Chris Kross is a well-known figure, a guitarist, composer, and distinguished producer. He began his musical journey early, playing in bands and local events at the age of 16, until he pursued his studies at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, graduating Cum Laude. Now, as the founder of his own company, Elevate Productions, Chris has taken an important step to elevate live music in Aruba, where our local talents can have the opportunity to showcase their live abilities to everyone's ears.
1. Could you share a little about your journey?
I started my professional music career at the age of 16. I began playing in bands and also as a musician for various solo and duo performances. This allowed me to gain a lot of experience in different genres. All of this happened before I went to study abroad, and I also attended classes at the Aruban Music School. Later on, I continued my studies in Boston, and in 2019, I graduated from Berklee College of Music. I returned to Aruba and founded Elevate Productions. Additionally, I should mention that in that same year, I obtained my master's degree in Music Education.
2. What was the impact of your studies at Berklee College of Music on your formation as a musician?
Berklee had the greatest impact on my academic career. It combined the academic aspects with professional training in many areas, considering that music is so vast. At Berklee, I also had the opportunity to connect with other international artists, such as Paquito D’Rivera, Berta Rojas, and many other Grammy winners. I even had the chance to record with a symphony, which was quite a challenging task.
3. What was the initial inspiration behind Elevate Productions?
The idea of creating Elevate Productions came from the desire to establish a booking agency that would be innovative and challenge ourselves within the artistic field. Hence the name. I started the company during Covid, which was already a significant challenge, but I used this time to develop the logistics of a company, and today, I am growing every day.
4. What kind of artists can be booked through Elevate Productions?
We work with various artists. I have a diverse catalog of artists based on age, genre, and more. But most importantly, we work with what the client desires. And we make it happen with teamwork.
5. How does Elevate Productions stand out, and what makes your approach different?
What makes Elevate stand out is going the extra mile, innovation, discipline, customer service, and the training we provide to everyone involved.
6. In your own words, what is the mission of Elevate Productions?
The mission of Elevate Productions is to provide excellent entertainment. We achieve this through effective communication within the team and by providing personal and musical development training.
7. There is often a discussion among local musicians about the difficult and sometimes complicated process of finding work to perform and receiving fair compensation for it. What are your thoughts on this?
I've heard many discussions regarding payment and work, and locally I can say that those working with us have expressed satisfaction with the payment they receive. For me personally, this is something very important, and I ensure that their payments are fair. For Elevate, payment is not just about what they deserve for the work, but also considering the effort they put into it. They give their best and are always attentive. They deserve proper compensation.
8. Why is supporting local talent important?
It is extremely important! Why? Because in the creative industry, local talent represents the identity of the country. Imagine when a tourist comes to Aruba, they want to see who and what Aruba is. And art is the best way to express that.
9. What is the difference with live music?
Today, it's rare to find a band that plays completely live. I have nothing against that; I think that if it's possible, there's nothing better than live music. I understand that sometimes, due to a lack of band members, instruments, or budget, it may not be possible. Live music remains the best because it brings music to life, makes it interactive, and stirs emotions. This is an essential part of music.
10. What does the future hold for Elevate Productions?
Our goal is to remain a booking agency and continue innovating. We want to bring new things, new services, and keep growing. We never stop. This also applies to me as a musician, to keep creating new projects and to see growth and evolution in the music scene in Aruba. Seeing changes in the younger generation, they worked more on bands and not just as solo artists. I would also like to see more bands in different constellations and genres.
Built with Shorthand