By Grecia Ortíz
The desire to improve himself and generate better life opportunities for his family in Guatemala, led the artist Escuintleco Match Díaz to migrate to Los Angeles, California, United States, where he settled without forgetting his passion for music, which continues present in your life.
Match began with his musical project in 1996, it was published with the Virtual Studios label of Guatemala (who also worked with Ricardo Andrade and David Montenegro) and that is how his album “Muy bueno” emerged.
Match mentions that Arjona is for him a singer-songwriter who for Guatemalans should be an example to follow, “I would like to say that artistically he is the greatest example to follow.”
It was precisely from that production that the Motivado theme was born, which, he mentions, occupied the first places in the lists of the most important radio stations in the country in 1997.
The Guatemalan does not hesitate to mention that his main admiration and inspiration is the singer-songwriter, Ricardo Arjona, who has stood out worldwide with his music.
THE BEGINNING
Match is the stage name of José Adolfo Díaz Ciraiz, originally from Escuintla, Guatemala and spoke with La Hora Voz del Migrante, to tell his story and the reasons that led him to leave the country.
“In Guatemala at the beginning I studied, I got my diversified and started working as an Accountant Expert in an office and all that, I worked in some hotels, but suddenly as I began to meet people from the artistic environment I started with the musical question, that was like In 1994, let’s say that at that time I had friends related to music and it began to attract my attention, ”he recalls.
The Guatemalan artist mentions that after that he began to interact with dance groups and in his family many people knew how to play an instrument, but more as a hobby.
MUSIC IS HIS PASSION
When music invades him, the interviewee remarks that he feels complete, in addition, that this is his passion and understands that not many people have the opportunity to do what they like.
The path of the Guatemalan abroad began with a cultural exchange with which he traveled for a month through Europe, then, upon returning to Guatemala, he moved to the United States with the support of the Los Angeles House of Culture.
“They sent me an invitation, I had previously tried to get a visa through myself, thank God I didn’t have that need to go out like many people do and then it was because of music that I started traveling in 1999,” he highlights.
Despite the fact that music is something important for the Guatemalan, he mentions that there is not so much support for this art or not as would be expected, “I had my time of success, but it began to cost me to survive with my music.”
MIGRATED IN 2013
So then he decided to stay in the United States and not go back to Guatemala, because he wanted to help his family. That happened since 2013, “it was a tough decision, I’ve been here for seven years.”
Taking advantage of the fact that he is in that country, Match has sought to continue with music and has also sought other types of jobs to survive, that involves painting, construction, cleaning vehicles, restaurants, among others.
“I have had a lot of jobs, thank God I have been able to do them, I have learned many things, now currently due to the situation that occurred, now I am working in a company where they store and distribute car lights, so all the day we are packing boxes ”, he adds.
The Guatemalan says that his job represents a day that begins at 8:00 in the morning and ends at 5 in the afternoon, “honestly, when the day ends I am tired, but there does come a time when my energies are exhausted ”.
HAS PARTICIPATED IN ACTIVITIES OF THE MIGRANT COMMUNITY
As an artist, Match has been able to connect with the Central American migrant communities by participating in fundraising events. In 2016, he was named a Featured Artist of the Guatemalan Community in Los Angeles.
“For me it is an achievement and a satisfaction to be able to be here and apart from that with my talent I can give joy to my people because there are many people who miss Guatemala, it is a great satisfaction for me to support with a grain of sand”, he mentions .
Without hesitation, the interviewee emphasizes that it is necessary for migrants to be able to support migrant artists, especially independent ones.
HOPE TO COME BACK SOON TO GUATEMALA
Match hopes to return to Guatemala soon to continue his artistic career, because music is definitely his passion and he hopes to produce new material from abroad.
“You have to prepare continuously, I did it at a certain moment, it was little, but it helped me, but they have to look for a preparation, that serves with perseverance, work and dedication,” he says.
MORE FROM MATCH
For the Guatemalan, his favorite theme is Motivated, which can be heard on the YouTube video platform, which has promoted him among his audience. There are other songs that he says are special and that is the one titled “Ella”.
In addition to music, Match has played soccer, in his spare time he also goes to the gym, but due to the heavy work he does, he comes home tired.
“It is also a satisfaction to live on something other than music because I would like to dedicate myself to that alone, but for now it is not possible and I hope it will be possible later”, he comments.
RICARDO ARJONA IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS
Ricardo Arjona is one of his favorite artists and he does not hesitate to list several of his songs among his favorites, in addition, he highlights his musical career, “for me he is the most important Latin artist”.
Lastly, Match indicates that he did not think that one day he would migrate, although he was aware that if he did not leave the country it was possible that his situation would not improve in Guatemala.
“Most migrant people struggle with many things, with sadness and unfortunately with rejection because there is a lot of racism,” he points out.
Like many migrants, he says he misses his family and the traditions of his home, but trusts that the sacrifice he now makes for his loved ones will soon pay off and that this will allow him to return to Guatemala to continue building a path to success in the musical path.
The artist is pleased that there are spaces for migrants and artists in La Hora, “a greeting to all migrant people in the United States and especially to those who live in Los Angeles. Do not lose faith and do not lose your dreams, here they are fulfilled, but there is a sacrifice ”.
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