Street musician Alfredo Flores came to Canada from Guatemala via the U.S. more than 25 years ago, leaving behind the political unrest of the time.
He’d been dreaming for years of making an album, knowing that sales could help him support his teenage daughter. Renting recording space was costly and he didn’t have the money for it. Using the studios, equipment, computers and software of the Inspiration Lab has allowed him to realize that dream.
With support from VPL staff, Alfredo has compiled a CD of the traditional Andean music he plays that he sells when he’s busking at SkyTrain stations around the city.
“Thanks to the library, it’s free,” he says. “It’s very expensive otherwise and I just don’t have the money to do that. I feel very lucky…I’ve recorded more than 20 songs already.”
Now that he’s seen the success of his first CD, Alfredo now wants to use the Inspiration Lab to record Christmas music. He says, “I want to make it really good and maybe even collaborate with two or three other musicians.”
