Carlos J. Santana, known in the music world as Flacko Santana or F Santana, has transformed his unique story and struggles into a compelling musical narrative that resonates with many. His journey began under tragic circumstances; before the age of three, Carlos faced profound loss when his biological mother and older brother were brutally murdered. Raised by a compassionate family who took him in, he found solace in music, a passion that would later become his voice for storytelling and self-expression. From the gritty streets of the Dominican Republic and New York City to the stages of major events, including opening for Phresher on the ‘Legend In The Making Tour,’ F Santana’s music reflects his complex experiences and unyielding spirit.
Learn more on Flacko journey as he sits and speak with V-henny.
V-Henny: Can you share more about your upbringing in the Bronx and how it has shaped your music and artistic identity?
F. Santana: The Bronx is my hometown seeing what goes on a daily in life shaped my music shaped how I create. Through the things I’ve went through I express through my music in many ways . Im always out the the box never in it .
V-Henny: Your bio mentions that music is an escape for you. Can you elaborate on what that means and how it has helped you cope with your past experiences?
F. Santana: Dealing with the tragic of my mother and my brother , loosing my uncle my father loosing my grandmother, loosing my best friend and other that are no longer here. Made me feel a way even more as the days pass because you know we can’t get our lost love ones back and speak to them . Going through certain tribulations that make me who I am today and when I create and get in the booth I feel like it’s my therapy my escape . Knowing I can be free vocally and express myself to the highest form of creation. Music will always be my escape .
V-Henny: How did the tragic loss of your mother and brother impact your life and creativity, and how do you channel those emotions into your music?
F. Santana: Depending on what type of vibe I’m on I can take myself to that channel of emotion and feeling pain . Pain never goes but can’t always be butt her on everysong. I feel like everyday I wake up with a mindset of me being the best and biggest artist in this lifetime that we live in . I just haven’t been discovered and I’m haven’t got the spotlight yet . So I’m building my own. And emotions will always be there . Grieving takes time . And I know there’s others that have the same pain and similar situation as me . I want to be able to inspire the world that everything is going to be OK just keep being great and spiritually our lost love ones are always here watching from the heaven gates and protecting us through every storm and in sunny days .
V-Henny: You’ve opened for artists like Phresher. What was that experience like, and what did you learn from sharing the stage with more established musicians?
F. Santana: When I opened up for phresher it was a A dope experience. I knew where I was at was where I was supposed to be . I was fresh to to live performances but I still performed like I was meant for it . I learned that when your litt and up keep going up like a rocket . Shout out to UKJB he connected me with this event .
V-Henny: Your journey took you from facing significant challenges early in life to developing your unique sound. What were some of the pivotal moments that led you to start writing music?
F. Santana: Well I started doing music in 2015 I knew what I was aiming for every one thought I made music and at this time of my life I was broke living in the Caribbean I didn’t have the equipment nor the money . And as a youngin my older step brother everytime he turned on the radio , he will always blast the radio on the Cd player and I would hear Justin Timberlake every single time and I would always jam to the music and I would dance to it and listen to the transition of Justin Timberlake . In my high school time I introduced myself to Wiz Khalifa music and Mac miller , pnb rock and fetty wap , but wiz khalifa really motivated me to Do what you want how you want with out listing to what any one thinks or say . I started building my own sound in my own way because I didn’t want to sound like no one . I always wanted to do things differently and unique . But the struggle definitely played a big part . While I was in college I will technically skip class everyday just to go to the studio , I ended dropping out , they say chase what you love to do and make it happen . And here we are chasing our dreams and making it happen , I truly believe that I’m am what I say I am A STAR . When it’s time it will be time .
V-Henny: How do your experiences in both the Dominican Republic and NYC influence your musical style and lyrical content?
F. Santana: From me traveling to so many places and seeing different things go on within my journey , I’ve became the most versatile I could ever have been , I’m still growing still learning . Still haven’t reach my prime not my peak . Lyrically I like to write and put in game into my music . From New York culture to Dominican culture to living in different states have also gave me a different eye on how I write .
V-Henny: Can you describe the process of finding your own style and how you incorporate various genres into your work?
F. Santana: My process of creating music starts always with a melody . Starts with a feeling of wanting to express . Starts with culture . My style is very versatile , it’s like a kid walking to a candy store when I’m in the booth , can’t just stick to the same sweets , gotta change the treats every once in a while .
V-Henny: In what ways do you hope your music resonates with your audience, especially those who may have gone through similar struggles?
F. Santana: I want my music to touch people in so many ways , see us as artist we go through our daily struggles and emotions just like any other person . Our way of expressing ourselves is through music . Now who doesn’t love music ? I want my audience to go to space every time they here my voice on a track , either my track or a feature I want them to feel a euphoric experience that when they close they eyes or there home lighting a spliff or having a good time or with family or even in a car driving that they go to mars in every trip they hear my sound .
V-Henny: As you continue to grow as an artist, what are your aspirations for the future, both personally and professionally?
F. Santana: My aspirations as is artist is to sell out a arena have one of the best shows of my life , really live off what I love to do , and show people that ITS POSSIBLE to really come from nothing to HAVING IT ALL . I want to be the most influential artist in the world giving back to the ones I love and giving back to the people . I feel like a lot of artists care about them selves and not the reality nor people .
Professionally I want to direct my music videos and the highest potential. I direct all my videos now so I can imagine me directing at the highest level of my music.
V-Henny: What message do you want to convey through your music, and how do you see it evolving as you continue your journey in the industry?
The message I want to give out to my supporters through my music is BE YOU. & ONLY YOU.