Elijah Herrtz is a young man passionate about music. It has been his great companion in life, through the saddest, most painful, and the happiest and most creative moments.
“I was about seven or eight years old, and my parents were going through a divorce. That was painful for me. Then, I got a CD of the band Linkin Park called Hybrid Theory. It was a breath of fresh air; I found refuge in their music, and it helped me through that big transition. I listened to it over and over, it was my great companion,” says this young organizer of the Dura Los Angeles event, a concert featuring some of the best exponents of electronic music in the city.
For him, being Latino, being a musician, and making his way in this world and market has been very difficult. That’s why he was inspired to create DURA LA a concert dedicated to Latino culture, with Latino musicians, which he hopes will be the first of many.
“We need to fulfill our dreams, regardless of the difficulties we encounter. We must not give up. If promoters don’t want to include us, we have the ability to organize our shows, we have our community with us,” says Elijah.
But his passion for music arose most unexpectedly, long ago when he was a baby.
“My mom worked at the House of Blues. I didn’t go to concerts, but somehow, there were moments when I was breathing that atmosphere. I think that’s when, unconsciously, what I wanted to do in my life started to take shape,” he adds.
During those early years, although he was fascinated by Linkin Park’s lyrics, he didn’t fully understand them, but he was amazed by the energy of their music, and the power of the sound.
“There were times when I felt alone and confused. But I connected with the lyrics of the songs, it helped me understand myself and what was happening to me,” he adds.
Elijah Herrtz attachment to music was defined, but not the way he would develop it.
He tried the violin, but it didn’t work out. He moved on to drums, but that didn’t work either. In high school, he tried the trumpet and nothing.
It was many years later, at 25 years old, on his way to college, he asked himself what he wanted to do with his life. He was studying Business Marketing, but he knew it wasn’t for him.
I wasn’t happy, so I decided to continue with music. I enrolled in Icon Collective, where I absorbed everything I wanted to learn,” he says.
It can be concluded that music also helped him stay away from more dangerous environments. “I was a troublemaker, I liked girls, I never had problems there, but I also practiced various sports,” he adds.
That experience obtained in his childhood helped him define what he wanted to do with his music.
“Every time I sit down to compose, I think about the people it could help. If I can make one person feel better with my music, it’s a victory for me. The question, ‘How can I make someone better?’ is always present,” he says.
He tries not to think too much when he sits down to compose; he simply sits down, the idea comes to him, and he starts working, with his audience in mind, dancing, feeling his music.
All these past years have been a learning experience for everything he wants to do.
“DURA LA is my baby. I know what I’m doing is very difficult, but nothing in life is easy. We have to think about how to do it. Many people have told me not to do it, that it’s impossible. But now, when they see the progress of the planning, they think differently,” he says.
Elijah will be joined at the concert by Plush T0I, Babs, and Ruens.
“Everything has a purpose, to empower Latinos. There aren’t enough Latinos at these events. We want to show our talents, our culture,” he says.
ABOUT DURA LAÂ
DURA LA is a collective that empowers Latino artists through events and mentorship, uniting diverse music enthusiasts to celebrate their shared love for music, culture, and community. Founder Music Producer & DJ, Elijah Herrtz
Date and time: June 22 · 8 pm – June 23 · midnight PDT
Location: LA Experiencia – 1111 West Olympic Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90015
Tickets: $25-55
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