Zurich based Florencio Cruz(32) talked to i-Marbella about his life as a musician. Florencio has been the resident sax player on Nikki Beach for 6 years, but now the talented Argentinean saxophonist is creating his own album, where he besides playing the instrument also sings. 

1. How did you become a saxophonist? 

It happened accidentally, like all important things :) I was searching for something, but I didn t know what. I ´ve tried a few instruments but I couldn't feel a real connection, one day my father told me, "why don't you play something that you can carry everywhere?" I saw the picture in my head, me and the saxophone, and I went for it.

2. Where were you educated?

I've studied with different teachers, my first teacher was a very old man, I remember that he didn't really play saxophone, when he saw that I learned quickly, he sent me to another teacher better than him, then another and another till when I was 18 I stopped studying with people because I started traveling, and I started doing my own exercises at home.

I also went to a jazz school and also to the the conservatory, but I could never stand schools for longer than few months, the whole structure made feel always different, and this feeling when you are young is not nice at all. Now I like it.

3. Did you always know you wanted to be a musician? What does it take?

No I did not know, it came out as soon as I started creating a personality, in my childhood I was always dreaming, and playing around, reading, I had a big universe in my mind, so I was just too busy to take life too serious, or to think about being, I was present in the present. 

At the age of 6 my father showed me a cassette of "the Doors", I didn't fell in love with the band, I felt in love with the feeling of listening to music.

4. Does it pay off to be a musician? Or is it tough to make it in the industry?

In my opinion life is as hard as you want it to be, if you are a musician and you complain all day about the industry, or you just make music once a week when you feel inspired, or you just do it as a hobby because you are afraid that you cannot make a living out of it, surely you attract all this into your life and your music, and therefore you get less attention, less requests, and slowly you become your fears.

Instead if you work everyday on your music, studying, searching, creating a picture of yourself in your head, visualising the fact that you are this, believing you are this, and facing all possible consequences of your choice, investing the same time as if you would be a normal worker, then you music becomes stronger, your presence become stronger, and even if you are not worldwide famous, doesn't matter, because there are thousands of ways to make a living out of music. All jobs need passion, dedication, attention, sensitivity, creativity and courage, the important thing is to never give up your dream.

5. What is the best thing about your job? The downside?

The best thing about my job, is the fact that it makes me happy with very little, also I like the fact that does not hurt others, it doesn't create slavery, it doesn't make pollution, it doesn't mistreat anybody. I love the fact that I sell feelings, and those feelings are supposed to create a reaction in you, it´s 100 percent interactive, and it changes parallel with you. It's a mirror of yourself, and is totally related to the human nature, it is a world-language that does not need words to express love and union for mankind. Is the oldest form of art.

The downside is that sometimes all that, doesn´t happen.

6. What makes you different from other saxophonists? Who do you admire?

I think we are all different, and the best saxophonist is the one that breaks his limits, no matter how big they are. If instead we speak about the style, I am a saxophonist that is naturally always against the stream, even though I grew up with Jazz and Blues, I am very influenced by rock, pop, electronic music, classical music and progressive music, and this you can hear it in my music, and in my language. I admire musicians that have a true story to tell, something that I can understand and believe, I don't like to feel underestimated by an artist.

7. What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment? Biggest concert?

My biggest accomplishment is that after 32 years of life, I can say that I feel happy with what I do and what I am. My biggest concert was when I did the opening act for Seal in 2010.

8. What are your ambitions?

I like to see my career as a tree, that needs time to grow and create a strong root that cannot be beaten easily. I feel that I am learning every day, I am now making an album where I sing and play sax, this year I made also an album for yoga and meditation, and the response to my electronic sax performances it´s being great this year, so I am open to receive what life will bring me. I would like to spread my music worldwide, I want to play with musicians that I admire, I want to have a team that works with me creating and developing new aims, I am open to receive!

9. How do you spend your free time?

I spend my free time with my son and wife, composing music, and doing yoga.

10. What are your other passions besides music?

I like yoga very much, it is something that I can share with my wife and friends, and it´s very enjoyable due to the fact that I don´t expect much from it.

11. Where have you played in Marbella?

I play in Marbella very often, I was the resident sax player in nikkibeach for almost 6 years from 2005 till 2010 during the summertime, therefore I also played for private events, fashion shows, all the clubs etc. I have a lot of friends, fans and clients in Marbella, plus part of my family lives there.

12. Will you come to play in Marbella soon?

Yes, I have a few private events for the upcoming summer in Marbella, even though this summer I will be performing mostly between Ibiza and Palma.

13.Where can people listen to your music?

People can find my music here:

Website:  www.florenciocruz.net

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/cosmiclazy?feature=mhee

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/florenciocruz

Bandcamp: http://florenciocruz.bandcamp.com/