Meet Andrés Larzabal: Artist Manager & Lead Singer for Vasco

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

Hi Andrés, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I think creative control, artistic freedom, and financial independence are three values that are growing exponentially in the music industry. As a band, when we started to build our business we knew that all three of those values were important to us and therefore we opted to build the business around us rather than around a label. It was also an awesome way of involving more creatives and talented friends of ours that we always knew we wanted to work with. Essentially we are a business for creatives and by creatives and I find that very fulfilling. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think one of the biggest challenges for songwriters is finding the balance between relatability and honesty. Over the last couple of albums I have worked on I feel like I’ve gone to each extreme with my own songwriting. At first, I wrote songs about my story that were so specific and metaphorical that, as a regular listener, you would probably have a hard time relating with. Then, I spent some time gravitating towards the opposite end of the spectrum to where I wrote songs I knew would be relatable but lacked the personal, honest element. I do believe this is one of those struggles that you have to grapple with the rest of your life, but I think the songs we are working on right now manage that balance a lot better.

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.
So first of all, I’m a big coffee guy and Dallas is fortunate to include all kinds of great coffee shops including Davis Street Espresso (for your morning coffee), Merit in Deep Ellum (that way you can catch some coffee and then go thrifting across the street at Crossroads), and maybe even Civil Pour at the end of the day for a beer and coffee boost. A friends visit would also require a visit to some of my favorite food spots which include velvet taco, ten ramen, and Cowboys chicken. Also, a trip to Bishop Cidercade is a must.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people who have indirectly or directly contributed to Vasco and my personal growth within the music industry. On a personal and individual level, I have a lot of thanks to give to my friends I have met since being in the US. I moved to the US 5 years ago and would not have made it without their help. I am also forever indebted to our team. Brendan (lead guitarist) has, especially since the pandemic limited our studio time, put hours and hours of work into our releases taking over the recording and mixing for all our tracks. I also want to recognize our social media manager Allen Bryant for all his hard work and helping us standardize our brand identity. Ultimately, our music tells our story and I am just grateful for everyone who has been part of our story.

Website: vascoband.com
Instagram: @thevascoband
Twitter: @vasco_US
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheVascoBand/
Youtube: https://youtu.be/NyB_s29kgqY

Image Credits
Allen Bryant and John Morell