Hello Tejanos Out There!
[Picture courtesy of Ramon Hernandez archives.]
This is a Tejano music site with a commonality line of balance. I thank you kindly for visiting and I'm so glad you're here at the real TMDC. Explore the new site, the new links, the new commentaries and new pictures, plus the latest updates and good Tejano music.
Plus, overall music dialogue are the main principals of this site, and for all of you across this country. Progress in the advocacy and infrastructure of our Tejano music industry you could say, again ...
Is the heart and rhythm of TMDC.
So, welcome to my Home Page Tejanos!
And this is where it all begins, and it has my introduction to the site. I talk about tejano music balance, music awareness, I talk about my city of Austin and my early beginnings in music ...
I mean, it's been an exceptionally long music journey between three states, the present day music apps/platforms, and as an advocate for more than 30 years. Enjoy your stay.
"I also believe that music, like life itself, can take us through so many roads and so many different paths, so many changes, traveling through city after city, and playing in other states and countries."
"But more importantly I think, we also learn other things from so many people we meet along the way.
That is the beauty of life itself."
Today, well,
I am grateful for the many advances in the digital planet and the innovational Ai technology we see daily - and - how it's used in our modern present-day world.
You could say and you might even agree with me that it's a fast paced industry out there with social media platforms' ... And so many turbo-driven music apps.
It's a very busy market driven business. Competitive.
Since I'm from Austin Texas, and a Libra, well, sorry, but, ...
"I love beauty in all forms" ... and in all kinds of art/abstract pictures, 'astronomy' has been one of my favorite subjects since I was eight years old. I still love it.
I love to write and compose 'love ballads' ...
But Tejano music being the main one. I love to write and arrange original songs as well as conjunto, group, and band music arrangements; I have written a few Tejano and country songs; they're on the 'Music' link.
I also play different kinds of music here on my site:
From super Tejano hits to light rock and new/old country, upload YouTube videos at times, and other music that I have in my computer like salsa, oldies, Hawaiian, reggae, and classic hits.
Other current interests are world history, United States history, photography, computers, and digital effects.
I use Photoshop to layout my own pictures of the universe and our solar system together; luv the flute, and all kinds of planes since I was a kid - from jets to airliners. Ai too.
My input on songwriting: As a musician and songwriter, I try to write songs that mean something in human terms and in life - to both me and the listener. That statement can be hard to understand in its simplicity. By that I mean, I want my original songs and arrangements to be able to stand on their own, to be of sufficient quality that any decent singer could sing them.
Few of the truly timeless, transformative classic songs have "weak spots" that a singer must "sing around." In my opinion, it is the songwriter's job to take their inspiration and wrap it in a package that magnifies; that enhances the final song. A "poorly wrapped" song conveys little or none of its original magic, no matter how genuine the inspiration. And a song with no "guts" is just a wrapper. The craft of songwriting is like cutting a gem. Bad songwriting hides or distracts from the inspiration, good songwriting amplifies it without overpowering it.
Now, in my opinion only, all this information is true. Yes. But, writing tejano songs for our genre and tejano music industry is somewhat ... let's use the word, "different". How can that be? "I think it's because of our tejano music roots and diversity, including our culture and the history of our pioneers, conclusively, it makes our storytelling and songwriting techniques more meaningful, more honest, more heartfelt, and truthful and genuine. Our songs come from the heart."
If you are writing a song now, and as a precaution, don't write if you're not thinking about anything related to that composition. Or at least, don't get attached to what you're coming up with. Wait. Wait for the right timing and inspiration - [for the right second] - [wait for the right minute] - or go get it somewhere else. Work on it a little bit more. Do a great job on it again. Rewrite the whole verse or song if necessary. Change the arrangement?
Finally, think about what music has meant to you, what new songs mean to the tejano audiences across the country, and to the world.
[Written in part with Mike Raghead/Living Music / TM]
Finally Tejanos, I also look forward to a new day because ... "It brings in a new life chapter, it opens another new path, and each day brings all of us another window of opportunity for us to face the world all over again."
About this site: TEJANOmike is a passionate advocate for Tejano music, which is a genre that blends Mexican and US influences, often featuring instruments like the accordion and guitar. He runs a website called the real 'TEJANOmike' at www.tejanomike.com ... where he shares his love for Tejano music, promotes its history, and encourages young musicians to excel in this genre. Welcome back.