Louder Than The Music

Dove Awards-winning singer, pianist, songwriter, arranger and storyteller Fernando Ortega talks to Louder Than The Music about his new single 'Jesus, Bread Of Life', his forthcoming EP, and the music that inspires him.

For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in making music?

Well, I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is where I now live. I spent 22 years out in California where my music career was front and center. I started playing piano at the age of 6 and studied music at the University of New Mexico (Go Lobos!). And though I wanted to be a concert pianist, The Lord had other plans for me. My calling into Christian music was made more and more evident when I was in my early 20s.

Tell us about your recent single 'Jesus, Bread of Life' and what the inspiration behind it was?

The original inspiration for my song comes from a verse written by St. Thomas Aquinas called Panis Angelicus, which is worth looking up online. The scripture that comes to mind is John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, etc. But I also think of Jesus’ words “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden . . . “ etc.



I understand that single is taken from your upcoming EP - what more can you tell us about that release?

Thanks for asking about the EP. I am so excited to finally have new music to offer. The 5 songs on the EP are meant to serve as congregational hymns and I hope they find footing! All the piano and lead vocals were recorded here at my house, then sent out to the various players who contributed. My co-producer was Matthew Tobias who owns a studio here in town called Empty House. The EP was over a year in the making which seemed like an eternity. It was worth it! I love how it all turned out.

What message would you like people to take from your music?

That could easily take up a couple of pages but I will give you the short answer. I’ve always been interested in writing sacred songs that point away from the self and that extol the greatness of God and emphasize His transcendence. I also write songs about the struggles and hindrances we Christians face as we try to follow and be witnesses for Jesus in our daily lives. I try to explore how and where God meets us in those times of doubt and temptation.

How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?

I am a fairly mellow songwriter. I am most comfortable writing slow to medium-tempo ballads. The music is clearly piano driven. My roots are in Classical Music which I listen to constantly, particularly the keyboard music of Bach. However, I also listen to a lot of current pop, rock, Indie and folk music. I often create playlists that include James Taylor, Joni Mitchel, The Paper Kites, SYML, Bonnie Raitt, Madison Cunningham, Jacob Collier and so many others! Oh, and I have a teenage daughter who is a real music lover so her favorite stuff fills the house most days.

If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?

For sure it would be Joni Mitchell or James Taylor. Both are incredible wordsmiths. Both have their unique ways of using melody and chord progression to emphasize or color their lyrics. I would love write alongside of either of them to learn how they go about it.

How would you define success in your career as an artist?

Success, for me, is when someone tells me that one of my songs helped them get through a hard time, a period of doubt or the death of a loved one. I also feel very encouraged and satisfied when someone tells me they sang one of my songs in church on Sunday. I love hearing that!

What is your favorite album of all time?

Joni Mitchell’s Blue album.

You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your phone. What track is it?

Well, first I would play Wordle. And since I’m stuck on a deserted island with no way to call someone, I figure I ain’t long for this earth so I would probably play Lux Aeterna by Morton Lauridsen as recorded by the Los Angeles Master Chorale with Salamunovich at the helm. It’s long, so the battery might run out before the music ends. Is there anything to eat on this desert isle? Once my phone dies, I’d probably want a ham sandwich, or something.

What does the next year hold for you?

I am currently working on a full length album, so that will take up a considerable amount of time. And bookings are constantly coming in so I will be on the road a bit. Man, as long as I have a voice, I want to be out there singing! And I hope I get inspired to write a bunch of new music.