Meet Diego Ajca Alejo

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diego Ajca Alejo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diego, why did you pursue a creative career?
I had difficulty looking for a career, especially during high school. Part of me wanted to do something creative and completely control my career. Family members wanted me to be an electrical engineer or teacher, which were good options, but I felt like it wasn’t who I was meant to be. I began to take music classes during my free time, such as Orchestra, Music Theory, and Guitar, as I had learned how to play those instruments when I was young. During my junior year of high school, I began taking Music theory classes, and my teacher, Mr. Harris, began teaching me about production. He had laptops with GarageBand, MIDI controllers, and Headphones which began to motivate me more to make music. Every lunch period, I would head up to his class and just make beats, loops, compositions or understand more about a Digital Audio Workspace. From there, I downloaded Fl Studio, bought an AKAI MPK Mini and a pair of headphones, and began working on my craft. During that time, I would also get into audio mixing and recording. I was so lucky to have known about Mr. Harris because he told me that Arizona State University offered a new program called Popular Music. Essentially teaching production, recording, and mixing, and I was able to get into the program. Without the program, I probably wouldn’t be doing this as my full career, and for that I am grateful for the opportunity that ASU has brought to me. During this time, I learned a lot about synths, DAW, and Music Theory which elevated my production style. I told myself that this was the career I wanted to do, ever since my Music Theory teacher taught me how to produce music.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The journey was stressful, no questions asked. I always doubted myself in the beginning and there is nothing wrong with that. There are days when we aren’t in a creative mindset, especially if I am trying to make beats off of my DAW. This was the hardest challenge to overcome, as sometimes we can’t get the results we envisioned, and that is where most artists or producers begin to dip. This was a big lesson I learned in the early stages of my career. I learned from mentors, friends, and the internet about ways to be creative. Many producers have the mindset that producers need to crank out 20 beats a day, but that isn’t always the case. Not only is that time-consuming, but it takes a toll on one’s physical and mental health. I began to just play guitar, DJ, listen to music, make loops, or look into new sounds and plugins. That is plenty enough for me, as I am still doing something musically, it doesn’t always have to be all about making beats all day. Most of my creative process and ideas come from the other things I have listed and that is the beauty of it. I learned to get inspiration from other activities, and this elevated my production and creative process. I am proud to be making music for many different artists around the valley. Many of my best production comes from working one-on-one with an artist because I can bounce ideas around and see what the vibe is for the session. We are there to be creative and communication is key for that. “What is the best way for me to get the artist or my ideas into the music process?” That is the question I ask myself when working with artists and is something I tell myself when being in the studio. What sets me apart from other producers is that I find new ways to flip and create new melodies. I began learning more about the Moog synthesizers and how they operate. I learned a lot about plugins and how they warp or change a sound, and I create these beautiful samples and melodies. That is one thing that many artists like is the new ways I experiment when it comes to sound design. I’m excited to work with different artists and be able to learn from them, that is how I grow as a producer. I want to start working with more artists, producers, and DJs from around the world, be able to set my foot more into the mainstream industry,

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are a lot of good places around the valley. Many restaurants around the Downtown area are already a great option. Taco Boys is a good place to get authentic Mexican street tacos and is a place I will almost always take them. Another good food option is Harumi Sushi Bar, the service and Japanese cuisine are excellent choices. There are more great food options in the Scottsdale area and is a good place to shop and dine. There is a lot of culture in Arizona and Scottsdale has some of that history engraved. Old Town Scottsdale has Trading posts, Mexican Imports, and bars to visit throughout the day. The Scottsdale Fashion Center is a good place to shop as well. there are trails and rivers to explore outside the city. Saguaro Lake is a perfect place to splash around and jet ski. Sedona and Payson are spectacular places to go during the day. The mountains and rivers are amazing to view and explore. Slide Rock in Sedona is excellent for summer fun as you slide down the riverside. Another excellent spot would be a trip to Bisbee, as there is a lot of art and history behind the small historic town. The last spot is the Grand Canyon up north to view breathtaking views of the rock formations.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out my friend and artist, Gianni Stafford, or Young Scorcher, for allowing me to be recognized for the hard work we have both put on.

I also want to shout out the ASU Popular Music Program in Downtown Phoenix. I am very grateful to be a part of this program and continue to pursue my career in Music Production. There is always something new I learn from the program almost every day I am taking classes.

I also want to give credit to my family for always trusting in my career choices.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diego_ajca/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diego-alejo-700970249/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/diego-ajca-alejo-521856009

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHsQY4qqLlgZsUv-4W2XLZw

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2yB7wXLvMixDTJSq1UsvX0?si=0d497a6dd81f4248 

Image Credits
Donovan Johnson Winston Turner Johnny Mitchell Gavin Nation