Alejandro Gomez got the nickname Flaco el Jandro, or skinny Alex, when he was growing up in Salinas. Now as an up-and-coming musician, he uses the nickname as his stage name. Flaco el Jandro is in the music program at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB). He recently submitted his original song to NPR's Tiny Desk Contest.
While Utah band "Little Moon"ended up being this year's winner, Flaco el Jandro said it was still an amazing experience, and that he did gain something positive out of it. KAZU’s Dylan Music spoke with Flaco el Jandro about the Tiny Desk Contest submission process.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Flaco el Jandro (FEJ): There has to be a desk somewhere in the video. So we bought a little toy plastic desk, put it on top of an amp, and got one of those little fuzzy Monte otters, and I put it on the desk. And yeah, then you just film a video. It doesn't have to be super high production quality or anything, just an original song with the desk in it, and then you submit it through their website. You do like a little write-up about it, and then you just wait and see what happens.
(DM): What was the song that you submitted?
(FEJ): It was called "Nadie." It was like a cumbia. It's actually the first song I ever put out. So it's cool because it kind of came full circle. From the first song that I ever put out three years ago… and then to come all the way to the Tiny Desk Concert.
(DM): Why did you pick that one in particular?
(FEJ): I had an idea of what song I wanted to do, but once we went to rehearsals, we felt out what song felt the best as a unit and what song sounded the best. And that was the one. We just instantly, through rehearsals... we like, felt it. That one clicked. So I'd rather go with what's going to be best than what I personally feel is best, you know?
(DM): And you submitted with your full band. Right now, you're just in the studio alone with your acoustic guitar, but you have a full band. What are they called?
(FEJ): Los Perros Callejeros.
(DM): What does that translate to?
(FEJ): Street dogs. Because in Mexico... nobody owns a dog. They're all just street dogs.
(DM): They're all just wandering around everywhere?
(FEJ): Yeah, just wandering around. And it's actually something that I say in the song.
(DM): It's (called) Nadie?
(FEJ): Nadie, yes. (It translates to) Nobody. The song kind of talks about identity crisis. Because as a Chicano, it's hard because you're an American, but you don't get all the same privileges as other Americans because you're seen as kind of a second class. Then when you go to Mexico, you're seen as an outsider because you're American. Maybe you're Spanish isn't as good, and you didn't grow up there. So it's kind of like you don't have a set place where you belong. It's something that I have struggled with my whole life, and it's something that I think a lot of other Chicanos struggle with. It's kind of where the song was born. Click the video below to hear Flaco el Jandro and Los Perros Callejeros play their song “Nadie."
(DM): That was great. You submitted that song, and then how does it work? So did you have to just wait? Did they say that they'd reach out or something like that?
(FEJ): Yeah, you submit, and then they send you an automated response. And I didn't hear from them for a long time because we submitted… I think closer to the beginning of the year. They reached out to me saying that they liked my submission, and then they wanted me and my band to perform in San Francisco at the Brick and Mortar for the Tiny Desk Contest On The Road: San Francisco concert. And so we'll be opening for Little Moon, who's the winner of the contest.
(DM): We concluded the interview with a performance of a song that Flaco wrote specifically for his voice class here at CSUMB. It's called Young and Dumb... This is an original?
(FEJ): It's an original. Not available anywhere. Not recorded ever.
(DM): Exclusive?
(FEJ): Yeah. Click the module below to hear Flaco el Jandro perform his song “Young and Dumb."
Flaco el Jandro is a singer-songwriter and California State University Monterey Bay music student. He'll perform at NPR's Tiny Desk Contest On the Road concert at the Brick and Mortar Music Hall in San Francisco on Thursday, June 22nd, at 8 p.m. He comes out with a new EP the following day.