Today we’d like to introduce you to Angel Paez.
Hi Angel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born totally blind, and never really knew where my life would take me, or what I wanted to do with myself. Growing up I feel like I lived a normal childhood, with parents who wanted me to experience the world by just letting me do what any other Carolina boy would do, playing with RC cars in the dirt, shooting water pistles and just being as active as I could. I know my parents obviously wanted to shield me from certain things as well, and I feel like they did their best to explain why some things were different for me while still letting me integrate with other kids my age.
I didn’t think a lot about my blindness, I just figured that’s the way things were supposed to be, and my curiosity as a kid was more geared to learning about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and the biggest one of all, music. Again, I never imagined music being something I could do for a living as a little 3-year-old kid, but I remember when I first discovered it and how it made me feel, and I knew something had clicked for me. and indeed it did. I started playing a casio keyboard that Santa had gotten me for Christmas, after I expressed interested in the professional keyboard that our church had set up.
My parents say that I immediately started playing the bits and pieces of hymns I’d hear at church, and while I don’t remember exactly what I learned first, I can say that it felt so natural to me. It felt really cool to me to pick up melodies that I’d heard, dial in a sound, and start chipping away at how to play it until I felt good enough to perform it for my folks. This was the feeling that I still chase to this day, of trusting and loving the process until the time is right to perform, and when the crowd loves what you do, it makes me proud to know that my hard work is paying off.
None of my family was ever very musical. I am the middle child, with an older and younger sister. I was always making some sort of racket, while my sisters were Enthralled with dolls ect. So I’d like to give glory to God for gifting me with a talent that I could refine and grow as I got older. and that I did.
From playing piano at that early age of 3, I wanted to know how other instruments worked, because I was more keen on listening to the radio and the other forms of music around me. I later picked up guitar, mandolin, bass, and Accordion which all fascinated me, and I wanted to learn to play as best as I could. As I got older, I remember riding in my dad’s old c10 truck, he had country music playing on the radio. I loved the instrumentation, the vocals, and the way I could in my own way understand the story behind the song, even as a kid. I later learned that at the time I was listening to people like Alan Jackson, George strait, David Ball, Joe Diffie, and newer artists were coming out too and I quickly fell in love with them. People like Brad paisley were releasing good music, and Josh Turner could be heard everywhere as well. From that point forward, I knew country music had to be something I at least try, because I was also listening to a lot of pop and 90/2000s rock.
I wanted to learn how to play just like my favorite country artists, not knowing that the musicians behind the songs were who I was listening to. I thought country artists played everything I was hearing, but as I got older I realized how wrong I was. I soon also developed a curiosity for the fiddle and really wanted to add that to the list of challenging things to learn to play. This stemed from listening to radio, but also sitting down for episodes of the Berenstain Bears in front of the tv. Later on I found out that the person who sang the theme song for that show was none other than Lee Ann Womack, and I remember the fiddle being such a big part of the song that it drew me in.
Throughout my life up to where I am today, the people around me always noticed my musical dream, and the right people did what they could to keep that fire going, my parents included. From performances at school talent events, choral groups for young singers, to playing and singing with a good family friend of ours for radio contests and spotlight shows, these things shaped me to really want to chase music in my young adult life.
I was blessed to be a part of an organization for children with lots of different disabilities called the Alegro foundation, who promoted movement for students through music and dance. With them, I was able to travel to the white house in washington DC, to perform a christmas show for staff and the bush family. I was able to go 3 separate times, and that further motivated my passion for music and performing.
Where I am now. Suffice it to say., I participated in many musical events all through high school, and graduated in 2016 with the dream of doing something in music. By this time, I’d been furthering my musical skills by ear, as I’d always done, with the exception of violin, which I’d been taking through the school’s orchestra program which started a bit before middle school for me. I ended up going to Catawba college in Salisbury NC, where I met some of the best people whoom I still call friends to this day. I graduated in 2020 with a popular music and music business degree, and I’ve been focusing on country and bluegrass music up to this point. I play in several different musical outfits, from bluegrass bands playing alongside bands I’ve looked up to for years like Authentic unlimited, Daren and brooke Aldridge and the Kody Noris show, to local shows with a band of friends doing bluegrass in Union and Cabarrus counties. I am also in several acoustic duos playing country music, and in 2 country bands, with one focusing on tributes to 90s country legends, and another for an artist doing his own original music with a great following on social media.
I’m also making a bit effort to dive in to session work, recording music for other artists. I love to do utility work on sessions, and I’ve been fortunate to refine my skills at studios around the Carolinas for local artists. I love to perform live and I’m still doing that with no plans of quitting any time soon, but working in a studio is where I find i love to be also. I love the pressure, and sometimes creative freedom that you have, but I love working with other musicians, especially when they’re better than I am. Session players are the unsung heros of my favorite records, and I want to make as many connections as I can so that I can hopefully be a part of someone’s memorable record as well, all while thanking God for the opportunities he puts in front of me every day.
Faith has always been a big part of my story, and I often say that God and his Angels always have hands on my shoulders, guiding me through this sometimes seemingly dangerous and threatening world we live in. But I’ve met so many nice people who are more than willing to lend a helping hand, chat with me, or even just to stop me and tell me how much they appreciate the music I make. But I give all that credit right back to the lord, because he’s putting me right where he needs me, and I can only hope I continue to let him use me for his glory whereever I might end up.
My dream is to keep making connections in the music business, but I ultimately want to make new friends whereever I can. I’ve had people tell me that this music industry, like other things, is a business and that you can’t mix friends and work. but I don’t believe that, and even though I’m an up-and-coming observer and I want to make this dream a reality, I know that relationships are everything in any business. The stronger they are, and the more effort you put in to making them work, the better the outcome. I believe in the power of being kind to others, and while I do have to keep my guard up when learning to trust people, I pray that God continues to open doors for me and my friends in the years to come.
I’m always looking for new ways to connect, so I’d welcome anybody that wants to record, perform, etc to drop me a line and we will make things happen. In a time when I’m finding myself to be busier and busier, fighting transportation logistics and learning to get out of my shell enough to go make money at a show, I welcome the challenge with open arms. Nobody ever said this thing would be easy, and I embrace the sometimes daunting task of figuring out how to get where I’m going, or whether or not I’m vibing with people I just met 30 minutes prior because I know I’m growing and I know the Lord will always be there so long as I trust him and his plan for me.
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 definitely been obsticles along the way. I don’t like to think of my disability as a hindrance, its a part of who I am. As i mentioned in the story component, I was born totally blind, and as I got older I realized that I had to be the one advocating for myself. I had to explain to people how I did certain things, even though I may not feel like it sometimes. So as it relates to my musical journey, dealing with logistics so I wouldn’t miss a show, or being looked down on when I was younger and wanting to play have been the biggest blows to me personally. Disability aside, I’ve also encountered feelings of self doubt and defeat, which are so easy to find if you just go on social media these days, and you look at other musicians and artists who you deem better than you. You start comparing yourself and that’s what I did for a long time, and that in itself was an obsticle for me. I got self-conscious in the way I played different instruments, the way I sang, and the descisions I’d make while recording in the studio and I started second guessing myself. This actually cost me sessions, and gigs, and I was worried I’d never get out of that mentallity of not being enough. I also deal with a lot of anxiety and that crippled my confidence, and other people can see right through you if you’re not confident. I felt very vulnurable which did not help in the connections department. I knew I had to get out and play, put myself on socials for promotion, and meet people, but its been hard at times to let go and let God and let things happen organicly, without anxiety getting in the way.
I’m also very impatient sometimes, and that can work against me when I try rushing an opportunity or rushing to learn a set of licks or a song etc. I’ve learned not to rush the process, to enjoy it and to really soak that in. Learning from how you got from point A to point B is in my opinion one of the best feelings in the world.
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 full-time musician and I specialize in country music. I love playing utility, which means I play multiple instruments on a given show or recording session. Playing and singing live, or playing or helping to produce songs or in many cases multiple songs at once for another artist is how I make money these days. Instruments I play include acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, accordion, and vocals.
I hope to put the skills I’ve learned from my peers in to an EP or album of my own one day, that’s always been part of the goal. I’d like to have something that truely represents me and what I do, so its something I’m working on achieving.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I feel like my drive is my most important quality. There is nothing like a person who knows his/her dream, and does just about whatever it will take to make sure the goal is achieved. I’ve been told no a lot in my life, and I don’t like to hear that, as I imagine anyone else wouldn’t either. that drives me to keep pushing forward, to show people that I am more than capable of doing something I put my mind to, and hopefully that gives somebody else that same motivation down the road.
Contact Info:
- Website: Angelpaez12360@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angel_musician?igsh=M2JrZ2Z5aGFvbXFj&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GwCkatMPc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: @angelpaez2016 https://youtube.com/@angelpaez2016?si=rja-YE-STHOKQ04E
