“Mestizo’s music has a way of capturing that easy-going Boulder sound and, no matter where you are, making you feel you’re right at the base of the Flatirons!” -Ron Bostwick Entertainment Director, BolderBoulder The Mestizo FAQ (aka Jon interviews himself) Q: How would you describe Mestizo's sound? A: We like to term most of what we do as "pop folk." We embrace a very simplistic sound, which sometimes equates to embracing some mainstream styles and conventions. But at the same time, we are very big on acoustic music of all sorts, not just the simplistic type. And really, we're fans of many many genres, as our name implies. I just decided we're going to start calling it "laid-back pop folk" because that does a better job communicating our simplicity. Q: You're from Denver/Boulder, CO. Does that have any influence on your sound? A: Absolutely. The simplicity, having a laid-back sound, the tendency towards confessional singer/songwriter lyrics... these are all things I equate with Colorado music. Q: What does Mestizo mean anyway? A: We get asked this a lot. It literally means "mixed" and generally refers to someone of mixed Spanish ancestry. It's been used across the globe for centuries (the Spanish empire was vast indeed). Not only does our choice of name refer to the heritage of the Leyba brothers, but we feel that "mixed" also reflects the music we enjoy, and hopefully the music we create. Q: Who are your influences? A: My most formative early musical memories are of Santana and CAKE. I consider G. Love and Jack Johnson to be very significant for me after that, and most recently I've been enamored with Ben Folds. I also have a longstanding love for the Beatles and Bob Dylan, like most everyone else on the planet. Q: What made you want to be a musician? A: I started in my teens, so I'm sure it had to do with some sort of angsty outlet in the beginning. But nowadays, I just see it as a part of myself. Just something ordinary and everyday. Like my right arm.