A Legend Being Born?

Tito Yanez is a junior at ACC, you may have seen him in the hallways, or in your classes.  But I bet you didn’t know that he also is on YouTube.  Tito has great musical talent, and shows it through his videos.  In his first ever exclusive Central Times interview, he reveals his life as a musican. 

Q:What made you want to start to play the guitar?

A:Well it was actually my cousin, (may he rest in peace), who got me into playing the guitar.  Before I would think it was lame, but I would go over every weekend and play with my cousin’s guitar.  Then I got one for my birthday two years ago.

Q:How old were you when you began playing guitar?

A:When I turned fifteen, on December 13, 2007, I my first guitar and amp. So about two years ago I began playing the guitar.

Q:What other instruments do you play and was it difficult to become a versatile player?

A:Back in elementary I used to play the trumpet, and I sometimes still bring it out and play it.  I also in my sophomore year played the clarinet in Mr. Patti’s band class.  And I am currently teaching myself how to play the piano.  I can also play the drums and would also like to learn how to play the violin.

Q:How many guitars do you have, and how do they vary playing wise? Do you have a favorite guitar? If so why is it your favorite?

A: I have five guitars, two electric, two electric acoustics, and my newest custom guitar.  My beginner guitar isn’t the best, but on my sixteenth birthday I got a Epiphone Les Paul custom, which is like a bazillion times better.  It is also my favorite guitar next to my twelve string Acoustic.

Q:Have you been in any competitions and/ or played with a band?

A:Yes, I played at the East Aurora High School Talent Show on May of 2009.  I also am making or creating with my cousin, who is currently a drummer.

Q:How did it feel to win East Aurora High School’s Talent Show?   Why did you choose “Your Guardian Angel” by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus to play.

A:It felt great!!!!  And the performance is actually on YouTube.  I ended up playing at the talent show because my friend, Samuel Nunez, called me and told me that he needed me to play guitar for the talent show going on at his school.  Samuel actually picked to the song, because that was the song he original picked to sing at the talent show, and he wanted to sing the song for his girlfriend. Awww…

Q:Now I realize you have your own YouTube account, where you uploaded you playing various songs, and song covers, tell us a little more about how this came about.  When did you start uploading videos?

A:I started on my first video with my cousin on Christmas of 2007 where we covered the song, “The Adventure” by Angels and Airwaves.  And to answer the first part, me and my cousin just recorded and then uploaded various songs.

Q:Do you believe your videos have a lot of circulation on YouTube?

A: Well one song in particular has about 2,500 views, which is a cover of ”Tiffy Blews” by Fall Out Boy. 

Q:Do you currently have any plans on becoming a professional musician?  If so, how are you trying to get more of a well known persona?

A:Well it’s hard to become well known, especially when you go out there as a solo artist.  It would be great if maybe someday I became some great musician, but for now I’m just enjoying what I do.

Q: Who is your musical inspiration and why?

A:My musical inspiration is my cousin, who passed away nearly a year ago from a two year struggle with cancer.  And even though he isn’t here anymore, his music will go on, and I hope to keep his memory alive through my music.  R.I.P. Christian Gonzalez

Q:What is your favorite band and/ or artist?

A: I actually have two favorite bands, Avenge Sevenfold and Silvertein.  I just think they are great bands with powerful beats.

Q:Are you the only musician in your family, or does it run in your family? If so who?

A:My dad actually plays the guitar, but he has a very different style of music.  He usually plays Hispanic music with lots of repetition, where mine differs to what I feel like playing at that time.

Q:What kind of genre do you prefer to play?

A: I will actually play any kind of music really, may it be country, rock, alternative, post hardcore, Mexican, or rap.  I find every kind of music interesting in its own ways.

To watch some of Tito’s masterful work, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/ildeberto1.