CURRENT MISSION

I'm a music producer, a touring performer with music group HIRIE, saxophonist, I'm an indie artist and a songwriter as well. Looking to meet other creative & unique individuals! Particularly looking to meet Dutch folks as I plan on moving there with my family in 2024. Let's link!

ABOUT ME

I am a musician! I write music, play music, learn music, I jam music! I love music of all cultures. I used to play in a large Middle Eastern music ensemble (we have ~50 people): Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Israeli, Sephardic, Roma, Armenian, Greek, Afghani, you name it, we've probably played it! :) My main project right now is called HIRIE and we tour around the US a few times a year. I also have an 8bit chipmusic alter ego named "beek" if you like that kinda stuff. Also check my solo tunes released under my name Chris del Camino!

I love the Earth. I try to make time in my life to cultivate at least a small patch of dirt. Other times I try to go as far as to community-organize some collective organic farming action. It's an interesting and fun challenge! Did some WWOOFing across Europe 2010-2011, and it was awesome :)

About ten year ago I began practicing yoga (vinyasa/heated) and am stoked. I've been cultivating a better relationship with my body and its connection to my mentality and it has been amazing. It also helps that my wife is now a yoga instructor too, I think :)

These are some things about me. I also have a history in the demoscene. If you don't know what it is and are feeling a little nerdy, google it! :)

PHILOSOPHY

live harmoniously with myself, with others, and with the world!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

In the beginning, I mainly hosted... About 100 people from 2008-10 as I recall.. Great times! We lived in a particularly cool spot (Isla Vista, CA) with extra bikes and so many housemates we never had the need for keys or locked doors. I loved the "travel energy" that would come through and at times hosted up to 3 separate groups at the same time! We'd go on parades with drums and my accordion through the town or enjoy the beachy college vibe and the parties that go along with it. A-maz-ing.

Then I experienced the other end as my fiancée (now wife :) and I travelled through Egypt, Europe, & Turkey... what an amazing experience. We couchsurfed 95% of the time (except in Turkey where we decided to plop down and live in an apartment for 4 months on a whim :) We made so many friends and realized the true nature of couchsurfing as we got to enjoy countries, cities and their cultures in ways never before as easily accessible to the traveler. In fact, in my mind, it redefines the nature of travel altogether.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

as a host, the experiences have been 99% positive! as a surfer, there have of course been a couple glitches--gotta get the hang of proper communication & timing! 99% smooth CS travel as a surfer :)

Interests

music, people, cultures, arts, humanities, religion, spirituality, philosophy, history, astrology, interdiscipinary studies, holistic anything, agriculture, society, languages, computers, the demoscene, alternatives to the rational paradigm, musical instruments, music composition, yoga

• arts
• humanities
• performing arts
• cooking
• yoga
• instructor
• walking
• partying
• gardening
• traveling
• music
• drums
• agriculture
• history
• languages
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

movies: sci-fi, anime, post-apocalyptic, documentary, odd, indie films

reading: reefer madness by the same dude who wrote fast food nation
just read: oliver sacks, "musicophilia", coelho's "pilgrimage"

music: electronic, jazz, ska, reggae, dub, dubstep, drum'n'bass, techno, rocksteady, mexican: norteno, rancheras, mariachi, banda, duranguense, CUMBIA!, forro, egyptian classics like umm kulthum, lebanese, turkish classical & folk music, thai molam, experimental jazz, acid jazz, classic rock, 90's rock, 80's, old blues, neo-soul, soultronica, hip-hop, classical, american folk, americana, indie, new weird america, west african, north african, rai, rai'n'b, fusions, jam bands, hippie jam music, nortec, local music, new music, foreign music, zydeco .. hmm

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

CAMINO DE SANTIAGO 2011. What an amazing adventure--30 days walking across a whole country. Beautiful land, beautiful people, beautiful Spain.

burning man 2005-now!

Teach, Learn, Share

music performance, composition, theory, ear training, transcription, production, recording, let's do it!

gardening

languages

What I Can Share with Hosts

music.. cooking.. how to make hand made mexican tortillas :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Turkey, United States

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