Conversations with Edwin Portillo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Edwin Portillo.

Hi Edwin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story has been centered around music. Writing, playing, producing…music is at the center of who I am and what I love to do. This passion has led to me to be the creator and owner of Bunker Five Music, a bilingual music studio in Nashville, TN. It has been a long, and at many times, hard journey but I look back and see the incredible blessings and miracles God has worked in my life to get to where I am today.

When I was 13 years old at a youth camp, I asked, “God, would you give me a room full of instruments.” I had begun to get involved in music at church which influenced my dream to be a good piano player.

I would get the cassette tapes I would hear and play by ear to the best of my ability in El Salvador because there were not many teachers. The church was the only place I was able to play and grow from week to week. As time went by a pastor gave me word at another youth camp, “God will give you more than you can ever imagine, and I will use you as a person of influence.”

At age 18, I moved to the United States with only one bag of clothes, an old fender electric guitar half-broken, and a student alto saxophone. Day and night, I took whatever job I could get in construction as work. I was invited to play with a youth band in Springfield TN in 1998 when I met a guy who told me, “If you buy recording software we can make music.” I had never recorded before so I got excited and bought music software.

Then I realized I needed a computer that I did not know how to use. Then I realized I needed an interface and had no idea what that was at the time. The whole process was very fascinating as I learned how everything worked. I would go to music stores and ask them to help me with software, but because my English was so broken they would get annoyed with me. It was frustrating but I never gave up.

In 2004, I went through a very hard situation that led me to a dark place of depression. I was faced with the choice to stay in pity or do something about it. I choose to go to Nashville State College for their Music Technology program still barely able to write/read English.

I graduated with a 4.0 GPA in May of 2006. During this time, I had become quite successful in construction which enabled me to build my own recording studio for the first time. I spent countless hours researching and followed my gut. This resulted in Simeon Music Studio which was 1500 sq. ft. that was decked with a lounge, control room, and 1000 ft. sq. tracking room with 16ft high ceilings.

In 2007, I ran into a friend who needed me to build some acoustic panels. I was too busy wrapping up the studio so had to decline, but he asked to come and see the venue. When he saw the space he said, “When you get this done I will bring all the people that I know.”

Sure enough, he brought artists from all over the country. This opened doors for me to learn a lot from great engineers. Over time this allowed me to be able to engineer myself at a quality level. I quickly found out that every by knows everybody in the music industry and they all recommend a place when they like it.

In 2017, my wife and I felt it was time to sell this studio formally known as Simeon Music, and it has remains in use by other producers to this day.

For the next 4 years, my family and I worked weeknights and weekends to build our newest studio from the ground up. I talked to several studio designers that gave us insight, but there were things from my previous studio that I knew I had to have (i.e. more vocals booths and an isolation booth for drums).

Even though it was against their better judgment, I custom-built this space to be what I felt I needed to accomplish the types of records I am looking to create. The original plan was to have an apartment above the control room for artists to be able to stay, but after much deliberation, we decided it was better to have a second recording space, Studio B, for songwriting, programming, and basic recording needs.

In 2021, we were finally able to have our first artist’s record in this new and modern studio.

Since the opening we have had the privilege of having artists from all over the world come to record, produce, film, participate in writing camps, and so much more!

We have added Studio C in the lounge, and have a 4th portable station to host writing camps with ease.

Currently, we are working on fitting out Studio B to be a Atmos Room, and have plans for an addition to the main tracking room to have a room for the grand piano.

We changed the name from Simeon Music to Bunker Five Music. New studio. New name. We could not be happier with the beautiful space we are so blessed to own and use to create music.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been many struggles. Life is life. Life is hard. From having to learn English again to learning how to build and run a studio, there have been countless situations that make you want to give up, but once I am determined to conquer something I will see it through to the end.

I also cut part of two of my fingers off while building Bunker Five Music. I have had to relearn how to position my hands to play piano as I did before. It was definitely one of the most painful experiences in my life, but it didn’t stop me from continuing the music journey!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a General Contractor as well as a music producer. That being said, I build luxury homes and music studios around Nashville, TN. However, my true passion is music. My most recent project has been developing an artist from the ground up. We have a team that is working on an EP for the artist to be released in the next couple of months and it is very exciting! It is a project that I have been able to write songs, record, produce, and even develop the video concepts. We have an incredible and creative team that I am blessed to lead to make this beautiful project.

I am also working on two other artists at different capacities….so we are going to see a variety of great music coming out of Bunker Five Music this year!

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
We were lucky enough to not have Covid-19 impact our work greatly. Being in construction we actually got busier.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bunkerfivemusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bunker5music/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Bunker-5-Music-100078076479853/
• Other: www.wp.construction