Soundview artist to release debut album in March
BY JASON COHEN
From the loss of his mother to being
bullied in high school, life has not
been easy for Soundview’s Matt Sanchez.
However, in March he will release
his debut album.
While Sanchez, 21, only began recording
music fi ve months ago, he is
ready for his career to start.
“I am where I am not because of
anything that makes me special,
but because of the people that we’re
around me,” he explained. “Everything
I’ve ever done is because of them
(parents). The only thing I ever want to
do is affect people through my poetry
and music.”
Sanchez, his twin brother Tequin
and their sister Natasha were adopted
by two women, Dolores Sanchez and
their late mom, Rosie Almeda. They
were raised in Fordham and later
moved to Westchester Square, Castle
Hill and today, live in Soundview.
He attended Bronx Engineering
and Technology High School where
he was bullied and witnessed a lot of
violence. While he enjoyed learning,
especially science, this place was not
for him.
So, in his junior year he transferred
to John V Lindsay Charter School in
Manhattan and everything changed.
He took extra classes, worked hard
and graduated a year early at the top
of his class.
“I just loved school, it was my passion,”
he explained.
Sanchez then attended Berkeley
College in Manhattan, but dropped out
after two years due to his mom getting
sick and a bad breakup. But, on top of
that he just wasn’t prepared for that
chapter of his life.
“I wish I had a better guidance
counselor because I defi nitely could
have gone to a better school out of
state,” he stated.
As his mom got diagnosed with cancer
he began to write poetry. He noted
that while most people who are good at
science are not skilled at writing, he
has a passion for both.
Sanchez began to attend spoken
word and open mic nights and soon realized
he wanted do that.
His path in poetry began to blossom
when he met Shanelle Gabriel, the
interim executive director of Urban
Word NYC, an organization that provides
a platform for writing and performances.
Then about a year ago, after reciting
poetry at an open mic, a kid asked
him if he had ever thought about making
music. It had never crossed his
mind.
But he fi gured he would give it a
try.
“I took his advice, I started listening
to beats and it just came natural,”
he explained.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, F 22 EBRUARY 5-11, 2021 BTR
Soundview artist Matt Sanchez Courtesy of Justin Steven Escobar
Suddenly, Sanchez was recording
about 30 songs a week and putting
them on social media. Through trial
and error, he was fi nding his voice.
Eventually, he connected with his
manager David Capers, whose 12-yearold
daughter Layla is a star on Broadway.
Capers then set him up with TK
Productions and told Sanchez they
wanted to make an album. So, he recorded
throughout the pandemic and
is eager for it to drop in March.
“I don’t think anybody is ready for
what is coming this year,” he stressed.
Sanchez explained he would not
have gotten this far without the support
of his team and family. A lot of
his music and poetry is inspired by
his late mom and he even wrote a song
called “For my momma.”
His identity as a musician changed
when one of the people in his team
asked if he wanted to “just rap and be
known in the hood or be an international
star like Drake?” He chose the
latter.
Many people are still shocked he
has gotten into music. Recently he
played a song for a friend without saying
who it was.
“When I told him it was me he was
like what that’s your voice,” he said.
He describes his music as a mix of
pop, dance and funk.
“I’m a young kid from the Bronx
who was bullied and no one thought
could be anything,” he commented.
FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF THE BRONX
Docket # NN-10764-5/20
SUMMONS
In the Matter of
MIA ESPINAL
LEONARDO ESPIINAL
A Child(ren) Under Eighteen Years Alleged to be Neglected by
ISABEL TEJEDA
RAY ESPINAL
Respondent(s)
BRONX FAMILY COURT
1-347-378-4143
PART B- CONFERENCE ID – 786622481#
Meeting Link, http://notify.nycourts.gov/meet/agqmtn
PLEASE CALL NUMBER ABOVE ON DATE AND TIME STATED BELOW.
NOTICE: PLACEMENT OF YOUR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE MAY RESULT IN YOUR LOSS OF YOUR
RIGHTS TO YOUR CHILD. IF YOUR CHILD STAYS IN FOSTER CARE FOR 15 OF THE MOST RECENT
22 MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FILE A PETITION TO TERMINATE YOUR
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD TO THE
AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION. IN SOME CASES, THE AGENCY MAY FILE BEFORE
THE END OF THE 15-MONTH PERIOD. IF SEVERE OR REPEATED CHILD ABUSE IS PROVEN BY
CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE, THIS FINDING MAY CONSTITUTE THE BASIS TO TERMINATE
YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD TO
THE AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION.
TO: RAY ESPINAL
2728 MARION AVENUE, APT. F1
BRONX, NY, 10458
A petition under ARTICLE 10 of the FAMILY COURT ACT having been filed with this court alleging that the
above-named child(ren) is a neglected child(ren), a copy of said petition being annexed hereto:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this court at 900 Sheridan Avenue, Bronx, New York
10451, Part B , on MARCH 10, 2021, at 09:30 o'clock AM in the forenoon of said day to answer the petition
and to show cause why said child(ren) should not be adjudicated to be a neglected child(ren) and why you
should not be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of ARTICLE 10 of the FAMILY COURT ACT and
why an order of support under SECTION 235 of the FAMILY COURT ACT should not be made if the final
disposition is an order of placement.
On your failure to appear as herein directed, a warrant may be issued for your arrest.
FURTHER NOTICE: Family Court Act §154(c) provides that petitions brought pursuant to Articles 4,5,6,8
and 10 of the Family Court Act, in which an order of protection is sought or in which a violation of an order
of protection is alleged, may be served outside the State of New York upon a Respondent who is not a
resident or domiciliary of the State of New York. If no other grounds for obtaining personal jurisdiction over
the Respondent exist aside from the application of this provision, the exercise of personal jurisdiction over
the respondent is limited to the issue of the request for, or alleged violation of, the order of protection. Where
the Respondent has been served with this summons and petition and does not appear, the Family Court
may proceed to a hearing with respect to issuance or enforcement of the order of protection.
THOMAS STAUCH, ESQ
D
ated:01/22/21
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