Born in New York and raised across the United States before enlisting in the U.S. Army, Reydel Castillo is familiar with the concept of change. Today, Reydel is pursuing a Master’s in Entertainment Management while working as an LED Engineer. Throughout his entire life, he has mastered the art of using change as a catalyst for innovation. As an aspiring music artist and entrepreneur, Reydel shares how his life on the road has taught him to take risks.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in New York, and I grew up across a lot of states: Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, South Carolina, and Arizona.
What caused you to move so much?
My mother got divorced early when I was two years old and remarried a man who was in the Army. Even to this day, I still am in contact with him since they’ve been divorced. That was one of the reasons we moved around a lot, because he was in the military. She split with him when I was around nine or ten, and we were in Oklahoma until I was about fifteen. Oklahoma is the longest I’ve been in one place. Italy is the second because I was stationed there for four years.
Did you have any cultural influences while you were growing up?
Not really. I would say I am mostly Americanized. My mother didn’t speak to me in Spanish but I am half Dominican and half Puerto Rican. My mother is Puerto Rican and my father is Dominican. My mother was Americanized, so she never spoke Spanish to me. I can speak a little Spanish, but not fluently and I am still learning it on my own. I suppose I don’t have a cultural influence besides American culture.
Was there someone in particular who influenced you the most?
When I was young, no. But when I was nineteen, my friend Dalton got me into foreign exchange trading, buying and selling euros at certain prices. That was the start of my hunger for ambition and self-development. Before, I didn’t know what self-development, discipline, or life beyond the 9-to-5 was until I met him. He taught me a lot about discipline, like waking up early, going to sleep early, journaling everyday, writing goals down, and learning something new everyday. Most of this came from the Army as well, but he was a big influence on me.
Did you have a big music influence growing up?
It’s funny. I’m into music now, and that’s a goal of mine, but I wouldn’t say I’m extremely passionate about it. I love making music, but I wasn’t influenced by music at a young age. I started really listening to music as an adult. Artists like Hovey Benjamin, who isn’t super well-known but has millions of streams, influenced me. Also, mainstream artists like Drake, Lil Wayne, and the Weeknd. My music is more like hip-hop with a pop influence, kind of like Drake’s sound.
Tell me about your experience in the service and why you decided to enlist.
I decided to enlist because I didn’t have much going on at home. I didn’t tell anyone; I just enlisted and left. I joined in Oklahoma City, went to basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, advanced training in Virginia, and then to Georgia for Airborne school. I became a paratrooper and served first in Pensacola, Florida with a special forces group. I deployed to Afghanistan where I drove trucks and fixed equipment as a diesel engine mechanic. That was from 2014 to 2017. Then in 2017, I went to Italy until 2021 when I got out and pursued education. I got a bachelor’s degree and am finishing up my master’s in Entertainment Management which I’ll graduate from in November.
What are your goals for the future in your career?
I’m pretty laid back about my goals. I don’t have an extreme passion for music; I just want to do it full-time and work from anywhere because I like traveling. My full-time job now is as an LED engineer/technician with LMG. I love my job. I get to travel and work on contract gigs. I’m also working on music and creating short videos on TikTok and Youtube with my music in the background. I just recently designed a brand focused on DIY tutorials tied in with my music.
How did the military shape what you’re doing in your career today?
The military helped support my skillset and pushed me out of my comfort zone. I had to learn how to communicate effectively, find the balance between power and communication, and consider other people’s needs. COVID was a turning point for me. During lockdown in Italy, I realized how much I resented having my freedom restricted and decided the military wasn’t for me anymore. I honored my contract while exiting the military, but COVID really changed my outlook.
Is there an overall message or multiple messages you want to convey through your life’s work across music and entertainment?
I’d say the message is to take risks because you only get to live once. Set yourself up in a position to take risks. It’s something I’ve had to do throughout my life, and it’s deeply ingrained in me.
