Anthony Valadez, Tastemaker | Made in America
The following is the transcript of an interview between Sergio Muñoz and Anthony Valadez
Sergio: How do you identify?
Compassionate, full of empathy, understanding, to feel, to flow, all that….
Sergio: Please describe your home at the age of 16?
In North Hollywood. Blue, gated. Needs a paint job. I can hear people coming and going. I can hear the security buzzer and the kids inside running and screaming. Not a consistent flow of shades and curtains. Different colors, different flavors. It seems so big to me but I know it’s not. I live there with my grandfather and my two brothers.
Sergio: Where do you see yourself socio-economically at this time?
We were surviving. We were called Wards of the Courts. My grandfather had custody but technically we were property of the State. My grandfather relied on those checks from the government to survive in addition to his own retirement that wasn’t much. We were poor by society standards but rich in spirit.
Sergio: How did you come to be property of the State?
My mom was incarcerated.
Sergio: What were you like at 16?
I was fully independent, much like I am now. I didn’t have the terminology but looking back, I knew how to create boundaries, I knew when things didn’t feel safe. I knew how to retract myself from situations.
Sergio: When does music enter your life?
When I was eight years old. I heard Diana Ross sing the theme from Mahogany and I felt like she was talking to me. As I’ve gotten older, I revisit that song and it hits every time. We were at a red light on Sepulveda with my mom about to turn left. The lyrics: Do you know where you’re going to and do you like the things life is showing you? When I got older, senior year, I got involved in college radio. I was hanging out with kids at Valley College. I would ditch sixth period and bring my records and hop the fence. I got my entry point into DJ culture and record pulls and doing gigs.
Sergio: You strike me as being a character that really loves LA. Is that accurate?
Yeah. It’s more than love. She’s my mistress, she’s my wife, she’s always been my boo. Big time. I was able to take the RTD all over LA to buy records. It’s different areas and different energies but it’s all Los Angeles.
Sergio: Where do you live present-day?
Venice. I see the Pacific Ocean. I see Abbot Kinney. I see people walking to the coffee shop, transplants, look like they are straight out of an Urban Outfitters ad. I see houseless people. Some on meds and need help. I also live next to the founder of TikTok. It’s a mix of haves and have-nots. It’s a three unit apartment and I live in a great little artist unit. I live here with my dog.
Sergio: Tell me about your perspective of prosperity….
I have a non-attachment to things on Earth. I think that’s why I love taking photos and videos. This is all temporary. We are just a little gas in this gigantic universe of solar systems. I don’t want attachment. I don’t want to own something that I can’t take with me into the next galaxy. My goal is to exist from my birthday to my end date in happiness. A lot of that comes from within. My home is my memories. There’s a Beatles song where Paul is singing about home … Golden Slumbers. You can’t go back home. Home to me is that broken beat up textures in that giant blue apartment building where I lived with my grandfather. Its in the past but that is home. A moment in time. Purchasing actual property doesn’t stimulate me. Having the possibility of the LAPD kicking down my door because my mother was a dope dealer in Van Nuys, that was very tiresome growing up, now, I sleep soundly because I know that the LAPD is not going to kick down my door. I have peace. I have found home. I feel very complete.
Sergio: Your artwork is very beatnik. What is driving you with your creation of visuals and sounds?
Your perception is not wrong. I’m walking down the street and I see magic before my eyes and I want to capture it. The next day, I’ll edit it. It’s not intentional.
Sergio: What’s your relation to money in relation to your talent?
I understand my role in the toilet bowl. We live in a capitalist society and I understand why they don’t want to pay a lot for talent. I don’t agree but I understand. I used to spend a lot, buying sneakers and records. Something snapped in me along the way and I want to have memories over sneakers. I made sure that my finances were in order to go across the southwest last week because I deserve it. I’ve taken gigs for low pay and I follow my gut to tell me when I should and should not do things. I do a lot for free because I believe in community.
Sergio: Who is doing better, Anthony at 16 or Anthony present-day?
We are both doing great.
#Intelatin #AnthonyValadez #PublicRadio #Prosperity
Details for Anthony Valadez:
Sergio’s Long Form Interview | Anthony’s Insta
Sergio C. Muñoz is a Mexican banker writing on Latina/o Prosperity. His work has been featured in the US Hispanic Business Council; Caló, the Los Angeles Times, the OC Register, PBS, NPR, WNYC, Revista - Harvard Review of Latin America, Studio 360, Latino Leaders Magazine, Poder Hispanic, Animal Político & ¿México Cómo Vamos?
To support my work, please consider purchasing a sample of salt from our sponsor, Santa Prisca & Co: https://bit.ly/Intelatin - Many years ago, I studied the salt exchange with Jing Tio at Le Sanctuaire. I have also done special projects with the artisans cultivating in the Sea of Cortez and the Pangasinan region. This year, after a tasting menu with the CEO of Santa Prisca, hand harvested by salineros in Cuyutlán, Colima, Mexico, I am using this salt exclusively for all my high profile culinary tasting events.
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