Today we’d like to introduce you to Sebastian Avalos.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My real name is Sebastian Avalos, and my artist name is The One He Loved. I grew up in an artistic household, my mom being a librarian and my dad a band director (both of them were mariachis, and my dad even toured as a child prodigy). I guess combining the art of reading and music was something God intended to do with me to make me interested in doing any of this, it’s pretty fascinating looking back and seeing all the dots connect. I started learning to play instruments as early as I can remember, and it has always been a thrill -there’s something captivating about learning to speak with more than mouth and pencil. At around 17 I wrote my first song, and I was immediately addicted to the process. I dove further and further into composing , and at 21 I was given the opportunity to record a full album. It was a blast, but the group I’d put together at the time didn’t last through COVID. For years I was discouraged, and even stopped writing music, but prayed that God would make a way if this was something He wanted for me. Long story short, a series of really amazing events happened that made it super clear that He was calling me to write again, but this time He wanted me to write about Him (prior to that I had only been writing secular music). I, elated that I was being called to write again, immediately started penning down things that were in my head, leading to my first release “SET FREE” and “Honey”. With much prayer and the power of God behind it all, they were doing well. I reached out to some of my favorite Christian artists, offering my work and asking for collaborations, and to my surprise OM53 messaged back and offered to be on Honey. I felt like flying, my wife and I had been jamming him for years! I re-wrote the ending and deleted the first one I made, and then we released it under his artist name. I am deeply grateful for him, he’s a huge part of what helped me start getting my music to more people, and his kindness has been an encouragement to me from the beginning.
All in all, I have been carried by God this whole time. I think God saw the weakness in me and needed to teach me the gospel even in this calling. As I’ve done nothing to earn a new life in Christ, I’ve done nothing to be raised up into this whole music thing, I’ve only received the blessings like a big baby. Even this interview was something I didn’t earn, He led a sweet person named Jasmine to reach out to me! He made sure it had to be that way, lest I start getting puffed up and thinking that I “made myself get to the top”. God has a great sense of humor, I see Him working in all parts of my life that way. That’s why I decided to go by “The One He Loved,” because like John, my identity is not defined by who I am, what I like, or what I do, but it’s defined by the love God has for me -that’s what I want to be remembered by.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Though I have been given the blessings of doing all of this, I have experienced the deaths of many close people in my life since I started. Too many. There were days I felt like not even getting out of bed, but God sustained me even then. I can definitely say I have experienced more grief within the years I pursued this Christian musician walk than in the rest of my life’s experiences combined. Thankfully, God, my wife, my church, and my friends have been there the whole time, keeping me afloat when I was drowning.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I write and produce music, and my main instrument is the guitar. A lot of the work I am most proud of isn’t out yet, but I am working every day to get it all ready to release. I think what sets me apart is the immense amount of support I have from God and really beautiful, talented people around me, I wouldn’t be here without them lifting me up. My brother Stephen is studied in film, and he helps me record cool music videos; my sister in law Jade and friends Ulices & Eduardo are artists -they have helped me get some really cool album art, merch, and photos for it all; there are people supporting me through Patreon; and my wife and parents have been a huge huge support system through it all.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Be bold to reach out to people, ask for help, and shoot for the stars, but be humble.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoneheloved/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoneheloved/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@theoneheloved?si=dzBN24w7Y0cw6oY1
- Other: https://patreon.com/TheOneHeLoved?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
