Orteez
Tell us about you and your work
I am Ismael Ortiz, bóricua music producer / creative known as Orteez, I’m from San Juan Puerto Rico. My beginning and love for music started in my elementary years in 1998-2002 when I learned to play the trumpet in church. Starting the era of computers and the internet 2005-08 I stopped practicing trumpet and with my neighbors began to play with the DAW FL Studio(Fruity Loops) doing Reggaeton tracks. At that same time, Dj Ivan Robles had an electronic music show called Overdrive on La Mega 106.9 and I did not miss a single day of that program, that is where curiosity for electronic music comes in and also thanks to a friend in high school called Dennis Cruz shows me more electronic artists like Dj Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Sasha, Armand Van Helden, ATB, Darude. Together we got involved in the local electronic DJ scene in Puerto Rico, we started going and being part of events, festivals like Get Away by The Movement and exploring all that range of “modern, tribal, ambient, and industrial” sounds.
Orteez (Artist) was born in mid-2011, at the same time
SoundCloud appears and it is there that I know the LVCIUDVD collective and I begin to collaborate with the best local artists like; Alvaro Diaz, Skeptic, Auudi, Robertito Chong, Joyce Santa, Deborah Blues and Brray. Me having the influence from the Bolero, Salsa, Latin Jazz, RnB and Hip-Hop I have that unique “touch or sauces” to mark a particular sound that is the one that represents my emotions along with the day to day “what I live, what I hear ”. Currently I have collaborated with Tainy for “ClubDieciseis”, Rauw Alejandro "Vice Versa", Alvaro Diaz "Felicilandia" and Los Rarxs composed by Vento Alejandro, Fokin Froid, ERRE that also together we have a collective called Sonido Porno.
What inspires you?
My greatest Inspiration: First is my family, the one who gives me the
courage and drive to dream big and live. Second is nature, Mother Earth, which gives me the rich vibes and the curiosity to continue exploring every corner in this world. And I keep continuing to experiment and create with the colors and sounds of the good vibes of the fusion of our cultural roots. "Jan Jan catu “, which means “asi sea=amen” in the Taíno dialect.
What does community mean to you?
Community ? For me, a community in a creative aspect is the same essence as a neighborhood or a sector that share knowledge, help each other, take care of each other, love each other and enjoy together.
Favorite film
I really love “In Time” by Justin Timberlake “In a future where time is money and the wealthy can live forever” this film is the closest thing to one of the multiple realities that we live.
Favorite song
Coma by Sasha, It has a sound journey, texture and nostalgic feeling… so timeless for me. Love it.
Favorite place
Of course the beach, the rural areas and wherever there is coffee with a good conversation.