Growing Musical Roots

{ OnTheScene }

Growing Musical Roots

Presentando a Eric Sebastián González

Story by Dalondo Moultrie | Photos by Felicia Frazar & Submitted by Eric Sebastian Gonzales

While many found themselves stuck at home vegging on the couch during the shutdowns of the pandemic, one Seguin High School student found more artistic and productive ways of spending his time.

And that wisely-spent time is paying off in big ways for 16-year-old Eric Sebastian Gonzalez, who recently released his self-produced music album, recorded in his bedroom.

“I started writing it at 15. I was just doing whatever I could whenever I had time,” he said. “It’s just something I enjoy. It’s like a happy place sitting down writing, recording, everything.”

Gonzalez — a trumpeter, guitarist and vocalist — explores styles such as Corrido, Ranchera, Mariachi and more on the album “Introduciendo” released in November.

He began learning to play the 12-string guitar during the pandemic, but Gonzalez’s roots go back a bit further.

When he was even younger, about at the age of 4, is when he fell in love with music, the budding music mogul said. His father Eric Gonzalez played in a band, Eric Sebastian said.

The elder Eric played trumpet and his family would watch him perform. In fact, that is where Eric Sebastian inherited his musical talents, mom Zulema Gonzalez speculates.

“I cannot carry a note if I tried. That’s definitely all on his dad’s side,” she said. “His dad played trumpet as well. He was in school band. After he graduated high school, his friends all the way from elementary through high school started a band and did gigs. He went on tour with well-known Mexican artists. “I’ll let him take the credit.” The family moved to Seguin about five years ago, leaving behind California. Since their arrival, Eric Sebastian has been more focused on music, Zulema said.

He joined his school’s Mariachi band and performs with the high school’s Matador Mariachi.

Over the years, the young Gonzalez began penning poems in his spare time. Around the same time, he began to hear and make up rhythms in his head.

Eventually, he combined the two and realized he was on to something, Zulema said.

“He started writing, composing and was like, ‘I think I want to record some of my music,’” she said. “He worked during the summer and was able to save his money. … He bought his little gadgets and that’s how he started.

“Pretty much we can say it was all on his own at 15 so we’re really, really proud of him.”

The now-16-year-old took the “little gadgets,” which included a microphone, a computer and his instruments, to his room and began recording.

The result so far is “Introduciendo,” which is available on all the streaming services, Eric Sebastian said. He also submitted the work to a distribution service that puts out his music to a wider audience.

The nine-track album that includes a batch of original his songs isn’t the final venture into the music business if Eric Sebastian has his way.

He still plans to go to college and after that continue in the music business.

“My main goal is to have my own record label and signing other artists through there,” he said. “I would want to still put some music out every now and then.

That part he’ll never give up, as it includes his happy place.

“I just like the feeling of being on stage and expressing myself through music,” Eric Sebastian said.

With his talent and drive at such an early age, it appears he will have ample chance to express himself for many years to come.