Meet Claudio Marquez — The Musician, Badass Cyclist & Creative Entrepreneur From Venezuela
Estimated Time of Arrival — Issue #25 Taking even more risks, saying "I love you" and flowing in the right direction 🦈
Morning beautiful soul,
Have you drank a whole glass of water yet today?
Welcome to E.T.A.H, your Wednesday newsletter where yours truly, Paula Romeu-Garcia, introduces the hottest artists from around the world and asks them uncomfortable questions…
Our next guest is both chill and solid.
He may seem quiet, reserved at first. But don’t be fooled, for his inner world may transcend the constraints of language.
We met through our beloved friend Phoebe — who you might remember from a few issues ago. I was on a hunt for a sublet then, very soon after the breakup with my husband, and his gorgeous Brooklyn apartment was up for grabs.
As I walked in, I noticed a Spirit Animal deck of cards. I was drawn to it. He said, you have to pick one before we settle the deal.
I joked, what if I pick the shark? We laughed at the improbability.
80+ cards shuffled expertly, and, of course….
But it made sense.
I was moving fast and furiously. So when a better (longer) sublet came up, I didn’t hesitate to take it.
Rather than get upset at my back-and-forth, our next guest accepted it with grace and endless patience.
Since getting to know him a bit more closely and spending one of my favourite days in New York with him — involving a few hours at the Russian baths, a delicious bowl of borscht, a walk under the snow, smoking Pineapple Express and watching a sick Western together (“The Settlers”) cuddled up at the movies — I realised what a gem he really is.
Open-minded, clever, kind and destined for great success, this February he’s embarking on a wild cycle ride through the US and Mexico you can follow on his Instagram.
Coincidentally (neither of us realised when we scheduled this) today it’s also his birthday!! 🎂 Don’t you love a good synchronicity?
I’m delighted to introduce Claudio Marquez, musician, creative entrepreneur, cyclist and adventurer as our next guest at E.T.A.H.
What are you most looking forward to in the next 30 days?
Taking even more risks.
In 2023 I took the biggest risks ever in everything. Work, love, myself, self-improvement, growth, all that stuff, huge risks.
Did they pay off?
Big time. And it's gonna pay off even more.
In the short term, it was hard and sometimes painful, but a lot of them paid off right away and I can already see the growth down the line.
Being uncomfortable is really important to me.
What bugs you about the world around you but feel we're not allowed to talk about? Or we're not talking about enough?
People not following their path. People hiding. People sticking their heads in the sand.
People not truly... taking risks or following their path or following somebody else's path.
This bothers me and sometimes I don't know how to help them and I try, but it's something that I hold a lot. So I'm working to just let that go.
It's not mine to hold.
Describe the world today in 5 words or less.
Safe, love, passion, flow.
What’s the most useful advice you’ve ever been given?
It came from my drawing teacher in college. I was 19. He said,
when I'm in my studio, I just always keep my hands moving no matter what.
I didn't understand it then. But he explained he was always working on something. His hands always in motion. Never idle. Always in motion in some direction.
It stuck with me.
What’s the silliest choice you’ve ever made?
My dad was getting married for the second time in Venezuela. It was hard to get there. I made a million excuses. I said it was because of a one-hour gig, the stupidest gig too, playing background music somewhere.
It was so stupid.
Why did I make that choice? Why didn't I go to my dad's wedding?
What’s a secret ingredient that makes everything better?
Trust.
Trust is fucking cool. When you have that with somebody, everything opens, everything flows, everything is okay. Everything is good and everyone is having a good time.
What’s the last film or series that moved you? And why? (It doesn’t have to be your favourite, just that made you feel something and what)
Past Lives (if I were you I’d just go watch it, it’s awesome! And ignore the trailer attached as it doesn’t do it any justice).
One thing that comes up is when the couple are lying in bed and the guy is like, are we together because we just happen to read all the same books and we just happen to move in together to save on rent and then we got married because of the visa etc…? Are we together just because of that?
It reminded me to be more intentional about the relationships that I get into.
Self-promo station! Go to town! — What are you working on right now? Where can people check out your work?
🎶 If you’re in the market for the hottest cover band in New York, Mod Society, we have a lot of beautiful artists and I like to promote them as much as I can so that they can follow their path.
🚴 If you're a cyclist you can follow my cycling journey all over the United States and Mexico coming up on my Instagram.
What artist/s do you love and wish them even more success in their field?
Dida Pelled, guitar player, singer. Amazing.
I saw her play 10 years ago and I saw her again recently at Ornithology Jazz club and that's where the passion comes in. She has a very strong direction.
Also, I realized that she does something with her hands that has become kind of her thing and part of her voice. And it's... you've got to see it.
If you had one message to share with the world what would it be?
Trust and flow.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read, if you enjoyed, hit the heart ♥️
Also, these are the last few days of our short film Kickstarter…
A group of queer females we're making a film about a woman’s hard choices to self-empowerment.
Donate anything from $1-$100 (HERE) » for a chance to win 2 x tickets to the movies 🤓 «
EVERY $$ COUNTS when it comes to making art.
Keep hydrated and flowing.
Paula x