Today we’d like to introduce you to Axel Santo Domingo.
Hi Axel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started with the love of watching this one YouTube rapper who was once known as D-Pryde. I remember thinking how cool it was that he was Filipino and making noise in the music industry. I studied him and I took notes of what recording equipment he used and what software he was editing music on, and I had the exact same setup. The microphone was a Samson CO1U USB condenser mic and then my DAW (Digital Audio Workspace) was an old program called Cool Edit Pro, which is now called Adobe Audition.
After a several years of messing with recording equipment, I found some friends in high school and we called ourselves “Street Poets Entertainment.” It was a beautiful thing to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who wanted to pursue music. A year or two went by and then the group split up because there was so many people in it, around 12+ people were in it.
After that group disbanded, I started a new group called CODE 187. We had fun a year or two but then the same thing happened, we disbanded and I was tired because I would always put others needs before mine. I was doing everything from recording, mixing, mastering, songwriting, etc. I finally had time to work on my own project and it was titled, “Empire” in 2017. The real ones know about this one and how I started to find my sound. One of my best friends named Juan, who was formerly in “CODE 187” had a thing he started while in the group and he asked me if I wanted to be a part of it. We called ourselves “theMARAJ.” Everything changed. We had the same hunger and work ethic. We worked in similar ways. The chemistry was perfect. After Empire released, we did our first show as theMARAJ in a basement venue. We had the placed packed, and that’s when people really started taking us seriously. We had another one of my best friends named Geremiahhh open up for us. He was also in CODE 187 and Street Poets, except when we asked him to join theMARAJ, he was kind of leaning towards being solo but after some months of making music together, we added him to the roster. We were grinding out songs and the local buzz wasn’t stopping. We had our first couple shows at coffee shop venues like The Depot in Hopkins, local St. Paul and Minneapolis bars. Juan and Josh (another friend who was a co-founder and also a producer) had two friends from playing soccer in high school and they really loved what we were doing.
Forgivemewavy and Jayson Bank$ were introduced to the music lifestyle. Forgivemewavy was our photographer at first. Having no knowledge of how to create music, Juan, Geremiah, Josh, and I mentored them into being recording artists. We became a unit and took over all the venues, getting as many shows as possible. We opened for Montana of 300, Trevor Daniel, The Social House, etc. We were doing shows at venues where legends performed at. First Avenue, Skyway Theatre, The Cabooze, Fine Line Music Cafe, The Whole Music Club, Radio K, random parties, and more. Life was a movie. We created memories and such a strong community. We are each other’s salvation. Just lost individuals who were looking for the next thrill or party.
In August of 2021, we disbanded. It was bittersweet but we all had separate lifestyles and we had more priorities as we grew up. We all knew who were by the end of it and our individual brand. A lot of people have helped me grow into the artist I am today. My biggest influences would be Partynextdoor and Bryson Tiller. I’m not trying to put myself in a box and I don’t want to say that I only make R&B music. I just make whatever creates a mood. Songs that make you feel something. As for my photography, my biggest influence would be Forgivemewavy because he used to take our group’s photos so I learned how to edit photos after he shot them through Lightroom and Photoshop. I borrowed his camera for a year and took classes during my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota. I learned technical skills and better editing techniques!
As of 2021, my girlfriend and I rebranded my photography page to OUR photography page and now we shoot mostly film photography. She introduced film to me, and I fell in love with the aesthetic ever since. Most recently, I’ve been getting into videography. I majored in cinema and media culture and the U, so I had a chance to take a program where I learned hands on workshops for video productions. Working with various clients, operating cameras on live television productions, and teaching youth programs how to make music for their podcasts. It’s been a fun ride so far these past 24 years of my life. Music is my first love, but I also love photography and videography just as much.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For my music: It hasn’t been and never will be a smooth road. I think that’s what comes with being an artist in this day and age. I struggled to find a sound I loved and wouldn’t get tired of. The struggle of not forcing myself while creating. Once I feel like I’m forcing something, then I drop everything and do something else. I struggled with learning how to mix my own songs, and I feel like to this day I don’t know what I’m doing sometimes.
For my photography/videography: Some struggles were learning how to edit photos. I had to watch so many YouTube videos just to figure out the littlest things in photoshop. I’m not too adept with Adobe Premiere yet, but I have good feeling with the program. Another struggle is finding a new digital camera because I only shoot film right now.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a recording artist and photographer. I have been recording, mixing, and mastering my own and others’ music for 6+ years. My preferred program to edit music on is Logic Pro X. I specialize in R&B music but I am an all around artist in general. I am most proud of the venues I’ve performed at and the community that was built through my music. I am proud of meeting so many artists with a drive and passion. I am most proud of inspiring others and being the voice for those who don’t have a voice.
I guess something that sets me apart for the others is I don’t want to be famous. I want to create whatever I love and make a living off of it.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think being any type of artist is a risk already. The fact that there’s thousands of artist just like me is a risk. It’s scary but we cannot live in that fear. It doesn’t matter what age you are, anyone takes a risk and I believe if you trust the process then you’ll be able to achieve anything you want.
Pricing:
- $200 for 25 to 36 photos in film
- $40 an hour for recording & mixing
Contact Info:
- Email: axel@shotbysanto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialaxel/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCrVNQ1Y9ZTnc4bSRCfEqFg
Image Credits
Kyle Lehman
Edwin Pliego
Maiyan Tapia
Kevin Anselmo
Adam Fenenga
Axel Santo Domingo
