Join bassist, composer, and arranger Saúl Sierra and his quintet at the San Jose Jazz Summer Festival [https://summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=141009734&gbraid=0AAAAADqdBeKNnLELDFwVWhulCSi84fMcW&gclid=CjwKCAjwmenCBhA4EiwAtVjzmrHdIe3KtWDyFVf5FhaipVMT2GyCZO-IBp8A1Fjx0BsWVVjcktO8mxoCbwAQAvD_BwE] on Saturday, August 10, at 1 PM at the Montgomery Theater in Downtown San Jose for a performance that combines Saúl’s roots in Mexico City, the rhythms of Latin America, and the soul of jazz.

In this conversation, Saúl Sierra discusses his upbringing, the power of rhythm to communicate across borders, and how improvisation keeps his music fresh, rooted in tradition, and free. With material already brewing for two more albums, Saúl remains committed to honoring tradition while expanding its possibilities through music.

Born and raised in Mexico City, Saúl’s early musical education wasn’t found in conservatories—it was shaped by the city. He first picked up the upright bass before switching to electric to play rock en Español and rock covers with local bands. His interests evolved toward Latin music, which was hugely popular in Mexico City, encompassing Cuban, Caribbean, and folkloric styles that would later become an integral part of his artistic voice. Saúl returned to the acoustic upright bass while studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Since moving to the Bay Area after graduating in 1999, Saúl has been ingrained in the Latin jazz scene. A member and co-founder of bands like Vission Latina and El Tren Trio, his collaborators include Carlos Caro (percussion), Julio Perez (percussion), and Marco Díaz (piano/trumpet) —musicians who also perform on his most recent album, Caminos. With experience teaching Latin Jazz and music, Saúl also cites teaching as a source of creative inspiration, deepening his interest in cross-cultural storytelling through sound. His new album, Caminos, supported by a 2022 InterMusic SF musical grant, showcases diverse Pan-American rhythms and blends jazz with folkloric traditions across the Americas.

Creating Caminos was a deeply collaborative process. Saúl laid down bass tracks, then worked with his ensemble, encouraging both structure and spontaneity. While guiding collaborators on his vision of the compositions, Saúl also allowed freedom for personal expression. Ultimately, he believed gathering contributions from diverse musicians would strengthen the tone, rhythm, and authenticity of the project. Whether recording a Cuban changüí with seamless 4/4 to 5/4 transitions or grappling with the complex rhythmic structure of Mexican Son Jarocho, each track reflects a lifetime of listening, learning, and letting go.

Caminos draws influence from rhythms like Venezuelan merengue in ⅝, Joropo, and Peruvian festejo and landó, comparing them to Mexican traditions in both timing and harmonic tension. While he continues to rehearse and adapt Caminos for live quintet performances based on the energy of the performance, Saúl’s musical vision extends far beyond this album, incorporating pieces from Caminos into different sets. As a bassist, he believes it is his role to provide the nuanced foundation that allows these diverse styles to shine.

Follow Saúl’s journey on Instagram @saulsierramusic [https://www.instagram.com/saulsierramusic?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] and experience his vibrant sound at the San Jose Jazz Summer Festival @sanjosejazz [https://www.instagram.com/sanjosejazz?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] on August 10, at summerfest.sanjosejazz.org [https://summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/].



Episode #137 Saúl Sierra - Bassist

Originally from Los Gatos, California, Ren Geisick began singing at a young age. She earned an Ella Fitzgerald Scholarship, studied Jazz vocal performance at California State University, Long Beach, and was named an Outstanding Jazz Vocalist by DownBeat Magazine—but her identity as an Americana Singer-Songwriter has long been in motion. With influences like Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, and Guy Clark, her latest music draws from the outlaw country tradition—authentic, stripped-down, and emotionally direct.

In 2017, she released her debut album, Ren, Love Song, produced by Jesse Harris, marking a significant step toward Americana, which blended folk with jazz sensibilities and showcased her deeply personal songwriting voice. Since then, Ren has leaned fully into Country music. While she doesn’t set out to specifically write country songs, her singing style and focus on honest, lyrical narratives have made Americana a natural fit for her.

Her latest album, The Place I Planned to Go, centers on themes of hope and perseverance, especially in the context of being a musician. The album explores the struggles of progressing in life and music, maintaining optimism in the face of challenges, and finding compassion. It includes songs that reflect on the difficulties of the music industry, like the humorous “15 Cents” and more introspective tracks like “Weakness” and “No Mercy at All.” The title track, “The Place I Plan to Go,” was written during the pandemic and reflects on life not turning out exactly as expected, yet maintaining hope for the future.

In this conversation, Ren gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the production of this record and collaboration with producer Mikey Ross. Ren opens up about the challenges of sustaining a music career today, her reasons for pushing forward, and her connection to the music she creates.

Episode #136 - Ren Geisick, Singer-Songwriter 

This podcast is also available on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/60RwOw2BeBlOQt1LIsoEEl?si=b3b9d35e74a24f33], Apple Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/content-magazine/id332177962], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHm6ouVuLWbp6yQ7T9VwRNw].

When Cherri Lakey and Brian Eder first launched Two Fish Design, their plan wasn’t just to continue their graphic design work—it was to build something radically different. Inspired by a yin-yang logo of two fish swimming upstream, the duo adopted the motto: “Those who swim against the stream come to the source.” This philosophy of challenging the status quo and seeing what others overlook became the heartbeat of their now-iconic creative ventures: Anno Domini Gallery, Kaleid Gallery, Phantom Galleries, South FIRST FRIDAYS, and SubZERO Festival.

In this conversation, Brian and Cherri recount their journey from design to street art, their curatorial risks, the birth of SubZERO, and how they continue their hand in shaping San Jose’s cultural ecosystem.

Follow SubZERO Festival on Instagram @subzerofestival [https://www.instagram.com/subzerofestival?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] and learn more at subzerofestival.com [https://www.subzerofestival.com/]. 

Follow all of their other projects at Anno Domini Gallery, @annodominigallery [https://www.instagram.com/annodominigallery?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==]

Kaleidgallery, @Kaleidgallery [https://www.instagram.com/kaleidgallery/]

Phantom Galleries, @phantomgalleries [https://www.instagram.com/phantomgalleries/]

South FIRST FRIDAYS, @artwalksj [https://www.instagram.com/artwalksj/]


Episode #135 Cherri Lakey & Brian Eder - Anno Domini and SubZERO

Join Jet for the opening of his solo exhibition, "Arbolito" at MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana on the first Friday of June 2025, 06/06/25. This exhibition presents new work, drawing inspiration from the rich traditions of his native culture, where ornate patterns and abstract forms are combined to explore the passage of time.

"Arbolito" is on view at MACLA June 06, 2025 - August 10, 2025

Born in Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico, and raised in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Jet [Martinez] is inspired by his native culture’s roots in pottery, weaving, and embroidery. He creates rhythmic patterns in his public artwork, allowing him to bridge the gap between his life in Mexico and his teen years in the United States.

“The creation of a project is the creation of a problem to work on or solve. I think that’s a lot of what artists do—we make problems for ourselves.” - Jet Martinez



Order Issue 17.3, "Perform"bit.ly/173perform

Published by SVCreates

__________________

Article written by Alyssarhaye Graciano

Video by Daniel Garcia

Featured: Issue 17.3, “Perform,” Jet Martinez (Spanish)

Featured: Issue 17.3, “Perform,” Jet Martinez (English)

MindFi is a genre-bending musical duo formed by long-time friends ⁠Kia Fay⁠ [https://www.content-magazine.com/articles/kia-fay/] and ⁠Mark Arroyo⁠ [https://www.content-magazine.com/articles/mark-arroyo-trio/], rooted in the heart of San Jose’s Japantown. With just guitar and vocals, they create emotionally raw, immersive soundscapes. Here is a taste of their music, which they performed exclusively in Content's SoFA Black Backdrop Studio

Experience MindFi’s sound at the Pick-Up Party 17.3 on May 16, 2025, at West Valley College. They will be opening the event at 7p.



You can also experience their magic at The Curl Consultant every last Wednesday of the month in Japantown. ⁠RSVP⁠ [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/content-magazine-pick-up-party-173-perform-tickets-1310485079149?aff=oddtdtcreator]..



Black Backdrop Show - MindFi

MindFi - Kia Fay Donovan and Mark Arroyo.

What happens when a hair salon becomes a stage, a friendship becomes a band, and a guitar and voice create a whole universe of sound?MindFi is a genre-bending musical duo formed by Kia Fay [https://www.content-magazine.com/articles/kia-fay/] and Mark Arroyo [https://www.content-magazine.com/articles/mark-arroyo-trio/]. Combining their unique talents, they have created something they describe as a wireless mind connection, a performance philosophy, and a creative community rooted in the heart of San Jose’s Japantown.

The name MindFi is a play on “Wi-Fi for your mind,” and that is exactly what their music feels like—tapping into an unseen, deeply intuitive frequency between two artists who listen as much as they play. Born from a long-standing friendship and shared vision for musical purity, the project came to life post-COVID, blending logistical simplicity with artistic depth. With just guitar and vocals, they challenge themselves to make music that feels expansive, spontaneous, and emotionally raw.MindFi’s core performance takes place on the last Wednesday evening of every month at The Curl Consultant, Kia’s salon-turned-sound-lab on Jackson Street in Japantown. What makes MindFi especially captivating is their intentionality. Every element—from the curated audience and the timing of their Wednesday shows to their strategic approach to growth—is designed to create connection and community. The band values intimate live performances and how each set is never quite the same. Each breath, mistake, and laugh becomes part of the show, immersing listeners in the moment and the music.

Their sound is the product of weekly rehearsals, conversations, active listening, and an ongoing “what if” approach to creation: what if we play this differently? What if we strip it down? What if we rebuild it entirely? Whether covering Depeche Mode with just a guitar and voice or experimenting with chord voicings and layered effects, their goal is always to make the music feel full beyond what most would expect of a duo.

While this collaboration between artists was long in the making, Kia received a 2025 San Jose Jazz Jazz Aid Fund commissioning grant, which acted as an accelerator for the project’s artistic vision. The fund validated their presence in the local arts scene and gave them the resources to launch MindFi with autonomy and intention. They continue to grow the project on their own terms—developing recordings, videos, and plans for future performances—while bypassing the traditional struggle of new bands constantly chasing gigs.

In this conversation, Kia and Mark reveal their approach to music as a creative outlet, a community hub, and a sonic experiment. They discuss their careers making art in other contexts and how MindFi is a place where they decompress, reconnect, and remember why they fell in love with music in the first place.

Experience MindFi’s sound at Pick-Up Party 17.3 on May 16, 2025 at West Valley College. They will be opening the event at 7p. You can also experience their magic at The Curl Consultant every last Wednesday of the month in Japantown. RSVP [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/content-magazine-pick-up-party-173-perform-tickets-1310485079149?aff=oddtdtcreator].

Follow MindFi on Instagram @mindfiband [https://www.instagram.com/mindfiband?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==]Kia Fay was also featured in Issue 11.1, “Sight and Sound” [https://www.content-magazine.com/articles/kia-fay/]

Mark Arroyo was also featured in 

Episode #134 - MindFi - Kia Fay Donovan and Mark Arroyo

Featured: Issue 17.3, “Perform,” Jacque Rupp, @jacquerupp [https://www.instagram.com/jacquerupp?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==]

“‘I’m always learning,’ quips Jacque Rupp, a lifelong photographer who has deepened her craft over the past several years. With a robust career as an executive in Silicon Valley, including working for Apple, photography has been her through-line to navigate life, death, grief, aging, and womanhood.”



“Photography has always brought me so much joy. Particularly when I’ve gone through a tough time in my life, such as people dying, I find that photography is a great escape.” -Jacque Rupp

Featured: Issue 17.3, “Perform,” Jacque Rupp, ⁠@jacquerupp⁠

Mary Morse is an MFA candidate in Spatial Arts at San José State University, working in various mediums while exploring texture, color, and memory in her work. Her interdisciplinary approach enables her to create work that is unique, introspective, and innovative.



She is showcasing work that combines soft materials and rigid forms in felt, incorporating painting and metalwork into her installations.



Follow Mary’s work:

primarymorse.com [http://primarymorse.com/]

Instagram: primarymorse [https://www.instagram.com/primarymorse/]

Mary Morse - Spatial Arts

Chelsea Stewart was born in 1997 in San Mateo County, CA. She lives in San Mateo and works in Palo Alto, CA. Stewart is currently attending San José State University while working towards her MFA in Spatial Arts. Stewart completed a residency in the Cubberley Artist Studio Program in Palo Alto, CA, and currently works as the Gallery Manager at the Pamela Walsh Gallery in downtown Palo Alto.



She was a 2022 Content Emerging Artist Awardee and featured in Content Magazine issue 14.3, “Perform,” published by SVCreates.



Follow Chelsea’s work:

chelseaannestewart.com [https;//chelseaannestewart.com]

Instagram: chelsea_anne_stewart [https://www.instagram.com/chelsea_anne_stewart/]

Chelsea Stewart - Spatial Art

Conversations with the South Bay's Creatives. editor@content-magazine.com Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/content-magazine/support