DELAVEGA
Interviewed by: Kristina

What is your nationality?
PuertoRican/Guamanian… I’ve always been proud of the two; I don’t usually come across someone with the same mix.

Being an artist from Cali, Do you get love on the East Coast as well?
Being PuertoRican, born and raised in California yet having family from New York… I’ve always felt that I had it in me to make music for both coasts… and actually my current producer Jaki Chan is based in NYC… a Cali artist and an NYC producer… it’s perfect. I’ve had nothing but love from the East coast, and it’s likewise.

What are some of the artists that you have worked with in the past?
Up until now, I’ve gotten most of my exposure through compilations… I have music coming out on a couple THUMP Records compilations…. But my boy JayTee (N2DEEP) was really the first person to put me on… and has since always shown me love with getting me on various compilations he drops… and he’s known for only putting out quality compilations and mixtapes… so it’s an honor to be a part them…. www.40ouncerecords.com As far as recently, I did a track with Freestyle music legend Stevie B… That honestly was a big point in my career; being a new face in the game… it was a privilege to work with a veteran like Stevie.

What are some of the artists that you want to work with?
This list could go on for days…. Cause I’m really a fan way before I’m an artist.... E-40, N2DEEP, BabyBash, Frankie J, PitBull, DaddyYankee, Carlos Santana, FatJoe… I’d like to do a track with freestyle music’s Angelina… and I know I’m leaving out so many artists… the list could go on because I’m such a fan of music in itself.

So you are shooting a video for the song “Addicted” What can we expect?
Whoa… my boy JP and I are shooting this video down in Southern California with our boy Manny “E-Funk” Mijares of UpscaleRecording…. We’ve been planning this thing out, we want it to be everything the fans want it to be… we’ll have B-Real from Cypress hill coming through… Dennis Rodman will be there… we got some ladies from Playboy Magazine coming to cameo… you can definitely expect that we will bring every ounce of attraction that we do on CD straight to your TV.

How have you changed from “Locked and Ready” – your debut album to “Body Shots” your sophomore album?
I learned so much doing my debut album, there was also a lot of drama that the first album brought to my personal life too… everything managed to work itself out though…. just want to shout BossHawg, MisterKo and Matai, as there wouldn’t have been a debut album without them… The first album we really rushed too, but when you’re paying for it by the hour you tend to do so…. Moving on to “Body Shots” was a big change in how we did things… my brother BossHawg and I put together our on Recording Studio, we now had the ability to sit there and make music at our own pace… I was still new, but this really gave me the chance to explore my style… take chances and try and grow as an artist. “BodyShots” also formed some of the strongest and my most current relationships… with my boy JP and Jmuzik, who we constantly just bang out hits together with…. Gabriel who you hear on “Freak out” and “Time and time again”…. So the transition overall has been huge… and I’m really looking forward to what the future holds for us all.

Can you describe what it is like to be an up and coming musician?
Well it’s without a doubt a struggle…. But one thing I learned real early on is, do this music because you love it… and you’ll never burn out… you’ll never feel like your wasting your time

So what does Delavega do in his spare time?
I do party, but I’d be lying if I said I was popping bottles of whatever, up in the club every weekend. I’m really the guy that everyone has to call 100 times to finally get me to hit the club. I really like to just kick back at the house, with friends… family…. I really keep it close to home…. I like to spend time alone sometimes too… think, write music… get away from it all.

Are you single?
lol

Where did your name originate and what does it mean to you?
My name Delavega comes from my Pops side of the family…. Family’s last name originally was De La Vega…. When my Pops side came over from PuertoRico, my Great GrandPops changed the last name from De La Vega to Vegas….. like Las “Vegas” I brought it back to Delavega and it’s been me since…

How would you describe your music in your own words?
As for whom it’s directed towards.... I definitely love making music for the female audience… that’s just me… love, sex, relationships…. There’s more material there to write for 10 lifetimes…. as far as style…. When I first started out, I struggled trying to find my “style”… I noticed I was delivering different on every song…. I would pretty much switch up my style to however I felt the beat was calling for…. After a while, I found it was a skill that I now really enjoy putting down… I love hearing a beat, and being able to switch my style and flip it different every time.

Is your music exclusively in Spanish or do you have English songs too?
My music is English, but I definitely flip the Spanish touches all over the place.

How do you feel that everyone has treated you since you started in the music biz?
I’ve gotten nothing but love so far, the music biz has allowed me to really get my music out there, and to network and meet some really cool peeps.

Is there any new albums, demos, videos or anything else that is scheduled to be released in 2005?
I’ve teamed up with NYC based producer Jaki Chan, and Chino Rodriguez on the management side of things… we’re putting together a Reggaeton/HipHop album… with the leadership of Chino… and the raw fire that JakiChan brings as a producer, 2006 is going to be crazy…. we’ve sat down and discussed the future, and we’re going to spend the next couple months really producing what I feel is my best music so far. We plan on using 2005 to make the product, and then taking everything in 2006 and hitting everyone with it… we have some big things planned, I think we’ll be able to take myself as an artist in 2006 to the next level. I think everyone will be seeing a lot of me that year.

Where can people go online to listen to your music?
www.latinmode.com

How can they buy copies of your albums?
www.cdbaby.com/delavega2

How do you promote your music & website?
Like Ludacris said, it’s all word’ah’mouth baby ;) we do shows wherever, whenever nowadays…. I really try and make the best music possible that I can, therefore when I’m not there… my music is promoting itself…. As an upcoming artist you always keep your eyes, ears and mouth open… if you’re trying to promote, then all your friends and the friends of your friends should know what the deal is.

What radio stations are currently playing your songs?
We haven’t released anything for a radio push yet, there are about a dozen songs that I have that I could really hear making some noise on the radio though… but I guess we’re waiting for the right time

What do you hope to accomplish before the end of 2005?
I really take it day to day… but by 2005 I want to have my 3rd album, the Reggaeton/Hiphop album fully completed… So I’m able to bring the fans in 2006 a Delavega that is fresh and new but not a replacement of what I’ve had up until then.

What is your official website?

www.LatinMode.com baby!

Is there anything that you want to say to your fans and other up and coming musicians?
Yeah, I want to really thank everyone that’s shown support so far…. One of the coolest things about being an upcoming artist is still having that direct contact with people that love your music… I can get emails from people that have bought the album, and are just emailing to show love… and I’m able to sit there and just chat it up with them. It’s a cool thing…

Discography:

2002 Locked&Ready
2003 THUMP Records Lowrider Legends Tour 2003
2003 JayTee of N2DEEP’s PlayasAssociation4
2003 JayTee of N2DEEP’s “On one” Mixtape
2004 Body Shots

Shout outs:
MeLisa, JoJo, Sierra, BossHawg, Augustine, Marx, Gabe, MisterKo, JP, Marco, Ray, Chino, E-Funk, JayTee, Nicco, SoldierHard, Matai, Junebug, BubbaC, RedEyeClick, Flossalini, AlBeezy, Jerm, Shadia, Derek D, X of Knowaboutit, PapiCas, TomSawyer, TJ, and to all my friends and family out there supporting me through this.

Anything else you want to add?
Yeah, I’m hoping we book a show in Illinois soon… gotta meet the IndieStreetLatino crew J