Juan Sebastián Atehortúa has the soul of a trumpet

With vibrant, intense, and profound beats, and rhythms ranging from pop, salsa to merengue, the Colombian trumpeter, producer and sound engineer is leaving his mark on the global music industry.

His discipline, talent, charisma, simplicity, and versatility vibrate in his hands with the inspiring force of the sound emitted by his pulsating notes charged with feeling and emotion.

The winner of the recording musician award for both the Grammy with Ricky Martin in 2015 and the Latin Grammy with the children’s band Clara Luna in 2017, tells us details about his career.

 

Musical Influence

My father always influenced us musically. He plays the guitar, and his family has always had that musical environment. My grandfather also played the bandola.

In Medellin, during the December family celebrations when I was little, I would watch my uncles play guitar. I think the influence is largely due to my father’s heritage.

Between the ages of 7 and 8, I started in the school band because my brother was already there. I was in fourth or fifth grade, and they let me go to rehearsals and join.

This musical interest really began with the school symphonic band.

 

Photo: Juan Sebastián Atehortúa L. / Courtesy: the artist’s Facebook. By @alvarado_foto

 

Love for the trumpet

The trumpet was almost an accident. I started playing the transverse flute because my parents liked it so I could play Colombian music.

But there were two flutes at school; one was damaged, and the other was being used by another classmate who was in 11th grade, and I couldn’t play anymore.

So, one day, as a joke, I picked up a trumpet, played it, and started making noise, because obviously I didn’t know how to play it well. I liked it, and at that moment, I said: I want to play the trumpet.

 

Challenges that open doors

A big challenge was leaving my city at 17 years old, with nothing planned. One day I packed my suitcase and told my mom I was going to live in Bogota. The goodbye lasted six months.

Manizales is a place I love, and I think it’s incredible, but it fell a little short of what I wanted for my future.

From a very young age, I wanted to make music and study sound engineering. I also wanted to pursue a dream with a friend, Sebastián Gómez.

We had a band called “La Butaca,” and our dream at the time was to be like “San Alejo,” a big band to be rock stars and to play.

So, I thought the only way was to go live in Bogota.

 

What happened next

Nothing happened with “La Butaca,” but now Sebastián Gómez is the singer of “San Alejo,” and I made my way in Bogota, Colombia and met a lot of people.

After completing my studies in Sound Engineering at the Javeriana University, where I currently teach, good things have happened to me.

 

Images: the artist’s Facebook.

 

Recognitions

I have two Grammys, both as a recording artist or musician. I hope to win one this year as a producer; that would be great.

How do awards work? Someone gets a gramophone when they’re an artist, producer or engineer, but when someone is part of the recording and they win the Grammy, get the certificate.

That’s the one I have, as a recording artist or musician. I have a Latin Grammy with a children’s band called Clara Luna. The other is a Grammy, which is much bigger; it’s with Ricky Martin.

 

A trumpet with its own sound and soul

People listen to me and say that my trumpet sounds different from all the others: “This is his sound, it’s not the same as others’.”

That’s my sound. I think with music, you forget all your problems; that’s what happens to me when I’m on stage playing.

Music is good for anyone, even if you’re not a musician. I believe that listening to music can heal and calm you down.

 

Photo: Juan Sebastián Atehortúa L. / Courtesy: the artist’s Facebook. With @santicruz and his team. 2022.

 

Versatility

I like listening to all kinds of music: reggaeton, jazz, classical, salsa. So, fusion comes a lot from being a bit versatile, from not confining myself to just one concept.

Thanks to that, I’ve played with many artists because, I’ve done more pop, and I’ve also played salsa, merengue, everything.

I’ve also recorded soundtracks for Netflix series, I’ve recorded for commercials, among other things.

I think playing in various genres helps me have variety when making music and producing, and that’s a huge advantage.

 

Playing with Shakira

“Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour”

Shakira was a surprise; I didn’t really expect it. I’ve been on very big stages around the world, but I never thought in my life I’d be playing with her.

I was at a fair in Manizales when my phone rang and someone asked, “How much do you charge to play with an international artist?”

Then, I said, “And what artist is she?” She’s Shakira. I thought, “I don’t know how much that is, I have no idea, but I’m going to do it.”

Someone called me because I’m in a business where I play with big artists, and they know me.

So, I also called other friends, three musicians, in my opinion the best in Colombia, and that was a surprise, a cool job, the band was happy.

It seems like they’re going to call us again to play in October and November.

 

Photo: Juan Sebastián Atehortúa L. with @abstin and @jairoab recording with @juanpablovega / the artist’s Facebook.

 

Currently

I’m working with a producer named Edgar Barrera who lives in Los Angeles. We did the Latin Grammy Awards with him last year.

We also did the Lo Nuestro Awards in February of this year, and it looks like we’ll be doing the Latin Grammy Awards in November this year.

In addition, I’m playing with several artists, like Nanpa Básico, which is gaining a lot of traction.

Also, I’m working with Vicente García, with an artist named Juan Pablo Vega, and I played with Manuel Medrano in Mexico.

I’m also recording for several artists, including a song by Karol G, a salsa song she’s about to release.

I’m also working as a producer on “Yo Me Llamo” or “My Name Is” with Caracol Television, where I’ve been for several years, but I’ve only been there for the entire season.

On the musical side, I want to focus more on production. Now I’m continuing to do a lot of concerts, playing and recording everything with various artists.

 

Juan Sebastián Atehortúa is an unstoppable soul, in love with music and the lively sounds that resonate to the beat of his trumpet.

 

More information on:

Instagram: @juanseatehortua  

 

Interview – Special Report

 

Jackeline Gonzalez L.

Director, Revista PrimeTime

Copyright ©