Today we’d like to introduce you to Miguel Martinez.
Miguel, 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 passion and a large part of who I am. I have also since my younger grade school years, had a keen sense of hustle and how to get the things I wanted with just being me. Being born and raised in the street of Camden New Jersey, I learned a lot about survival, real struggle and what hardships were first hand. It’s one thing to see it on tv but it’s another thing for the movie to be your reality. Many of the experiences I had shaped me and allowed me to develop a mental toughness that gives me a competitive advantage at the table.
At about age 10, I relocated to Virginia to live with my grandmother. At the time, I didn’t like the idea. I was a young city boy, use to the action but that changed when my grandmother pulled me in closer to her. She was a strong woman, rooted in values and discipline, religious and spiritual. Most importantly, she was loving and taught me a lot of things I never would have learned had I remained in New Jersey.
Through the years, I began to change because most importantly my environment changed. I was a paperboy delivering newspapers and cutting grass every single day for five years. Back then it wasn’t so fun, but now that I look back, I was being molded for what was to come.
Though-out school I did well. I was forced to drop out in 11th grade to help provide for the house. Around this time, my grandmother was 89 years old. I was all she had, so I had to do what I had to do to help her.
A few years later she passed at 91. I was there directionless with a child on the way and things didn’t look too well. The one thing I found comfort in was faith. I wasn’t stressed or depressed because my grandmother always taught me to be a man of faith and see the unseen and believe the impossible.
Shortly after, I found music. I started messing around with the keyboard and later on even attempted to write songs. This was something I found freedom in, although I wasn’t that good at it then. The best part was it felt good doing it. I remember having three jobs and saving money. I told myself I would open up a studio and eventually, I did. Not only was it a success but at 24 years old, I had one of the most popular studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Self-taught I became a local star as a music producer, writer and mixing engineer. This eventually grew and I was later offered a record deal and ultimately signed as a recording artist. The next few years were a steady rise. Two records made the charts and on tour in and out of the country.
As you get older, you become wiser, and this was true for me. Remembering my need to drop out of high school, I decided to go back to school and enroll in college. This was encouraged by my father. Not knowing how things would turn out, I actually took a break from music and focused on education. Realizing that it could only help and it would be a great example for my two sons. I eventually graduated with a degree in International business with a perfect score of 4.0 and top of my class.
Excited about my return to music and my added education and experience, I was eager to write new music after a four years break. However, my dad asked for a favor. He said go work for someone for at least one year. You’ve always done your own thing, try to apply all that you know in a structured environment. So… I did it and for the next seven years, I excelled rapidly to the top of corporate America, held senior-level positions and each of the companies I worked for and in record time was equally if not more successful and respected in the business development sector.
After achieving this success, I began to feel empty. I wanted to do something more. Get back to inspiration and having an impact. SO after eight years, I decided to resign from a top paying executive roll and figure out what it was I could do that took all that I had experienced and learned and work for myself to do more for others. I knew I wanted to make an impact, make some money eventually but I wanted to enjoy it. Mspired Music was created.
I started a Music company that was built to turn the tables on how talent is acquired and promoted. Frustrated by choosing image over substance, I decided to take action to inspire change and open a platform where truly talented artists can have an opportunity based solely on talent.
In the same year, I also developed a start-up with a partner called Life Premium Coffee. An organic coffee company that uses a proprietary process to offer a superior tasting and healthier coffee. Finally, I am able to use my creativity and strategic business skills to do something fun and beneficial to others.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. The destination is not much without the journey. The journey is the story and without a story, there is no movie. There is nothing to offer others. There were always times I thought about quitting or throwing in the towel because things didn’t go a certain way. But there was always that voice that said keep going. I have been shaped and molded by my struggles and have learned that the moment you think you want to quit is the exact moment you need to push harder.
I remember creating the music company idea and then trashed it in my head. Thinking to myself, why compete in an oversaturated market and take risks I already knew was against my favor. I remember making substantial investments in all new equipment only to find that in ten years, a lot can change. Now there was the learning curve of new technology, different systems and all this would take time. More money needed to be spent and a lot of time that I didn’t have. See walking about from a stable high paying career where I was at the top of my game wasn’t exactly the brightest idea. As a matter of fact, I thought about going back especially when you’re spending 10’s of thousands of dollars and that check stops coming in for a period. However, I was never one to back down so I locked my self into self-education, just like I had done before and in a couple of months, I was ready and well versed in the new technology.
Please tell us about Mspired Music.
Currently, I operate two businesses and one is Mspired Music. Our purpose is to create music that feels good and offers a takeaway, without prejudice and to offer an opportunity to artists who put their heart and soul into the music. Recently we released the first song worldwide called No More Chains (I am free), which I wrote and produced. It has been amazing and to see the impact with listeners from here all the way to Australia and Russia. It’s a song about being free and breaking the chains of self-doubt and believing that you are the key to whoever you want to be. Not what society tells you. It’s performed by an extremely talented artist named Jazze Bleu, under Mspired Music.
We are most proud of the first release and everything that has come from it. Artists submit music often wanting to be apart of the movement, media outlets have been interested in the story and several supporters connected our music to celebrate World Mental Health Day. It’s been awesome.
We essentially create music, discover the artist and promote that music to the world without bias and solely inspired by the music.
My other company is Life Premium Coffee. This business I co-founded with my business partner Agustina Giribone. We are building this company to offer coffee lovers a healthier, superior-tasting coffee. Through a patented process we are able to offer a superior and premium product. This is true down to our packaging. The interest has already been exceptional and the best part is, it’s made right here in Miami. We are most proud of our vision and our first initiative of partnering with a school to assist with fundraising efforts to help the children have more resources.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Winning the Science fair. Since my grandmother was much older than my peer’s parents, she couldn’t attend my school events. I wanted so much to win and everyone said it wouldn’t happen. Since the science fair was in the evening if I entered, I would have to walk home which was about 5 miles. That may not seem long but when you’re 15 and living where I was, it’s pretty dangerous. Nonetheless, I won 3rd place overall. This was one of the greatest moments of my life. Why? I had no one to help and most of the other kids had their parents help. My 3rd place to me was 1st place and that long walk home at 9pm that night though the rough streets with my trophy under my coat was well worth the victory. Made my grandmother proud also.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mspiredmusic.com
- Phone: 8139975040
- Email: miguelglobal@gmail.com
- Instagram: miguelglobal
- Facebook: mspiredmusic
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