Hempfield student sets sights on becoming musician

His name might not be up in lights, but Jacián Marquez is well on his way.

The 17-year-old Hempfield Area High School student is just getting familiar with Greensburg’s music scene. He recently released his first extended play — a choice he hopes is a stepping stone into a music career and a way to carry on his grandfather, Elojio’s, legacy.

Picking up his grandfather’s thick neck classical guitar for the first time four years ago, Marquez, who goes by Jacián Blaze when he performs, didn’t realize the impact Elojio’s music had on people.

“What he would do was he would go around the town of Yabucoa, (Puerto Rico) and he would just play and everyone would just dance and sing along to his music,” Marquez said. “So when he passed away, at the age of 13 I was like, I would love to do guitar and I would love to do my own stuff one day.”

Marquez is hoping his music makes a similar impact on people emotionally.

Teaching himself how to play, he eventually found a voice in alternative pop, a genre he says broadens the horizons and incorporates pieces of pop, hip hop, rap and alternative music. Now, Marquez writes songs based on the moment.

“If I feel happy I’ll write a song that makes me feel happier. If I feel a type of saddened or anger, I’ll write to that because I feel like music to me is just my escape,” he said. “It’s something that I escape to that when I feel like that I can just go and do it. And that’s what I love so much about it.”

What he hopes, however, is songs that tell stories about struggling or rough times are relatable and send a message to listeners.

“Without music, I feel like the world wouldn’t be what it is. And I feel like a lot of people connect more to music than any other thing,” he said.

‘Just the Beginning’

On Feb. 22, Marquez took the first big step toward starting his career by making his EP available on Spotify and Apple Music.

And titling it “Just the Beginning” signifies what is yet to come, he said.

Planning on attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, after his 2020 high school graduation, Marquez hopes to grow as a songwriter and musician, and to use his education as a jumping point into his career.

But the musician knows the difficulties of his career choice.

People tell him he’s not going to make it big for reasons like not living in Los Angeles, but Marquez keeps his focus on his love for playing and his determination to make his dream a reality.

“If your mind is stuck on what you’re worrying about, what people may think of you or what you should sound like, it’s not going to happen,” Marquez said. “Because you have to realize this is all about what you want to do for you.”

When Marquez picks up a guitar he said, “it sometimes doesn’t even feel like I’m playing. I feel like there’s an energy there, like a connection, like this is something that was meant to happen.”