Today we’d like to introduce you to Raul “RAZ” Zeballos.
Raul, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Music has always been a huge factor in my life. I started working professionally as a producer as a young preteen. I had the incredible luck of being discovered at the age of 12.
Having had the opportunity of working for labels such as Bad Boy Records, So So Def, RCA Records, Arista Records, Sony Discos and Sony Music Global; then using that experience to create my own record label with my wife and label president, Maureen Zeballos, has been one of the best challenges in my life.
We started the label 2011 since we began this journey we have had the opportunity to place up and coming artists on major events, national radio, and major tours.
Then, in 2016, we began construction on our state of the art recording studio, Rare Monkey Studios, our goal always has been to create a space in Palm Beach County where artists can create. We built a 32 Channel Analog ProTools HD studio with one of the finest booths with the finest acoustics in the area. We have worked at Rare Monkey Studios with billboard charting artists, Grammy-nominated artists, and we work just as hard for up and coming artists to teach them how to make music at a professional studio, with industry professionals. Our mission is to bring quality music production to the masses.
In the middle of construction, our first child Gina was born on March 31, 2017. I remember it like it was yesterday my wife was six months pregnant and she finished building a custom desk she designed, constructed, sawed, sanded, and stained; that is the desk in my Studio A control room. Then, exactly one year to the day our second daughter Kalista was born on March 31st. What I have learned since my daughters were born is that life doesn’t stop teaching you lessons. I’ve learned there is always room to learn, grow, and improve. Fatherhood has made me a better man.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest challenge we face as an independent record label is that we don’t have the nearly unlimited budgets of the majors. The music business is about major exposure. We work to compete with the majors on releases, promotion, and quality. Our driving force is to do it as big or better than the major. If we strive for anything less that’s a failure in our eyes. Every day is a challenge.
What else should our readers know about your work?
As a music producer, I have been blessed to have worked with major international artists like Big Pun, Notorious B.I.G., Shakira, Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri, Flo Rida, Lil Jon, and Farruko among many others. What makes my company and my team amazing is that we treat the up and coming artist the same way we treat the international superstar. We strive to give our clients the quality to make records that break the barriers. We invested very heavily into our sound, we spared very little expense building our studio from the ground up.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
Professionally, my proudest moment was the first time I heard a record I worked on play on the radio. I remember being speechless. Then, screaming that’s a song I produced.
My proudest moment in life is being a father to my daughters. My wife and daughters are everything to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.raremonkeystudios.com
- Phone: 5618122869
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @raz_raremonkeyent
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RareMonkeyEntertainment/
Image Credit:
Maureen Zeballos
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
