Meet Isai Beltran | Human

We had the good fortune of connecting with Isai Beltran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Isai, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
The world is in a state of great change. Many think we are in the end times and I think there’s some truth to that. Apocalypse doesn’t necessarily mean “death and destruction” but rather, “lifting of the veil” or “revelation of truth”. Years of undoing mental programming and binging information have led me to my current worldview. I think that Earth is a kind of training ground though some consider to be hell, prison, and even a soul trap. Maybe its a mix of all these things.. I’m not sure, but at the very root of its function seems to be the idea of control imposed by means of deception or manipulation.

I’ve been exposed to music since before I was conceived in the womb through the energetic properties of my parent’s biology. At some point I learned that I didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of those around me which was get a degree and become some instructor at some school or even settle down and start a family. The idea felt restrictive and went against my nature so I slowly came to realize that “freedom” was a fundamental part of my spirit. With freedom comes the risk of digging your own grave and either laying in it (literally or figuratively) or having to painstakingly crawl out the hole yourself, but it also grants the most rewarding experiences a human being in this realm could have. You are the one at the helm. You get to eat all the meat and drink all the booze. You bask in glory and you suffer the consequences but “you” are at the core.

Mankind is at a crossroads. At first, I did this drumming stuff purely for my own self interests, but now I think differently. I look around and see people in a false sense of security, in mental shackles, wandering around aimlessly, and though they’re content… is it what they really want? I think being an artist isn’t just fun and games but comes with a sense of duty. How do people break out of the matrix? One way is by seeing individuals living and thinking outside of the box. People whose thoughts and actions make you scratch your head or make you think “I wish I could do that”. Oftentimes, it’s not what you do but HOW you do it. How do you treat the homeless that approach you on the DART vs the ones you drive by on the highway? How do you think of social media? The clout? Followers? DMs? How do you handle a high stress environment with your coworkers vs your drunk homies at a rave? How relaxed are your toes when you walk? Run? How fast do you chew your food? How do you deal with traffic? With the reckless drivers? The slow ones? How do you go prepare for sleep? Wake up? Exercise? Relax? How do you handle being around dozens or even hundreds of people? Can you even handle being alone? Small, seemingly insignificant questions that force you to think about the underlying “how” in every single action. These actions then translate to your craft which then transmit to those that watch.

My goal is freedom in this physical world and beyond death. When musicians play on stage, they transmit more than just rhythms and tones. They transmit parts of their essence and because we are all water-based receivers/transmitters, it’s worth paying attention to your mind and soul every minute of every day before you even step foot on a stage. My thoughts are deep and though I hide them in plain sight, I hope that maybe one out of thousands will pick up on the crumbs. To start thinking and asking the deeper questions. Playing music and being on social media is really just the Trojan horse for the ideas and concepts I really care about. The evolution of mankind is the goal and there are infinite ways to get there so any action, now matter how small, plays a part on life’s stage.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I grew up listening to my dad play classical spanish guitar and heavy metal riffs so guitar was the first instrument I picked up around 2004 and would have been my main weapon had I not joined band in middle school. I wanted to play the sax but couldn’t blow into the reed. I couldn’t blow into ANY mouthpieces so I was presented with the choice: French horn or percussion? I had never thought about drums prior to that point but percussion sounded like a cooler word so I went with that. I learned early on that I had a knack for percussion and was fortunate to have a teacher that recognized it so he constantly threw solos at me that were above my experience level. As an 8th grader, I was presented with the drum line world and had some help from the high schoolers in the form of tips and sheet music. My life took a turn after watching a Blue Devils drumline documentary called Bluesmoke which sparked a flame that burned in my soul for the next 7 years of my life.. So began my marching arc.

I thought everything about the drumline realm was badass and so I spent hours of every day for weeks and years learning any material I could find sheet music and footage for. Learning music way above my level was what allowed me to march Drum Corps and WGI after high school. Marching any independent group is expensive, extremely time consuming, and takes a physical toll on your body. I was a heavy drinker and smoker during this time (2013-2016) that drained me of money and health that ultimately resulted in me breaking my leg during my first summer of drum corps. My mom was always in my ear telling me that obviously I should stop playing music if it means I’ll be broke, damaged, and high all the time. These words would make sense to most rational people but when you have dreams, reason is not an option. Long story short, I had the time of my life during my age out seasons of DCI/WGI and was presented with the opportunity to drum for the Dallas Cowboys, Mavericks, FCD, and every other professional drumline gig in the DFW metroplex.

This brings me to the present day. I am currently in 7 bands with genres ranging from VKei to darkwave and have played country and pop music with some party cover bands. How did I get here from marching band? I saw a Snarky Puppy concert at the Granada over 5 years ago and was instantly hooked to the idea of playing drumset on stage. I’m often asked, “how do you find the time? .. how do you maintain your energy?” The short answer is: Don’t think, just do. Finding the balance between being rational and calculated while also being reckless and taking risks is an art in and of itself. It gets easier and you get better at taking the losses to the chin all while getting stronger in body, mind, and spirit. A side effect is that you find joy in this cruel realm even if you total your car and find yourself walking, catching trains and buses for years or waking up hungover in jail multiple times. (But try to avoid these things) You will find the value in performing to an empty dive bar staff to the ethereal moment of landing full circle on stage at the Granada. Like my girl Ms Frizzle says: take chances, make mistakes, get messy.

To paraphrase an old friend of mine: When you like something, you get super annoying and addicted. True! Of course, my story is unique to me and what worked for me may not be what works for others. The truth is that everybody has the ability to find what works for themselves with a bit of guts and intent so the hope is that people will find it in themselves to take the chance and go for “it”. Whether you believe in reincarnation or that we are on a lonely rock spinning through space and nothing matters, the fact is we have this body and soul right now so what are you gonna do?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When taking friends out I always default to checking out live music but especially the local scene. The candle-lit open mic Thursdays at The Balcony Club or the love mic at Sundown at Granada on Mondays. The freeman cafe on the weekends for some grub and even better musicians. Colab band hip hop improv on Tuesdays at Three links. Spinster Records throws some banging shows inside their store in Bishop arts or you can take a short walk to Reveler’s hall or lady love from. Rubber Gloves in Denton usually has stacked bills sometimes across 2 or 3 stages. Those are some of my go to spots though there are much more across the mid cities and into Fort Worth. Besides checking out live music I honestly don’t go out much but I have explored and traveled quite a bit around the country and metroplex. Of course, you gotta take people to see the skyline and though there are some amazing spots along the trinity river, especially at sunset, my favorite spot of all-time is a billboard along Highway 30 close to the Fair Park exit. It’s a bit of a weird climb but the view is insane and I have yet to find anywhere better. I like to top off a day gazing at the sunset and the best part is that Carrollton sits on a sort of hill that overlooks the west so you can find plenty of spots with bare horizons for optimal views. Rockwall also has amazing sunset views over the water if you’re in that part of town.

I don’t really care much for atmosphere when going out to eat so I’m a a bit of a noob when it comes to recommending spots. That being said I do have some favorites that I hit up frequently. I love a good burger and the best are at Burger Island in Downtown Carrollton. Not all Burger Islands cook and construct their burgers the same so you HAVE to go to this specific location. PIzza? Zio al’s in Addison. Again, not all locations make their pizzas with the same quality but also because the Uber Eats buy one get one free deal is hard to beat. Unless you want to binge on cheese and sauce then try Taste of Chicago’s deep dish pizzas. Pho is amazing not just for the taste but for its ability to cure a hangover. If you want bang for your buck then go to Bistro B in Garland for a huge bowl. I’m still on the lookout for the best quality pho but as of now I would put Pho Pasteur II in Carrollton at the top of the list. I have been hooked on a specific Mediterranean spot called “Stop N-Go Gyros” in Farmers Branch for their beef platter or gyros but more for their hummus. Its made from scratch which explains why it tastes better than any I’ve had at other mediterranean restaurants.

At the end of the day, I like to keep it simple. Some brews and some blunts coupled with a good convo is a perfect way to close any day.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe much to the many people that have stuck with me for the past 5 years for being there during the most chaotic period of my life. The musicians in the various bands that I currently play with and those that have graciously allowed me to hop on for a gig or two. The homies I grew up with that have seen it all, those that left, and the new…

But there is one person that I feel deserves the spotlight. My middle and high school instructor Paul Ailey. He was the one that threw me in the fire time and time again, “Learn this one Mr. Beltran”. Here’s to the one who first saw my potential as a performer and never allowed me to take one step back.. Thank you sir! Onwards

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rambeltran?igsh=Yzk1NjV3bzE5ZWc3

Image Credits
Zach Burns
Crystal Kirby