rock, rock and roll, old time rock and roll.
Speaker 1You get my drift, so that pretty much.
Speaker 2we just play 100% live music, 100% live.
Speaker 1How did that start? Did they reach out to you? You reach out to you. You reach out to them.
Speaker 2It began when my actually last year this month last year when my dad brought it to me that my cousin uh had reposted the search post from facebook. So my dad came to the garage I was recording another song at the time but, um, he showed me the post searching for a keyboard player and vocalist. Yada, yada, yada, yada. So I thought I'll take the chance.
Speaker 1Yeah, we've got to try it out. Yeah, you never know what will come of it. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2It's just like I was sensing the door of breakthrough in that way, so I thought, okay, this is going to be another stepping stool. That's going to be awesome. Nice, that's right and so we're, we're, we're getting through, we're expanding a little bit too, and even next month we'll be um performing down southeast to porterville oh, wow okay, yeah, next month, wow is it gonna be in like a, like a club?
Speaker 3is it gonna be?
Speaker 2in the casino inside eagle mountain at eagle mountain casino, at tap and inside oh Eagle Mountain.
Speaker 1At Eagle Mountain Casino At Tap.
Speaker 2Redwood Tap Room.
Speaker 1I'm about to take a trip real quick. I'm going to lose all my money and then you're going to cheer me up. Yeah, crying in the club. Don't play no R&B.
Speaker 2So it's been going well, although there are ups and downs within a band too, because, let's be real, bands also get messy, yeah, and just like any other corporation. It could be feuds, it could be fights in between, or there could be conflicts within Right, it could be fights in between, or there could be conflicts within, and sure, we may have some, but we always have that mindset to work them out, right, right. So pretty much that's how we because the music is always at the center of the heart here, and to entertain people and to have a good time, basically to give them that groove that they won't forget.
Speaker 1Right, right. Do you feel like you ever feel pressure performing live like that?
Speaker 2Not really, although I did initially by the time we performed in talent shows, but that was like only one moment that I was pressured. That was like the start of it.
Speaker 1And then after that you didn't need to break the ice.
Speaker 3I kind of learned to be like just do it, yeah you'll get through it's fine.
Speaker 2Yeah, so at the back in elementary school, yeah, that's when it happened exactly. So then, other than that, boom, just just did it, just went through it, wow that's wrong.
Speaker 1I know you were mentioning talent shows that you you said that you were a part of american idol oh, I tried out and you tried out.
Speaker 2I tried out twice for american idol.
Speaker 1I didn't make it past the producers round really, so tell me about that experience, if you don't mind me asking.
Speaker 2I have a youtube video up right now that's it's from the first part of the. It's from the first audition, way back in 2019 that I auditioned at san j. From right there I was. Yeah, it was nerve-wracking too, but right over when we got to San Jose I had to wait at least an hour to get into that line, or at least I think, two hours to get into one of those panels in the convention center.
Speaker 1Oh shit Dang. Maybe more than that was there a long line?
Speaker 2it was long, yeah yeah, you could imagine like how, how it went across other cities in the country. Wow, yeah, you could imagine so. Or the other lines may be long, but we did get there early enough for the for the line to be not like nine hours long. Had to wait for like a quarter of a day or a third of a day. So, wow, it was. But by the time I reached to that panel I sung errol smith's I don't want to miss a thing which went well but still got rejected. Wow. But that first moment there I was depleted, dejected, felt discouraged. But dad gave me the pep talk, so to speak, afterward, telling me well, it's not about being on TV, because you don't even need reality TV to get recognition.
Speaker 1Absolutely not, you don't even need reality TV to get recognition?
Speaker 2Absolutely not, Because it's all about what's in the heart, what you do with it, what you do with the music, being authentic about it and just get it out there.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 2That's what it's all about. It ain't about the reality TV, because you know the business behind the reality TV. They flip over the narratives. They don't stick with even with the nasty contracts. They don't even stick with the individual narratives.
Speaker 1I get you.
Speaker 2Yeah, and I tried again two years later still got rejected. Passed the first round. I'm like, well, that's all right.
Speaker 1Yeah, it's okay. At least you had the boss enough to go and try. There's other people that wouldn't even. You're not going to lie.
Speaker 2I would not I thought I would give it a try because I saw that article that American Idol was going to audition in a city nearby yeah, it's nearest. At the time it was San Jose. Yeah, it was worth a try and it was worth learning. Yeah, yeah, it was worth a try and it was worth learning.
Speaker 1Yeah, it's about taking risks Absolutely, and then you either learn from the lessons or sometimes you continue progressing with what you're more passionate about.
Speaker 2Yeah, so that was something to look back and be like hey, at least I tried that, but I don't need it.
Speaker 1Yeah, so you said you produce a lot of music. You wrote some songs. What is one of the songs that you have your personal favorite?
Speaker 2I don't have a particular favorite, but the most personal one I would say is If Only I Can Help it. That one I wrote it during the pandemic actually, if only I can help it. That one I wrote it during the pandemic actually, and it was. It all encapsulates into what I yearn again. It's just the purest joyous moments of innocence from my childhood that have etched into my soul, deeply in the heart here that I'm like. I want to experience that again and again and again.
Speaker 2But coming to adulthood and coming with the burdens and having the carry the weight of the burdens of adulthood, it it pretty much. It's pretty much like a drive. But yes, it can be, it could get to me, yes, but it's more like it's more like a drive to help me get to pour it out in that way. So it was very personal in that way and I'm not going to lie, I cried while writing it too. So it's pretty much why I said in those lyrics I won't let go of my inner child. I can walk outside for miles till I'm tired of the path. For a good while nobody can get the best of me. I won't fall back from being free and I can't wait to find the best of things and I'm glad to spread my wings to fly. If only I can help it wow, beautiful beautiful.
Speaker 3So that's what pretty much it says in the hook it's amazing, honestly because there's not a lot of people that actually reach in and try and fulfill their inner child. Yeah, because that's one of the things that I feel like is very important, because when you become an adult like you were saying earlier when you get into adulthood, you forget a lot about a lot of what your inner child wanted, right. So, whether so whether that be like a dream job, a dream car, or just conquering those dreams that you really wanted to do as a kid Like for me, it was learning how to play the guitar. Now, if you're passionate enough about it, you'll reach that dream and go back and try and teach yourself as an adult, just to try and fulfill that inner child want. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2So that's amazing. That's great. Thank you, of course I appreciate it. And also another song that I would say it's kind of semi favorite, but it's the most recent one I I've released, along with the stars of the spectrum album in collaboration with other musicians, and the flutie foundation is built and I did feature two other singers in there is to, and that song is to to amplify that desire of breaking free from those past stronghold, from those past strongholds like, let's say, if you're in a, if your past relationship was more like holding you back and not allowing you to be free from, not allowing you to be free for who you are and show your authentic self. It even even God forbid having you to to these. Do those favors for them, but not prior, primarily, for you, right?
Speaker 1Yeah Right, not putting yourself first?
Speaker 2Putting yourself first, that's right. So it's like putting yourself first. Putting yourself first, that's right. So it's like putting yourself first, putting your priorities, like up front, only for you in the center here, and not really much giving a fuck about what others say about you, right?
Speaker 1Ain't that the truth, DJ? Ain't that the truth? We relating to that one a little bit today.
Speaker 2Oh God, really relatable, because man we relating to that one a little, oh god, really relatable cause man, we can get into that another day, but yeah absolutely so that's pretty much of why that song is more upbeat than if only I can help it, but it's giving you that kind of, that kind of vibe to march on, march on soldier.
Speaker 1Right, right right.
Speaker 2To, in a way, give you a push to where you're excited for the next adventure, for the new chapter.
Inspiration Through Art and Support
Speaker 1Yeah, getting ready for that. Yes, fuck yeah, yes, fuck yeah. Is there anything that motivates you or any key person or key moment that continuously?
Speaker 2keeps you going. Wow, I would say first and foremost my Lord and Savior.
Speaker 1Amen.
Speaker 2The very first thing that motivates me and always, always keeps me going with his grace, his mercy and his power. That and in his infinite, unrequited love for all of us. And that's how, that's what keeps me going, and when I sing freely with him in here, that's where it elevates it to another level, right? So that's what and that's on why, even back then in my childhood of when listening to those great artists, growing up thanks to my parents they've exposed me to, they pushed me to it, pushed me and my brother to be at our best that's right and they've defied against the odds and they, they pretty much like tore down those labels, those preconceived notions or such prejudice, in a way that can deter us from moving up and moving forward.
Speaker 3Shout out, Mom and Dad Shout out, Mom and Dad Shout out to them.
Speaker 2Love you, dad, yeah, love you, uh, but also also my extended family. Is is part of part of the support system as well.
Speaker 1Yeah, and I'm thankful for y'all too. No, thank you appreciate.
Speaker 2You know we're thankful for you oh thank you for your support and for the past experiences that have led me into where I am today and where I'll be going.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 2And speaking of one of those songs, broke Boys 999, shout out to you Rockstar Turtle.
Speaker 1That's right yeah.
Speaker 2Thank you so much for making this song for all of us, not just the anthem itself, but a drive for everybody who who feels like they. They need something to get them going.
Speaker 3That's right that's another thing too rockstar turtle man. I haven't seen him in a while, but the last song he made, what was it? Uh, demons, demons, yeah. That one hit home. Yeah, even the remember the valentine's day special he made Be my valentine, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1I remember that one he had pulled up to the crib. It was like 1 am.
Speaker 3Yeah.
Speaker 1And we were out there, we were just fucking drinking and chilling and then he was like you know what man? I'm going to show you guys the song that I've been working on. It's for Valentine's Day. Let me, let me know what you guys think. He starts bumping it up on the camry and we're just having just a blast and we're like dude this is good, such a creative guy man.
Speaker 3I can't wait for his next projects coming, yeah I haven't.
Speaker 1I haven't met up with him in a while. I know that he's so busy with work. He has two different jobs and he's always constantly just grinding um the demons. Uh, he had um released recently. We had talked a while back when he was going through a few things and I just remember like okay, like a lot of the stuff that we had talked about. He poured into that song and it's just so incredible that a lot of artists, they can sit there and you know what I'm gonna pour my heart and soul into this, that's what we're talking about that's something.
Speaker 3We're talking about, that outlet yeah, that's something that's something that I just feel like is so, like I said, talented, because I've always thought about it like, okay, people can really sit down and write out how they feel.
Speaker 1I can't do that I wish I could, but I can't.
Speaker 3Actually I'd start ripping the paper but it's insane because you can write it out and then turn around and turn it into a song and obviously yeah, other people can relate to it on a deeper level, you know, and yes, and being able to have that passion, like juice world himself, xxx tentacion. You know people like them. They're able to do that and it it really shows that a flower can bloom out of the concrete like even though you're going through all this, he still overcomes whatever he was going through at that time.
Speaker 3He still was able to publicize it and be brave enough to do that and to try and make a change to certain things. So it's amazing, man. Music is credible. Music is incredible.
Overcoming Challenges in Music Industry
Speaker 2Yes, it is man, it's at the center of our lives. Dude, yeah, literally Along with that kind of drive right there. Raw Star Turtle inspires me too, although don't we all have a lot of growing to do. Yeah, it's that right there. As I would like to say each and every time that I feel down, own the pain before it owns you. Each and every time that I feel down, own the pain before it owns you, because if you let the pain get to you as if it's taking over your mind, then what's good? The battle is for what is it worth Right? So not only I wanted to encourage others to pick their battles wisely, not only that, but also knowing when it's worth it or not. Right, and very much like your decisions and the way that you, that you come across to others. Granted, I'm far from perfect, ain't we all?
Speaker 1Yeah, I don't think anybody can say they're perfect.
Speaker 2It's quite a complex journey that we're juxtaposed with our demons and so far, even looking at where we are now and where we will be in our future, though, who knows if some upcoming song or some new song that's going to be released this year will hit so deeply at an instant, to where it drives you to keep marching on Right, right and or like the next adventure, not just a song, but any adventure that comes your way and the risks that comes with it.
Speaker 3Right.
Speaker 2And also one of the struggles that I've also dealt with in terms of the neurological function in that way, or deficit is more like self-isolation, because social skills have been pretty much an uphill battle, constantly the most challenging I've ever faced right. So ever since, as a child, I was very much perceiving things like the wrong way hands hands, I was still learning, but but the social skills? I could not communicate those desires nor, nor my wants nor my needs. No props to my parents. They've been advocating, you know, for us right in a way that even while we're at school or during during those events, we would, um, when we, when we were kids, we were not, of course, we that would makes us more so. That will make us more susceptible to bullying or intellectual bullying or those that are jealous or envious.
Speaker 2It happens to a lot of autistic folks and and once I see those videos of them rising above, that's another drive that I will get too, because I'm like, oh Lord is so good because he has given them that kind of power as well. But not just them, but it goes for everybody. I mean, I am beyond words at this point. I am.
Speaker 1So what is if you were to leave a special message for anybody else, whether they're normal or whether they have a diagnosis, what is a special message and motivation that you would give them?
Speaker 2Keep marching on, even if some things may go. You may not go your way or something goes against you or something that's driving the wedge against you and your worth. You gotta own that worth. And because those, those, those other people are just trying to gosh well, I can't even think of it right now like belittle or belittle or or diminish your worth, right, don't let them, because I've allowed that before in my past friendships too, like I've allowed it to where I don't see myself of how I'm worthy or I lose myself in the process and sometimes I become a people pleaser. Yeah, so that's how very much I lost myself many, many, many, many times.
Speaker 3So it's setting up those boundaries, just making sure that you put yourself first, like you said earlier.
Speaker 2That's right, absolutely.
Speaker 1Prioritize yourself, your self-worth, knowing who you are and never forgetting that, absolutely, absolutely, I get you. That's why I'm so strung on of respect and loyalty. You don't disrespect me and you don't back down for my loyalty, right.
Speaker 2Right and, of course, those people that may have bullied me or done me wrong. Hey, Fuck them, oh sorry Of course, of course, fuck them, fuck them, but at the same time, grace, be upon them, kind of like a way of saying they can eat, but not on our table.
Speaker 1There you go.
Speaker 3There you go, one of us.
Speaker 2One of us. Fuck them, but grace be upon you, right, absolutely.
Speaker 1So, yeah, fuck them, but grace be upon you.
Speaker 2Absolutely, that's right. So yeah, so that's how I would like to say it, very much.
Speaker 3Yeah.
Speaker 1That's good.
Speaker 3Where do you see yourself in the next five to ten years? American.
Speaker 2Idol, baby, let's go. No, no reality TV. And I did consider twice about going on the Voice and America's Got Talent. I'm like, I don't need that. I don't need to sign those nasty contracts, even professionals. They may get recruited to go on those shows and yet they don't even get aired on TV, or some of them are just there for craps and giggles.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2So that's why I thought never again.
Speaker 3No, I feel like a lot of artists are better off self-made than going I wouldn't say it's the easy way into certain things, but often they do get swindled, whether they're going in with a existing contract through a music label or anything like that. Because even with bigger artists you see it all the time. I mean you see people battling their music labels like Taylor Swift, Uzi and it becomes a thing where it's like, okay, you made all this money, but at what cost? Right?
Speaker 3You're not getting your fulfillment of the money, you're not even getting what you really wanted out of the deal, because you're being swindled so heavily. So I mean, being self-made is everything, because you have someone like, um like, who's a self-made artist that has tom mcdonald yeah, you got people like even kendrick lamar yeah dude. Their whole, their whole record label is based upon family, yeah, and, and close friendships and things of that sort. That's, it's family before business, right?
Speaker 1yeah, bad bunny's a huge one too. He's one of the artists that when he first blew up, he didn't go with the record label record. He owns all his music, so then he ended up like switching up, like his contract, so if people wanted to sign him or do anything, he gets 90 of all revenues on all his sales and the people that are in under the label they get the 10. Exactly that's how it should be.
Speaker 3Yeah, yeah and so for, like self-coming artists like yourself, it's good to be able to, you know, grow on your own and do your own thing, because there's often times that you don't want to get abused, you don't want to get used for your own talent and somebody's like oh, somebody else's benefit I'm just gonna eat off him. Yeah, I got some kid with talent. I'm about to use him for all his bucks and it's like dude. That's so inhumane.
Speaker 3That's not worth it yeah it's not worth it, and you know obviously someone with big dreams who really wants to make it or really wants to make a name for themselves. They see the bigger picture of their image and what it could be, but they don't see the underhandingness that the record label is going to be doing to them and the shitty management. Exactly, exactly.
Speaker 2And which leads me to say something about my high school journey. Actually, I didn't get to mention that, yeah, so my brother and I, we both went to. We both went to In our freshman and sophomore year. Now, those kind of people over there, I need you to censor your n***a.
Speaker 1No worries, censor, please.
Speaker 2So those people over there, they're so pretty much like smart heads Right. Very much so because it's located on the university campus. So it's more like, yes, you had to get into music for more than two years in order to get into the program, because they do have an arts program that's embedded within the school. But those kind of people over there, they were cool at first, but no no, because they were true colors yeah they'll show that, they show the true colors eventually.
Speaker 2And the teachers were there, yeah, no, and because there are personas they read and we didn't even get help from like ieps or nothing like that. What they care about is the statistics and numbers. Basically, right, right, right, right In the middle of our sophomore year we went over to Roosevelt High School and within their arts program, they helped us out a lot. Those people and the teachers were dedicated, very dedicated, over there. Those people and the teachers were dedicated, very dedicated over there, and I had a great vocal instructor who is now doing his own thing. Mr Richard Woods, I'd love to give you a shout-out, thank you so much for helping me out, along with Fresno City College Instructure and Mrs Julie Dana Thank you so much for that and they've been helping me out with it into growing that craft, honing it and even obtaining constructive criticism to the point where I, to the point, wow, I just going into what I'll be basically right right.
Speaker 3So, out of everything that you've done musically, what's one of the things that you haven't learned yet that you would love to get into, like if it's a specific instrument, a type of music?
Speaker 2I would say wow, anything that's like beyond me. It's more like getting into, more into the classical sense of it still, and I still have lessons to learn way in the future. I can't really say something more specific. But it's more like in all areas, because if I allow those obstacles to knock me down and I'm not very consistent with the craft, what's the point? Rob Markman, right, rob Markman. So that's how I'm saying in most areas, rob Markman, now I will say that I'm not willing, that I'm not going to stoop low to make cookie-cutter edge kind of music like that. Like what was her name? Sza?
Speaker 3Oh, okay.
Speaker 2Well, sza fans, calm down, Hear me out, they're going to come after your name.
Speaker 2No, they may come after me, but you know what? Hey, I'm just still doing my thing. I don't care what what they had to say. If they say that she's a good singer, then go ahead, I don't care. And I I'm just saying because honoring those legends, that's what drives me to to do more right, just like honoring the traditions of my family, and even honoring the traditions of what they do on the holidays and how they very much pass it down to generations forward, but still define odds and define labels and to basically show others that it is possible with God.
Speaker 3That's right that was a good talk session.
Speaker 2Thank you so much, guys. It's been really an honor to be in the part of this episode and enjoying this podcast, guys, and really thank you, martin, for opening up the platform and allowing others to and allowing others to, and having encouraging others to to be ourselves but also do what's right and to not only be being vulnerable, but with the right purpose and with the right intent Right, so I want to thank you for that.
Speaker 1Martin, I appreciate it and I want to say thank you to you because you open up your story to all these other listeners who you can inspire and you can tell your story and, like I said, like you you deserve so much and everything's going to come your way. And trust God and trust your path. Always, trust the journey, no matter how hard the obstacles get, and you're going to deserve, you deserve the world, and you're going to get it one day.
Speaker 2Never quit. Thank you, and I would like to encourage others too that, even though I'm telling myself as well that, no matter how successful you will get, criticism will come in your way but also stay grounded and humble in the foundation that you have in the heart here, whether it's your higher being or whether it's something that drives you through.
Speaker 3That's right. Got to stay humble. Remember where you came from and how you was up.
Speaker 1Yes, Exactly, exactly, well. Thank you guys for all listening to another episode of the Brooke Voice. Exactly, exactly Well. Thank you guys for all listening to another episode of the Broke Boys. I really appreciate this episode and thank you, nico, for inspiring all these other listeners that are listening today. Thank you so much. Yeah, so is there anything that you guys that you want to give like a special shout out to anybody family member, somebody in particular?
Speaker 2I also want to give a shout out to my bandmates from Emininent groove my band leader, margo montoya, uh, guitar player carlos perez, latin percussionist james chaka, thunder britain drummer pat the animal, ortiz, and and the bass player, dumb man, jim davenport. And I also want to give a shout-out to my twin brother and his stage name, ne 10. Oh, my Lord, and to y'all listeners as well, to y'all, martin, dj, julian. Thank y'all for coming.
Speaker 1Thank you for letting us in your home.
Speaker 3You're welcome guys, if they want to find your music. Where could they find that at?
Speaker 2You can find my music on Spotify, apple Music, itunes, amazon, youtube, tidal, deezer all those digital platforms out there. Look me up, nico Vargas. You can also look up my twin brother's music e10, n? E 1, 0, any 10 and don't confuse it as me 10 or nay 10. Don't confuse it with that. There are some people that confuse that in the beginning. But we clarified is n? E 10, neon with 10 times the energy. That is brighter, nice, that's how he puts it.
Speaker 1Nice as.
Speaker 2DJ NE10. And if you look us up, I also have a YouTube channel, nico Vargas. Just don't be confused with a Nico Vargas topic channel. That's for my official music releases. I also have some more videos on my YouTube channel and also follow Eminent Groove on Instagram and Facebook. On Instagram, it is at Eminent Groove Band and my Instagram is TheNikoVargas underscore 8035. Also on Facebook, and also what was that? All my music on those digital platforms. So be on the lookout for more material and be on the lookout for more shows. If you follow Eminent Groove on Instagram and Facebook, be on the lookout for more shows y'all. Thank you so much for your support guys. Absolutely Well. Thank you guys for listening. We love you guys.
Speaker 1Much love, love y'all. Thank you to much for your support, guys, absolutely Well. Thank you guys for listening.
Speaker 2We love you guys Much love. Love y'all.
Speaker 1Thank you to Wode. Thank you to Isaac. How do you spell your Instagram user? It's yo, isaac, or yo underscore Isaac. Yeah, zeros instead of Os. There you go. Yeah, much love, take care Peace.
Speaker 2Peace y'all. See you, Said I'll slay up to the sky. No way the Grinch will get nearby. Ain't got like Christmas, has it?
Speaker 1right, merry Christmas to you. Come on now. Ain't got like Christmas, has it right? We know that Christmas has arrived.
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