Juan’s Music

WRITTEN BY Sheshe Giddens
Photography BY beryl striewski

Following a dream has taken Juan Manuel Traslavina places. As a composer, guitarist and singer, he is simply known as Juan Manuel.

With 12 CDs released and two new ones on the way, Manuel has been considered for both GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nominations. He has performed throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean, but his fans have taken his music around the world and even into outer space. But to get to know Manuel, one only needs to hear his music, which captivates listeners with its smooth melodies, infectious rhythms and Manuel’s insightful lyrics.

THE SCIENCE OF CREATIVITY: Musician and software engineer Juan Manuel built his home studio to record his music using an array of instruments and technology. To learn more about Manuel, visit www.Artist Unlimited.com.

Manuel’s music is a fusion of classical, flamenco and jazz that taps into everyday life as its inspiration. Songs from his latest CD release, “Age of Innocence,” such as “Rosalyn,” “Izabelle,” “Olivia Victoria” and “Gabriel,” tell the story of what is at the essence of this artist. Each song echoes the source of his true passion — his wife and three children.

When Manuel met his wife Rosalyn Manahan at UHCL, they both were students. As president of the International Student Association, Manahan hired Manuel to play his guitar at an international festival. Meeting Manahan inspired him to compose his first song, which he titled “Rosalyn,” after only knowing her for a few days. Manuel played the song at the festival and was delighted by the warm response from the audience.

“I enjoy playing this song, and I have recorded it with various artists on different CDs. My latest CD, ‘Age of Innocence,’ has the song ‘Rosalyn’ on it as well as the song I wrote and played at our wedding, titled ‘I will move a mountain for your love.’ The title says it all for me.” says Manuel.

Fatherhood has also made a significant impact on Manuel’s music.

“Our children have been one of the greatest sources of influence in my music; something shifted in me once our children were born that facilitated my musical expression,” says Manuel, who has composed 95 percent of his music since becoming a father.

Managing Manuel’s music career has turned into a family business. He and Manahan formed a music management, production and distribution company, Artist Unlimited, in 1998 to manage Manuel’s career and distribute his music. Manuel refers to himself as the company’s “guinea pig.” He is Artist Unlimited’s only exclusive artist, but the company does record and produce other artists as well as help them with distribution.

Manahan refers to herself as the “Rosalyn of All Trades,” because she runs Artist Unlimited as owner and co-founder. She also manages her husband’s career and serves as the company’s accountant, promoter, graphic designer and secretary — all while raising the couple’s three children at home.

“My overall experience at UHCL — getting a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an MBA — has helped me deal with different aspects of managing a company, which includes dealing with all types of people,” says Manahan.

While Manahan handles the day-to-day tasks of running the company and managing Manuel’s music career, Manuel balances music with his career at Science Applications International Corp. as a software engineer assigned to NASA’s International Space Station program.

“Believe it or not, both professions influence each other. Most people would agree that these professions are at opposite ends of the spectrum; however, if you analyze music, you will find that music is very mathematical, and I certainly use engineering principles to develop my music, especially since I am now integrating new technology into it,” says Manuel, who received a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in software engineering at UHCL.

Also, the “Liberation” CD has been taken up on two different shuttle missions. NASA astronaut C. Michael Foale took Manuel’s CD on the STS-103 mission, which accomplished 120 Earth orbits and traveled 3.2 million miles. But it was the copy of the “Liberation” CD that astronaut Kalpana Chawla’s husband, Jean-Pierre Harrison, gave to her to take up on the STS-107 Columbia mission that touches him most.

“After the Columbia accident, I couldn’t believe that he (Harrison) would remember to call me to tell me that my CD was taken on the mission,” says Manuel, who keeps a photo of the shuttle’s crew with the sheet music that he takes with him when he performs.

Being able to control the direction his music takes as well as being embraced by a wide range of fans and other artists has been a truly liberating experience for Manuel. His career has included collaboration with various artists such as former Tonight Show drummer Ed Shawnessey, R&B recording artist El DeBarge and pianist Shelly Berg. Prior to recording his music, Manuel reached national and international audiences in a principal-acting role on a Telemundo television miniseries, “El Vicio de Vivir,” and he has appeared as a featured extra in Disney’s “Rocketman” and in Niha Mad Films Combine’s Indian production “Prithvi” as well as several local commercials.

He is also a voting member of the Recording Academy and the Latin Recording Academy.

“Being a GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY voting member has been a unique privilege. It has allowed me to participate with my music at greater levels. For the last two years, I have made the entry list in several categories for both the Latin GRAMMYs and the regular GRAMMYs.”

Manuel’s CD, “JuansMusic.com” was considered for nomination in the 2003 Latin GRAMMY Awards and his “Inspired by Angels” CD was considered for nomination in four categories of the 2002 Latin GRAMMYs and five categories of the 2003 GRAMMYs.

“One the perks of working with my husband in the music industry for me is that I am able to tag along at the GRAMMYs and meet other artists and music industry people,” says Manahan.

There are benefits for the couple’s children as well. The three Traslavina children are surrounded by music at home. The children have their own guitars and their father has even recorded them singing songs from their favorite musicals. They can also be heard on the “Age of Innocence” CD.

Among his many roles as husband, father, engineer and artist, Manuel’s schedule is full as his music continues to reach new audiences and artists continue to reach out to him for collaborations. He has a regular gig at Perry’s Italian Kitchen where patrons come for more than just food, and he is booked for engagements far in advance.

Manuel’s music is taking him places, and he hopes that his latest project will lead him back to the red carpet at the Latin GRAMMYs in September 2004 and the GRAMMYs in February 2005.