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Photo credit: Brian C
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According to Columbiadoctors.org Body temperature is a measure of how well your body can make and get rid of heat. The body is very good at keeping its temperature within a safe range, even when temperatures outside the body change a lot.
Your body temperature can be measured in many places on your body. The most common ones are the mouth, the ear, the armpit, and the rectum. Temperature can also be measured on your forehead.
Excellent insight into gauging the temperature of the human body. However, what tools does an artist use to measure the temperature of their audience? Interesting thought to consider.
If your work requires you to be professional, courteous, and respectful, your temperament is particularly important. Certain personality traits can define you and can affect how you will respond under stressful situations. The traits we were born with are often not fine-tuned until we get older, and even as we get older, mastering our innate traits are difficult. So many things affect the way we think feel and react. Whether we are easygoing or apprehensive, life can still be difficult. Especially within a professional setting, some do not have the will power to determine how they are going to react. They can be calm one moment, and full of emotion the next.
If you are an artist, having traits that are perceived to be positive could affect your success (or lack thereof) in the music industry. You could long and successful journey, or your career could be short lived. So, does this mean that you have to a “stoic” personality to make it in the business? No, not by any means. However, keeping your temperament in check can be the difference between success and failure, and it’s easier said than done.
Our special guest today is someone who could provide a little insight on the importance of temperament in the music industry. She is Sus Vasquez.
Sus Vasquez is a Colombian-born guitarist and composer renowned for her versatility across genres such as rock, pop, funk, ambient, and progressive metal. Currently based in New York City and Los Angeles, she has established herself as a sought-after session and touring guitarist, collaborating with numerous high-profile artists.
Early Life & Education
Born in Medellín, Colombia, Sus began playing guitar at the age of 12. She pursued formal music education at EAFIT University, initially focusing on music composition before switching to jazz guitar performance. In 2016, she gained international recognition as one of the top five finalists in the Kiesel Guitar Contest, distinguishing herself as the only female and South American finalist. The following year, she earned a scholarship to study at The Collective School of Music in New York City.
Career Highlights
Solo Projects & Style
Beyond her collaborations, Sus composes and produces her own instrumental music, blending elements of rock, ambient, indie, and progressive metal. She has performed solo at festivals like Guitarmasters and has composed scores for short films and contemporary classical pieces
Endorsements & Gear
Sus is endorsed by several prominent music gear brands, including Fender, Taylor Guitars, Godin Guitars, Tagima Guitars, Dunlop, Elixir Strings, Kemper, Takamine, Eventide, and Walrus Audio.
Media & Online Presence
Sus maintains an active online presence, sharing her performances, gear demos, and original compositions on platforms like YouTube and Instagram.
INTERVIEW WITH SUS VASQUEZ AND GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE
Guitar Thrills: Hello Sus. Thank you for joining us today. Our questions are intentionally unique, and centered around figuring out what traits could help or prevent someone from becoming an accomplished professional, specifically within the music industry. The topic centers around the concept of temperament. It’s something that we are born with, though much of it can also be shaped or determined as we grow older. How important is an individual’s temperament in your line of work?
Sus: I think it's incredibly important. Temperament is so crucial because it's what sets the vibe and how well you coexist and communicate with the people you work with. When you're on tour, these people become your friends and your family. It's like you're living in this bubble, and you are spending 24/7 with all of them. Having a good temperament is key, not just to get hired (which most Musical Directors look for in a musician besides how they play), but also for your own well-being and enjoying your time with others on the road. If you can't bring good vibes, it's going to be impossible for you and everyone else to have a good time.
As a kid, I was really shaped by the calmness of my Dad and the strong work ethic and drive from my mom, so for me, it’s been very important from the beginning to keep that but also develop and shape that temperament, adapting it to different situations.
Guitar Thrills: If you have a response that is negative, harsh, and filled with anger, will it harm or assist you with your career?
Sus: Oh man, it would absolutely harm it, no question. I truly believe that everything, and I mean everything, is capable of being solved with communication that's not angry or negative. I see life as something that needs to be approached with a positive mindset, and bringing that kind of harsh energy into any situation, especially in shows/tour, just shuts things down. It makes it impossible to build those connections, to have that vibe I was talking about. So yeah, for me, a negative response would be not ideal, but we are also human and sometimes it can happen.
Guitar Thrills: Our purpose is not to make people feel bad if they lose control on occasion. Sometimes our emotions can get the best of us. However, a regular cycle of displaying harmful emotions can negatively influence our relationships. If you are in the public eye, your character traits are going to be scrutinized. If you are working on a better temperament, what are your suggestions on how to improve?
Sus: For me, it all starts with self-awareness. You gotta know what triggers you, why, when, and how… Are you tired from travel? Do you have problems back home or in your personal life? Was there a misunderstanding? Always ask yourself and analyze the situation, and with that awareness, you can anticipate them and even try to avoid them.
It’s also about communication. Always try to talk with the team and address things calmly and directly as soon as they come up instead of letting frustration build. And honestly, adaptability is huge too. It's all about finding that inner awareness and keeping that communication and good vibes going, even when things get crazy.
Guitar Thrills: Have you ever had a bad experience where emotions got the best of you?
Sus: Oh, absolutely. I've definitely had a couple of times where emotions got the best of me. It's tough, because I always want those good vibes and calm communication, but we're all human, and everybody’s personality is different too.
There’ve been times I might have been traveling non-stop, sleep-deprived, and dealing with some issues, where I might have had a discussion with somebody from the crew. But I eventually stepped back, apologized, talked about it, and reset. Those experiences, even the tough ones, are what make you grow and learn how to manage yourself better on the road.
Guitar Thrills: Now, we can get into your accomplishments as a guitarist. In your About section, we learned much about what you have achieved in a short period of time. What do you contribute to your success?
Sus: Honestly, it's a mix of things, but at its core, it's been dedication and patience. You may only see the years I’ve started achieving great things, but what about all the ones before that? I’ve poured a ton of years into practicing guitar, and for a long time, doing many gigs that weren’t the best, but I did them because I needed to get myself up there, gain experience, and meet people. Networking and building up a social media presence is as important as the level you develop playing your instrument; they are just other aspects that need to be taken care of because in this industry, it's not just about what you play, but who you know and how you connect with people.
I'm also a very organized person, and I'm always setting goals for myself. I love the feeling of getting better at something, or to check the box of a To-Do list, so I work towards that every single day. My success, I think, comes from the fact that I never looked at guitar for validation or to just be "famous." For me, it was always more about proving to myself that I could do it and to get to a point where I could actually make a living. Gratefully, that mindset kept me going, and it's led me to surpass just making a living and start accomplishing some of my biggest dreams.
Guitar Thrills: Do you ever get tired of performing?
Sus: You know, it really depends on the situation. If the vibes are right and the people around you are cool, it honestly never gets tiring for me. Going on stage sometimes becomes a meditation or like I was high because I’m living that moment so present, without thinking about anything else.
Nowadays, I'm super grateful that I get to be a bit more selective and only play the gigs that I genuinely want to. For many years, I had to take any kind of gig just to survive and get my name out there. Being able to focus only on the performances that truly resonate with me makes a huge difference, but I always had the mindset to do the best in every situation, even if you are playing at a shitty bar, thinking to yourself you will give it all as if you were in a sold-out stadium.
Guitar Thrills: What kinds of projects are you planning for 2025? Do you plan on touring soon?
Sus: Well, actually, I'm currently on tour with Benson Boone, and we're pretty much booked for the rest of the year. Touring is definitely happening right now, which I love! We are doing arenas in the US and Europe. Other projects I’m working on include releasing a signature guitar with Tagima and continuing to improve myself everyday in all the areas of my life.
Guitar Thrills: I know there is a strong Hispanic influence in the U.S., especially in New York and Florida. Has any of the states that you performed in shaped you as an artist? If so, where? Please explain.
Sus: I grew up in Colombia where I listened to Latin music my whole life, but then I lived in NYC for almost eight years, and it has definitely shaped me in every way.
When I moved there, it was like stepping into this huge island of cultures, and the Hispanic influence is just... everywhere. My very first gig in NYC was with Lee Burgos from the Dominican Republic, so right away, from minute one, I was exposed to a different country, music, and culture. And from there, I went from playing in the Bronx with Latino artists to corporate gigs with Americans, to Jewish ceremonies; I did all types of gigs with people from all over the world, and I was exposed to so many different cultures. This pushed me to become more versatile on the guitar, and I learned how to adapt my playing to fit so many different situations.
And beyond just the Latin influence, the level of talent and professionalism in New York pushes you to be your absolute best. You're surrounded by incredible musicians from every background, and that makes you elevate your game. New York has been a crucial chapter of my journey.
But honestly, besides NYC, being on tour traveling all across the US has also made me see a lot of things as well.
Guitar Thrills: Who were your musical inspirations?
Sus: I actually started out pretty much listening to punk rock, so bands like Green Day, Blink-182, and Sum 41 were my real beginning. But then, I just kept expanding and discovering new genres. I went from Pink Floyd to Metallica, then to more progressive stuff like Dream Theater, and eventually discovered the blues with B.B. King and John Mayer. After that, it was funk with Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jamiroquai, and so on.
I personally love to open myself up to trying and listening to as many styles and genres as I can. I was heavily influenced by players like John Petrucci, Joe Satriani, David Gilmour, John Frusciante, Rob Harris, Plini, Aaron Marshall, and so many more. But I never tried to copy a specific player directly; I was more about picking different pieces from each one and then mixing all that up into my own style. It's kinda like if you took all your favorite spices and mixed them up to create a brand new flavor for your own unique recipe. That's how I approach my playing.
Guitar Thrills: That is awesome. What is it like performing with the likes of Karol G and Luis Fonsi?
Sus: It's very cool, honestly. They are both incredible Latin artists, and it always truly amazes me how far both of them have come, especially making such a huge impact here in the US. I have to give a big thanks to Karol G for inspiring me so much. We both come from the same hometown, Medellín, Colombia, and to see how she dominated and accomplished so much as a female singer inspired me to do that on guitar. So, getting to perform with someone like her, who has such a powerful story and represents where I come from, is incredibly special.
Guitar Thrills: Do you ever find yourself amazed to be performing at these huge venues?
Sus: I do, absolutely! Every single time. And I really try to remind myself of that right before I step out. I'll take a moment to breathe and be grateful because my job is so freaking cool.
Sometimes it's easy to let yourself just go through the motions, especially if you're having a bad day or you're doing it so often. You can lose that sense of appreciation for the moment. That's why I constantly try to remind myself not to lose that amazement.
Guitar Thrills: What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment thus far?
Sus: Oh, wow. That's a tough one because every step feels like an accomplishment, but if I had to pick just one, it would probably be performing with and meeting Brian May.
As Queen’s guitarist, he's just an absolute legend, but also an incredible human being. To actually be on stage, sharing a moment with someone of his caliber... it was just surreal. It wasn't just about the performance itself, but meeting him and seeing how humble and grounded he is.
Guitar Thrills: You are an amazing guitar player. Needless to say, we want to continue to follow your career. Would it be possible to have you back soon?
Sus: Of course! I would absolutely love to. It's been such a pleasure chatting with you all. I'm really grateful for the opportunity and the really uncommon but great questions. Thank you for having me.
Guitar Thrills: Excellent. We look forward to it.
A RECAP OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
