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A celebration of Independent Expression @PuertoRicoIndie 1 of 2

April 25, 2011 by Raul Colon

Screen-shot-2011-04-25-at-7.20.33-AM A celebration of Independent Expression @PuertoRicoIndie 1 of 2

Puerto Rico Indie is a blog written and managed  from Puerto Rico. I have enjoyed reading this blog from time to time. This blog is an example to follow when compared with many local blogs since there content is refreshing and they put the spotlight on other local and global talent.

I have found a common interest in @PuertoRicoIndie and that is why I want to share with you a a few questions I asked @redod , the editor of @PuertoRicoIndie team.

I appreciate the time @redod took in answering my questions with a great amount of detail which allowed me to divide his interview in two posts. For those music lovers read along and don’t forget to visit PuertoRicoIndie.com , Follow @redod and @PuertoRicoIndie on twitter.

@PuertoRicoIndie Interview

“A celebration of Independent Expression” Puerto Rico Indie Part 1

 

@rj_c: Tells us a bit about your background related to establishing Puerto Rico Indie and what is your main function?

@redod: Well, first and foremost, I am very much so a music lover. My high school years were spent listening to the alt-rock classics – Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Weezer… Those types of big fuzzy guitar records I gravitated to.

I didn’t know many people then who shared my taste for this music but I was fortunate enough to be in a band with some classmates who did. These were people I could talk about the intricacies of The Cure’s melodies and the influence of 80’s british groups on Soda Stereo’s music. Having these conversations helped expand my sonic palette and music collection and sent me off in different paths of discovery that were much easier to traverse during my college years abroad thanks to the Internet, the digitizing of music, a large variety of concerts, and good old record shops in the States.

I came back to Puerto Rico missing some of that access to music. I wanted to connect with music on other levels besides listening to it and my career was taking me away towards the video production and web development end of the creative spectrum, leaving me with little time to join a band – let alone take a stab at writing and composing songs. But a friend of mine had joined a group called Recordando En Febrero and they requested my help designing their logos, t-shirts, and website. That was my way into the local independent music scene. After that band called it quits I had to find another way in, so when I heard that Startup Weekend (www.startupweekend.org) was coming to Puerto Rico back in summer 2009, I got a few friends together and decided to start this blog.

We wanted to make a splash, so I designed an iPhone app developed through Vaya Broqui (another one of my ventures) and released exclusively through the App Store a compilation of seventeen bands related to Puerto Rico’s “indie” or DIY scene. It didn’t sell well, at all – in retrospect, it was a crazy move – but it established PuertoRicoIndie.com as a serious project and gave us some credibility. We were new to the scene, but we wanted everyone to know we had good intentions and would strive for quality work.

All of this to say that starting PuertoRicoIndie.com just came naturally. I try to write about stuff that doesn’t get the coverage I think it deserves. The blog is “a celebration of independent expression” and that includes music, as well as the other arts and technology. And we love to share our opinions, ask questions, contribute, and collaborate with other creative people online.

@rj_c: Who else forms the Puerto Rico Indie Team?

@redod: As editor and head writer, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people through PuertoRicoIndie.com – and many of these new acquaintances have become collaborators and writers for the site. Damián Torres, Mercedes Carrillo, and Limari Colón are currently active as members of our writing team, and we’ve collaborated with over a dozen other contributors from other blogs and web projects. I am currently editing a post by a new collaborator to the site, and hopefully people will keep sending in their suggestions, essays, etc. Puerto Rico Indie’s extended family consists of fellow Puerto Rican projects Frecuencias Alternas, #EnProfundo, Esoez, Vórtice, UndoDigital, LaserEater, El Cassette Grabao, .Crudo, and others. There is mutual respect in the work being done to entertain, inform, and expose people to other things besides what they get from the traditional – and poorly lacking – local media channels.

@rj_c : What is the main function and main reason Puerto Rico Indie was created?

@redod: Its purpose was three-fold: I wanted to have a place for me to write about subjects I am passionate about and collaborate with others; I wanted to learn more about and get involved with Puerto Rico’s independent arts scene (otherwise I would have left the country from boredom); and I wanted to help spread the word about local art and entrepreneurial efforts. With that said, Puerto Rico Indie is less about reposting press releases and news found on other sites (we can easily do that through Twitter, no need to rewrite things), and more about creating original quality and in-depth content.

@rj_c : Which area of Puerto Rico Indie Do you recommend us to visit? Which one is a reader favorite?

@redod: Calle 13 (@calle13oficial)  have given us plenty to say over these past two years (as well as most Puerto Ricans). Posts commenting on the group’s work and the media’s perception of their music tend to be the most widely read on the site. This in part because the group has shared some of these posts with fans through official Twitter and Facebook channels.

Interviews with other Puerto Rican bloggers and content creators also tend to be really popular on the site. Some reader favorites include our interview with LCC (La Cabeza de Christian), a Youtube vlogger/talking-head that comments on the weekly news; the comedy duo known as Esoez and loved for the wicked and very NSFW humor; and anything with the popular underground band Los Niños Estelares.

I would also recommend opinion pieces such as “Nosotros somos el sector privado” by Alfonso Gómez-Arzola y “La violencia, el género y la doble vara” which I wrote after news broke out of someone having been gunned down at a bachata concert this past February.

@rj_c : Is there a specific post that is key for your guys?

@redod: I think the coverage we gave to last year’s Coors Light Indie Rock Fest is the perfect example of what Puerto Rico Indie is capable off as an online medium. We wrote posts before the event, informing our readers about each artist and directing them to their music online; we commented in the organizer’s odd choice for a headliner and wrote about the word “indie”. We posted two photo essays on the event, as well as two reviews – one being our “official” reviews, the other written by one of our Twitter followers who wanted to share a point of view of someone who knows little about the “indie” scene. And all of this led us to collaborating in other efforts surrounding the event, such as Frecuencias Alternas’s radio program dedicated to discussing the festival, and art collective Dos Trigresas y Un Caballito de Mar’s video interview series with artists who participated in it.

La Mesa Redonda – a series of posts that grouped music and film recommendations by our various collaborators – also captures well the spirit of our blog, one of collaboration, communication, and sharing.


Part 2 will be published tommorow. You can always come back or receive it directly by Subscribing to Raúl Colón’s Blog via Email.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Community, Featured, Featured Blog Tagged With: Blog, Frecuencias Alternas, Music, Puerto Rico, Radio

Sending Positive Vibes Via MP3

February 27, 2011 by Raul Colon

4456212503_f021e8fa00_z Sending Positive Vibes Via MP3

One of the blogs I always have my radar on and try to read it’s refreshing content as soon as its published is brandsavant.com by @webby2001.

Today while reading the tweets of another blogger who I admire @thebrandbuilder I read the following tweet:

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/thebrandbuilder/status/41261078210027520″]

I hit the link and to my surprise I landed on @webby2001’s blog which had an awesome idea on sending a positive message via mp3 so it could be played to our brothers in New Zealand.

The power of people caring can be very powerful and will help New Zealand get back on their feet. It will not cost you a cent only a few minutes and like me you might even learn a few things:

Here’s what you can do – and it won’t cost you a cent. Ande and the rest of his team aren’t playing commercials right now – no one wants to hear about fast food or shoe sales when so many are homeless, missing and lost. Instead, they’d like to hear you. So I’m collecting your voices – your words of support – to send him, to play on radio stations throughout New Zealand.

All you need to do is record a quick MP3 file that gives your name, where you are from, and a short (5-10 seconds) message of hope, to tell the people of New Zealand that we are thinking of them during this very dark time. Please email those .MP3 files to me at a special email address I’ve set up at help_nz_audio at fastmail.fm (heck, spammers be darned – here it is: help_nz_audio@fastmail.fm) I’ll make sure he gets them, and that your voices ring out across the Land Of The Long White Cloud.

I have to applaud New Zealand radio stations for making it a priority to motivate their listeners instead of trying to worry about making income in such a tragedy. I wonder if Local Radio Stations would do the same in the U.S. or here in Puerto Rico.

Go ahead and send your file with positive vibes to @webby2001. I was a bit resistant to create mine but the motivation of having someone feel they are not forgotten motivated me to do something I was not to familiar with like creating an mp3 file. Are you up for the challenge?

Do you know of any similar stories of how a business or radio station decided to focus on giving to the community in a time of need over making income?


cc_icon_attribution_small Sending Positive Vibes Via MP3 photo credit by ataraxis

Filed Under: Featured, Giving Back Tagged With: Giving Back, Local Radio, Radio

I Fell In love with Monday! Why haven’t you?

February 6, 2011 by Raul Colon

amapola-guayanilla-1 I Fell In love with Monday! Why haven't you?

Since I co-founded CIMA IT Solutions in 2008 I have fallen in love with Monday and here is an explanation why I fell in love which such a day.

Start of a Race

Every monday is like the starting line of a race.  I know I have to take off with a healthy pace similar to the strategy a marathon runner would use. My first months on my own if on Friday I did not close any new business or make the progress I wanted on a project I started to hate fridays. Since most business opportunities appear during the week I wanted to skip the weekend to and start a new week waiting anxiously for Monday.

Finding The Value in the Weekend

I decided that since I could not skip the weekend I would use it to my advantage by planning and preparing to start the week in the best shape possible.

I Also Hated Monday’s

When I use to work for companies such as KPMG LLP (although I love the people I worked with and it was a great experience) I would start stressing out about Monday as soon as Sunday arrived.

I remember that Sundays where a big rush packing to make it on time to the airport ,  my goal was  to get to  the hotel before midnight so I could get enough rest for the intense week most Big 4 employees have. There was a time when I realized how much I  hated  this routine and decided to put an end to my career in the big firms.

What My Sunday is like

Today is Sunday and like many previous Sundays I find myself in front on my desk laying out my week to make it a productive one. Since business has been slower than I expected I  use every minute I have to improve the situation.

No Difference in Days of the Week

I don’t see a difference in weekdays or the weekend since I put as much passion and determination to each day I have on this earth because I love what I do.

This past week I launched Veglatino.com a blog focused on Latinos living a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, different to many efforts like TwitPuerto I see this one is really catching interest of a different group of people. These projects not only make me try harder and extend my reach into new things they are a representation of who I am and each win motivates me to give it even more.

The Beginning of The Business as Usual Week

Mondays are the start of a work week which  provides us the same opportunity to make the best of it.

  • I plan my week to enjoy it.
  • I plan my week to take full advantage of it.
  • I plan to make sure I stay on course with the many things I find myself doing especially since I just became a new dad.

The way I started loving mondays was trying to look for something that would motivate me into starting it.

A few weeks ago I wrote No More Morning Puerto Rico Radio for Me! expressing my disappointed that radio personality @nelsonbermejo was taken off the Air and how I was going to personally boycott Local Radio until he returned.

Thankfully Nelson will return tomorrow to magic 97. 3 and since I am a loyal follower of @nelsonbermejo not only for his great talent but for demonstrating to be a great human being I will be one of the first tomorrow morning at 10am tuning in to magic.

If you are still not convinced that Monday is not for you feel free to listen or dowload @nelsobermejo’s podcast (in spanish) he will inspire you into making the most of your day.

  • Comenzar de nuevo Podcast 3 YQueMeDices.mp3

If you want to listen to a few more of @nelsonbermejo’s podcast click here.

How do you make the most of your Monday’s?

What motivates you to enjoy the weekend and get ready for the new week with a positive attitude?

I Fell In love with Monday, why haven’t you?

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Filed Under: Featured, Professional Development Tagged With: Community Building, Local Radio, Nelson Bermejo, Online Community, Planning, Professional Development, Puerto Rico, Radio

Passion & Dedication gives hope to Local Radio

January 23, 2011 by Raul Colon

1739298943_c0d23666fa Passion & Dedication gives hope to Local Radio
The last few days I have expressed my disappointed at hearing the news of losing one of the few decent radio programs that where left on Puerto Rico Radio.

Personally I don’t watch much TV so I end up listening to more music than anything during my long (but Awesome) work days.

Since I love what I do I always end up working into the late hours of the night and one of the favorite things I do during the week is at 9pm I tune my computer into alfarock.com and listen to Lounge by the Moon which allows me to relax and get good quality music.

For the last few months @lucymfel introduced me to a great program @fralternas on Saturday nights which is transmitted from radiouniversidad.pr . These 3 hours which on most occasions help me catch up on work on a Saturday Night they relax me and give me good working music.

The best thing of @fralternas is the music that is shared and thought provoking. The music is curated by a great group of individuals  who take their knowledge, love, and passion for music to new levels.

This talented group of individuals (@fralternas) really go above and beyond with music that  95% of the time I have never heard before. I invite you guys to tune in next Saturday at 8pm EST time and listen to the great experiences these individuals offer every saturday night.

It really makes me think that these few individuals that work without any economical benefit (to my understanding) bring a unique and educating experience to anyone that listens to them. I have personally met @joeprog who is one of the contributors of the @fralternas and he is an encyclopedia of music.

Other than these two programs on local radio I rather sit in silence rather than contaminate my mind with the nonsense most of the other local radio programming offers.

If you need a reminder next week so you don’t miss out on the experience  that @joeprog, @eldifusor, and the rest of the @fralternas contributors feel free to follow them on twitter or leave a comment on the comments area and I will make sure to remind you.

Is there any other good programming on local radio in Puerto Rico or online? If there are others feel free to share with us in the comments area?

Filed Under: Featured, Puerto Rico Tagged With: Frecuencias Alternas, Good Music, Puerto Rico, Radio

A Solid Community

January 22, 2011 by Raul Colon

5182693640_988896a839 A Solid Community
So many people try so hard at building an online community. Others just make sure they take care of others and end up having a pretty solid one.

After publishing No More Morning Puerto Rico Radio for Me! I actually realized how someone who I have admired for being different in local morning radio has created a very solid online community.

Yesterday when I wrote my post I did not expect many people to read it and much less share it. I was amazed how in just a few hours It had been shared more than 43 times on facebook. I was extremely happy that people where showing their support for @nelsonbermejo.  I consider @nelsonbermejo good friend which by being humble, taking care of others, and very approachable has helped him build a good following online and offline.

Locally as I have written in the past s I have seen how local radio celebrities are trying to grab quantities of followers to continue broadcasting the same nonsense they broadcast over the airwaves. What most of these local radio personalities that are so full of themselves don’t realize is that people really don’t care about them.

I care about @nelsonbermejo as much as he cares about his community.  I saw many people on facebook express their feelings and send good vibes his way. These people don’t realize that they are a few of the many the brave ones that had the courage to speak up and express there feeling.

I went ahead and sent an email to info@estereotempo.fm because there contact form was not working. For those of you that like to use other traditional channels feel free to call, fax, or mail your concerns.

San Juan: (787) 622-9700
Fax:
(787)622-9481
Address: Calle Frances Lote #42 Amelia Industrial Park Guaynabo P.R. 00968

I appreciate the effort of everyone sharing my post but it would be even greater if we can get SBS to realize what a big mistake they made.

We already know traditional channels like to quiet local online efforts just as they hang up on someone that calls in with different views.

What are we going to do to have our voices heard?

I have seen how @nelsonbermejo replies to everyone trying to motivate them via the airwaves or online I think we owe it to him to support him by showing these Radio Executives that @nelsonbermejo has a following other than what the ratings say.

What would you do to get the message through? What is the best approach?

If you leave your concerns on my blog I will make sure that I mail and fax it to SBS in the next few days.

Feel free to leave a comment and show your support for @nelsonbermejo by leaving your thoughts!

Filed Under: Random Thoughts, Social Media Tagged With: Community Building, Local Radio, Nelson Bermejo, Online Community, Puerto Rico, Radio

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