


"I don't have a record label telling me that I have to stick to a certain style or sound. "I'm independent, so I can do what I want," Castillo said. On his last release, 2014's "Sin Limites," Castillo cut loose with a fiery mix of urban dance/Tejano songs that oozed sex and irresistible rhythms never before heard in Tejano music.Ī mention of the album prompts laughter from Castillo, who proudly acknowledges he sought to push the boundaries of Tejano further than ever before. That evolution has been evident in each of his releases. He won't reveal much about the upcoming album, but acknowledges that "my sound is constantly evolving." In 2008, Castillo decided it was time to take center stage and begin a solo career.Ĭastillo's fifth album, "Mi Corazon Es Tu," is tentatively scheduled for release in late August or early September. Velasquez was soon calling Castillo with increasing frequency to come into the recording studio and play accordion on albums he was producing. While in college, Castillo continued to play the occasional gig, which drew the attention of legendary musician and record producer Gilbert Velasquez, who has earned dozens of music awards, including nine Grammys. By the time he was 15, Castillo was playing in a band with his father and uncle and performing at weddings and quinceañeras around their hometown of Austin.īefore launching a full-fledged music career, Castillo attended the University of Texas in San Antonio, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business management.
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He was also named the Tejano Academy's Best Accordion Player and Best Emerging Artist.Īlthough his career has skyrocketed over the past seven years, Castillo has been paying his dues since his grandfather taught him how to play accordion at age 9. In 2010, Castillo was named the Tejano Music Awards' Best New Artist. His ability to sing in English and Spanish has given him a broader appeal not seen since the death of the queen of Tejano, Selena Quintanilla, who ruled the airwaves and English and Latin music charts. Since his first solo release in 2009, Castillo's fresh sound has attracted fans of many music genres. I knew some people wouldn't like it, but look, Tejano has been sounding the same for so long we're kind of stuck in a rut." "My goal was to take a little from each genre that would 'pop' with younger fans. "What 10-year-old can identify with Jay Perez, who's 50, or Ram Herrera? "My generation doesn't have that Tejano artist that younger people can look up to or identify with," said Castillo, 29. Since reopening, Club Amnesia, which is a much larger venue, has hosted primarily rap artists that attract younger fans. "I've never performed at Club Amnesia, so I'm excited to see what audience turns out," said Castillo, whose previous shows at Club Patron have quickly sold out but tend to draw older, more traditional Tejano music fans. If on like something different, give it a try.It may sound familiar, but it's not your mother and father's Tejano music.ĪJ Castillo, one of Latin music's hottest young stars, is creating some of the industry's most exciting music - infusing traditional Tejano with urban, jazz, cumbia and even Cajun styles.Ĭastillo, armed with his flashy custom-made accordions, will perform at San Angelo's Club Amnesia at 10 p.m. We would have liked to have tried the 'professional' show later in the evening but didn't have the time. We attended the early evening 'jamming' session which had 11 musicians participating. Monday was Blue Grass night but other nights have other themes. You can, however, move empty chairs about and enjoy a good selection of beers. Don't expect plentiful comfortable seats, you will be disappointed. Don't expect meals to be served, you will be disappointed. We were staying in Central SF but needed to catch a bus to visit this bar which was not large. We like Blue Grass Music and found out about this place. We were visiting SF from Sunday to Tuesday before taking a cruise, wanted to visit the main tourist sites, but also wanted to mix with the locals. If you are looking for something different, this might be worth a try. If you are someone worried about going somewhere away from the main tourist areas, don't come here.
