Ricardo Sanchez – ‘Taste + See’ the worldbeat of Ricardo Sanchez

CCM: How did your family respond to this new inspiration?
RS: I was always encouraged to be creative. I’m the youngest of six. My parents always knew that I thought with the right-side of my brain, but I also had a grip on the left side as well. They kind-of trusted me.

When I became a Christian, I was the first Christian of my family. My brother and sister, who were singing in a little group we were in, never made it out of the clubs. When I announced my first tour with Salvador years ago, they were like, “Dude, you’re in front of thousands of people. How did you do that? How are you getting these record deals? How are you connected to ASCAP? Israel Houghton? Hezekiah Walker?” They’re freaking out over all of these things, and my only response is, “I don’t know!”

CCM: You’ve obviously written songs for yourself, but also for so many others. Have you developed a songwriting process where a song feels right?
RS: Before I was married, I would write a song and my mom would hear it. She’s very Latin, so she’d say, “Muy bonito!” Which means, “That song is beautiful.” What I learned quickly is that your mom is going to love everything you do. [Laughs] It’s not until you play it for an audience that has no bias that you can try those out. I’ve always had those outlets to feel people out and play in front of those I didn’t really know in Young Life or a church youth group.

Blanca (left), Sanchez (right) recording ‘Taste + See’ in San Antonio (pic: Terry Wyatt)

I can often feel if a song is burning in me. On the record, I knew the song “You Surround Me” was going to say something to people. Those who have heard it, dig it. It’s sticking out a bit from the rest of the songs. Then again, there’s a song I did with Blanca called “The Bridge” and I didn’t think it would get any attention, but there’s a lot of people saying, “Oh my, that song is amazing.” So the ones I like don’t always connect, but then again, sometimes they do.

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