By: Jessica Reem Abilmouna // Contributing Writer
You may have been walking on campus recently and heard some live music since this fall semester started. Many have been wondering: Who exactly is this guy? Where’s he from? Does he even go to FIU? How does he have such a range of genres that he likes playing? I got to sit with him and find out.
His name: Julian Martinez. He is 25 years old and although he’s currently not attending FIU, he enrolled in a few classes a while back. Since he works full time, he had to take a break from his school life, but he hopes to return in the future.
After asking him what his main ambitions were, he said it’s definitely centered around music. “My goals are to get my own place to live nearby and be able to perform my favorite music as well as my own music.”
Martinez enjoys making his own original songs. “I write my own stuff you can find on my youtube channel. I prefer rock, hard rock, alternative rock, metal, metal core, and pop rock,” he explains. On campus, you can find him playing a whole variety of genres; he enjoys it all.
Like many music fans and musicians, Martinez appreciates several factors whenever he picks up his instruments to perform. “I really just love deep music and then even more singing to it/playing it. It’s like 6 levels of enlightenment: 1. Listening 2. Learning 3. Watching the artist live 4. Performing it live 5. Writing your own songs 6. Performing your own songs live,” he explains.
Martinez enjoys performing and practicing at FIU in particular because it allows him to get out of his apartment and practice being in front of crowds.
“ I play on campus for a lot of different reasons. I live in a crowded apartment and I can’t really play in here without getting booted out. I have an anxiety disorder which keeps me from driving out to open mics so it’s my only possible place to play really.”
Martinez believes FIU is a relaxed and cool environment that’s open to anyone trying to put themselves out there. “I would say FIU is definitely a great place to play and vibe, especially since I play a lot of less popular/aggressive/scary styles of genre and I haven’t been discouraged and no one has ever asked me to leave.”
It definitely takes someone courageous to be able to stand and perform music in front of hundreds of people coming and going, and Martinez has gotten over that fear that prevents him from wanting to do so.
FIU is filled with tons of students like Martinez who are talented and deserve some spotlight. Maybe soon we’ll be seeing another student filling our campus with other forms of entertainment.
If you’re interested in listening to Martinez, you can find more of his music on his youtube channel. Next time you’re on campus, be sure to keep a lookout for Martinez’s performances!
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