Daniel Alejandro Siles Mendoza

From a very early age, Daniel was musically influenced by his parents. However, his formal musical education began at the age of 14, when he began taking private drum lessons with Berklee Alumni –and the most renowned drummer in Bolivia– Daniel Zegada. At the same time, he began playing at important music venues all over La Paz.

Daniel co-founded ‘John Doe’ with his brother (Juan Pablo Siles) and recorded 2 albums at prestigious recording studios in his hometown (Cantus and Discolandia). One of these albums was nominated for the 2004 ‘RockandBol’ Awards held in La Paz. During this time, Daniel also participated in other minor recording sessions with independent recording engineer Miguel Omiste. In 2007, during his senior high school year, Daniel was accepted into the National Music Conservatory in La Paz, Bolivia, where he furthered his musical studies for about a year.

After finishing high school, Daniel applied and got accepted to Academia de Música Fermatta in Mexico, DF. There he co-founded “La Especialidad de la Casa”, a project which led to amazing experiences. La Especialidad de la Casa has been featured in several print and online magazines, and in the most important radio stations in Mexico and Bolivia (XHIMRRadio Horizonte 107.9 FM, Exa 104.9 FM, Radio Bemba 95.5 FM, Radio Ibero 90.9 FM, RockandBol (Bolivia), Revista Metro (Bolivia), INKULT Magazine, Revista Nodo, Afterpop Magazine, Blog Los Amateurs, Discoteca Online, Soulthing Music, etc.) In 2009, Daniel recorded La Especialidad de la Casa’s debut album. During this period, he had the opportunity to share the stage and record with some of the finest musicians in all of Mexico’s music scene: Dan Zlotnik (Los Dorados ft. Cuong Vu, Big Band Jazz de México, Zoe), Carmen Ruiz (Natalia LaFourcade), Maria Emilia Martinez (Klezmerson, Los Aguacates, Sr. Mandril), Lido Pimienta, Hong Kong Blood Opera, Carla Morrison, Los Mamastróficos, Yokozuna, and many more. Throughout 2009 [and later in the summer of 2011], Daniel toured various cities in Mexico with La Especialidad de la Casa and had the opportunity to play in the most important venues in the city such as Imperial (Mexico City), Pixel Art Cafe (Queretaro), Brixton Pub (Queretaro), Museo San Ildefonso (Mexico City), Plaza Loreto (Mexico City), Museo Ex-Teresa (Mexico City), Caradura (Mexico City), El Hijo del Cuervo (Mexico City), Casa Babylon (Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca), Hostal Shalom (Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca), La Matita de Cafe (Cordoba, Veracruz), etc.

In 2010, after a rather brief yet important period with La Especialidad de la Casa, Daniel transferred to the prestigious Berklee College of Music. At Berklee, he had the privilege to meet great musicians and to study with some of the finest teachers in the world such as: Kim Plainfield, Bob Gullotti, Kenwood Dennard, Casey Scheuerell, Victor Mendoza, Terri Lyne Carrington, Dave Dicenso, Mark Walker, Joe Galeota, Neal Smith and many more. During his time at Berklee, he participated in live and studio sessions around Boston at the Berklee MP&E Recording Studios and The Record Company.

On the Spring of 2012, Daniel graduated magna cum laude from the prestigious Berklee College of Music. He has since moved to New York City to pursue his career as a Professional Session Musician. Show less