About Me

At twelve years old, Angel Antonio picked up the guitar after seeing a friend rehearse for a school talent show. He had arrived with a piano, and quickly realized he would not fit in; having already studied piano for a year and a half, he understood that his path to joining a band was to learn guitar, and this became his resolve.

The Conservatory of Puerto Rico offered a youth program, and he secured an opportunity to study classical guitar with Rey Nieves, who agreed to teach him electric guitar instead. After a year of proving himself, his father bought him a Mexican‑made Fender Stratocaster with a Floyd Rose tremolo—a compromise from the Ibanez model he originally wanted (what he considered a true “metal” guitar).

He played with neighborhood friends while honing his skills. Later, he joined a semi‑official band that evolved into Red Tiger. As vocalist, composer and lead guitarist of the group, Angel Antonio recorded the band’s first two songs for Red Tiger’s debut indie album, which received moderate radio play and performances at important venues on the island: The Arena Pier 10 and Puerto Rico’s Convention Center (El Choli).

In 2007 he decided to pursue a solo career and performed in clubs around the island. Not just a musician but an artist through and through, Angel Antonio became deeply involved with stagecraft. While a university student of Foreign Languages, he joined the Musical Theatre ensemble of the University of Puerto Rico and worked closely with prestigious playwright Joseph Aguayo (R.I.P.). Angel Antonio earned leading roles in student productions of Oklahoma! and Jesus Christ Superstar. During this time, he also composed and conducted an independent musical for children about the importance of recycling. He later focused on acting, performing in local plays such as Jóvenes.com and a production about Edith Piaf, from which he was removed after criticizing the production’s disorganized rehearsal schedule.

In 2012, Angel Antonio moved to New York for a non‑art‑related work opportunity. There he explored street performance as a busker. He learned to engage late‑night crowds of drunk people waiting for the L train at Union Square station. These early proving grounds led to a broader exploration of subway performance spots, building cherished musical relationships that nurtured his confidence in his voice and stage presence—experiences that eventually led to official recording and performance collaborations. During his time in New York, he learned to play the doumbek and performed at various belly‑dance events, a percussive style he now incorporates into his recording process.

Angel Antonio recorded and self‑released an independent album titled The Ego Trip, so named because it was an entirely DIY endeavor with no collaborators or external vetting. The project was an experiment in digital music production, basic distribution, self‑promotion, and a tribute to earlier songs from his time in Puerto Rico. Released in both English and Spanish, The Ego Trip is no longer in distribution, and a stash of physical CDs remains in a box in his Puerto Rico home. His sound and artistic identity have evolved so much since that release that only one or two of the album’s songs are still streamed today. He felt that only the Spanish‑language tracks from The Ego Trip were truly authentic, a realization that led him to sing almost exclusively in Spanish.

Currently, his practice is to record and produce songs he wrote in the past. He sits on a considerable stash of material waiting to be re‑imagined, reconsidered, restored, and recorded.

Musically his sound is very guitar‑centric; compositionally, many styles are allowed. Angel Antonio pours his soul into each song as a conjuring, a chant, a hymn, or a mantra—seeking release, healing, or something unknown—and he hopes listeners will feel that same connection.

Angel Antonio has officially performed or busked in the Netherlands, Austria, France, Japan, Australia, Puerto Rico, and New Zealand.