[ Fernando Torreblanca ]

Group // Independent/Amidst/Alana Grace

Stick  // Virgil Donati's Assault

I was born in Acapulco, Mexico; A city known for the beach, dancing and clubs. The music scene was found in hotel lobbies and some bars that featured cover bands playing top 40's and cumbias. Some festivals would come a few times a year bringing great talent from all over the world.

My parents separated when I was very young. My first interest in drums was when I was living with my Mom in Cuernavaca, a city that is five hours from Acapulco. There I attended a military school. I would spend my Fridays watching the Drum Corps rehearse.

Back in Acapulco, my brother would play guitar. My heart was set on the drums but my Father had a different instrument in mind. After a lot of convincing, my Dad bought my first drum set. I started my first cover band shortly after.

I would use my free time to play shows in bars and clubs. I made a lot of friends and met many musicians. Both gave me great advice. They taught me discipline and gave me direction. Playing with cover bands was a great experience.

I was starting to get serious about playing drums. Eager to learn, I moved to Los Angeles, CA. I enrolled in a year and a half program at the Music Institute in Hollywood, CA. The courses were intense but very fun. There I met other musicians from all over the world.

After completing the program at MI, I started working as a teacher assistant for a short time. I then moved to Argentina for six months where I was hired to record an album for BMI singer song writer Ivan Noble.

I flew back to Los Angeles and started a band called Moktezoom with my brother and friends. We achieved many of our goals. We played a great amount of shows and recorded a few EP's. Unfortunately, we split before our first recorded album due to creative differences.

After Moktezoom, my mind was open for different styles of music. Through friends I met people from the music industry. I started working with Warner Music Latino artists such as Eduardo Cruz, Sheila Durcal, Laura Pausini, Yahir, LU and Tommy Torres. I even had the opportunity to work with Universal Music's own Juanes, a successful Columbian rock musician. With him I recorded a music video called "Tres" from his album "La Vida Es Un Ratico", which aired internationally.

You can find me performing/producing with: Amidst , Alana Grace, 20th Century FOX shows "Glee" and "Bones" just to name a few.

myspace.com/amidsttheband
myspace.com/alanagrace
myspace.com/fernandotorreblanca