ABI CRUZ
Interviewed by: Angela

ABI CRUZ: Hi

ANGELA: Hey Abi. How are you doing?

ABI CRUZ: Really good.

ANGELA: That's great. Well I am glad that you took the time out to do this interview with me. I appreciate it.

ABI CRUZ: No problem at all.

ANGELA: You started singing at the age of 5. What made you realize your talents?

ABI CRUZ: Well, my dad plays guitar and I always liked to hear music and I started singing along with him.

ANGELA: What was the reaction of people around you when you started realizing your talents?

ABI CRUZ: They were like, Awwww he's cute. LOL

ANGELA: Awwww.

ABI CRUZ: Yeah, they would say "Look at him trying to sing." LOL

ANGELA: What do they say now?

ABI CRUZ: Damn that boy's BAD! LOL

ANGELA: lol Early in your career, inspired by Boys II Men you created a group called 4X's Fresh. Why did you decide to do your own thing?

ABI CRUZ: To be honest, I had just got out of a gang and I was really trying to distance myself from that. I went back to music because I knew I always loved it. I also knew that it was a good way to pick up girls.

ANGELA: lol Wow. That's interesting. I would have never pictured you in that kind of life. I am very glad that you got out of that style of living. Do you feel that going on your own has helped or hurt your career?

ABI CRUZ: I think it's been great for my career. I actually released my 1st album, produced for many Chicago artists, and have my own live band.

ANGELA: That's great! With your 2 VERY different albums, it's like split personalities. How do you explain your feelings towards the differences you possess in music?

ABI CRUZ: I feel that "everyone" isn’t just one type of person. You wake up happy sometimes and sometimes you wake up pissed off. My second album is me waking up pissed off. LOL Its actually the type of artist I want to be. Not giving the audience the same old shit every time. I want to surprise them, so that they'll be looking for my next cd thinking "What's he going to do now?"

ANGELA: That's definitely what I thought when I heard it. lol. How do you come up with the material for writing? Are they just everyday thoughts or is it something you have to think about when you write?

ABI CRUZ: Some of the stuff comes from my experience, but some of it comes from stories my friends tell me. I just sit and try to make it work.

ANGELA: ok ok. I got you. I am particularly intrigued by the "underground" album. It is something that you can sing along to. I am hooked. lol. I bet it would make even the hardest gangsta break into song. Was the song "used to love this bitch" written for anyone in particular that you would like to put on blast, or was it just a song dedicated to all the men that have gotten screwed over the years?

ABI CRUZ: It has. I got some thuggish friends that be singing the underground shit to me like "That’s my song dog".

ANGELA: That's funny. I know we like to bump it in the car.

ABI CRUZ: That song was for this bitch I used to date that cheated on me. She knows who she is. At the same time, guys have gone threw this type of stuff, so I guess it would be for them too.

ANGELA: Cool cool. When will your "underground" album drop?

ABI CRUZ: I was hoping for a mid November release.

ANGELA: What is it going to be called?

 

ABI CRUZ: Skeletons in My Closet

ANGELA: What a great name!

ABI CRUZ: My boy PR-ism helped me with that.

ANGELA: Oh ok. We know PR-ism too. Wow. Small world

ABI CRUZ: Who doesn't? lol

ANGELA: Where can people go to hear some samples of your music? Do you have an official website?

ABI CRUZ: www.abicruz.com has some clean material, and my myspace page has my underground stuff.

ANGELA: What is your myspace page?

ABI CRUZ: http://www.myspace.com/abicruzmusic

ANGELA: I am definitely going to go and visit both of those today! Is there anything else new and exciting that we can expect coming up soon from Abi Cruz?

ABI CRUZ: I am working on a Bachata album with Oscar Lopez, and producing for several artists from Chicago. I will also be out performing with my band a lot in 2006. We will probably do a show in Dec., but the date isn't set yet.

ANGELA: Wow. Indie Street Latino will be in the house most def on that one. Let me know as soon as you find out when it is

ABI CRUZ: For sure. I’m going to have you guys come up on stage with me.

ANGELA: Yayyyyy! Fun!

ABI CRUZ: We'll do Used to love this Bitch. LOL

ANGELA: That would be hilarious! So you produce too? Do you have a studio? Who are some of the people that you are producing?

ABI CRUZ: I started producing like 7 years ago. I built my own home studio. I'm producing songs for Pr-ism, Pakito, SinIgual, DJ Neurotic, Kenny Kenwood.

ANGELA: Wow. You are very multi-talented. So you record them and make the music?

ABI CRUZ: Yep, I give them the tracks, they rehearse, and then they come in to drop vocals.

ANGELA: That's nice. Do you have any advice for up and comers in the industry?

ABI CRUZ: I say, make music for yourself. Don't get caught up in trying to get signed and all that bullshit. Keep hustling and keep dreaming. Don’t let a nigga that doesn’t know you, kill your dream.

ANGELA: Great Advice! Do you have any shout outs you want to give?

ABI CRUZ: Just a few, To my BAND: Jesse, Craig, Oscar, Bianca, Marylou, Roosevelt. To my guys: TWC Posse, Pakito, Prism, Norbert, Xadrian.

ANGELA: Well thank you very much for taking the time out to let our readers know about the very talented ABI CRUZ. I look forward to seeing your perform soon

ABI CRUZ: Thank you for the interview. You guys are doing a great thing for us underground artists. Don't ever stop.

ANGELA: As long as there keeps being underground talent as good as yours, we won't! Thank you again. Bye Bye!