
Student Spotlight: Rafael Heredia The flamenco percussionist is channeling the vibrant music scenes of Japan and Spain in his musical explorations at Berklee, and offers a refreshing take on looking within for inspiration.
By
Keerthana Sudarshan
October 2, 2024
Image by Kelly Davidson
What's it like to study at Berklee? Our Student Spotlight series asks current students all about their Berklee experience-what they're learning in class, what kinds of projects they're involved in onstage or behind the scenes, how they recharge, and of course, what they're listening to. In this installment, get to know percussionist Rafael Heredia, a sixth-semester electronic production and design (EPD) and composition major from Hiroshima, Japan. His rich flamenco heritage and an inherently curious and explorative mind have led to some exciting new projects, including his trio Intersync, which creates a unique blend of traditional sounds and electronic music.
Follow Rafael on Instagram.
Tell us about your path to Berklee. What made you decide to come here?The Spanish side of my family, including my father, grandfather, uncle, and aunt, are all professional flamenco artists-percussionists, singers, and dancers. My mother, who is Japanese, is also a dancer. So, it was natural for me to learn flamenco growing up, and I performed on stage for the first time at age three.
I started working as a flamenco percussionist when I turned 15 in Japan. At age 18, I was fortunate enough to be asked to work with a popular flamenco company in Spain and tour with them. The work came to a standstill during COVID-19, so I acted upon my desire to formally learn music and applied to Berklee.
Although I had originally applied to Berklee Valencia, Fernando Huergo, the professor who auditioned me, encouraged me to apply to Boston instead, and somehow things panned out.
Given Berklees vibrant international community, how do you think that your roots and cultural origins have played a part in your Berklee journey so far?Berklee boasts a uniquely curious and open-minded community of students. My Spanish heritage deeply connects me to the Latin culture at Berklee, while my Japanese heritage connects me to the Japanese students.
Despite the stark differences between both cultures, I have been met with a lot of interest from all my peers here. Feeling so welcomed has greatly helped in my musical growth and has allowed me to remain open-minded while honoring my flamenco culture.
Whats been your favorite class so far, and what has it taught you?My favorite classes were Conducting 1 and Conducting 2 with Kristo Kondak i, who is a wonderful conductor and teacher. His class is full of inspiration and changed me as a musician. Through conducting, he taught us how to work on anxieties and insecurities and become confident and empowered musicians.
Whats a project youve worked on since coming to Berklee that youve been especially excited about?Recently, I founded a trio called Intersync, with Arman Wali on keys and Dexter Callender III on saxophone, born out of the necessity to experiment. We create a unique blend of traditional sounds and electronic music. We're seeking newness from this experiment and nothing else, which is personally an exciting direction in music exploration.
Rafael Heredia (center) plays with his ensemble, Intersync.
Image courtesy of the artist
How do you typically recharge or find new ideas outside of class?I prioritize good sleep and set aside time to do nothing; these are essential for me to recharge and come up with new ideas. Conversing with people whom I admire, about music and beyond, also helps inspire me a lot.
When you think towards your future, who inspires you most?I have been working on deepening my connection with myself. Nothing is more important than my relationship with myself, and when I focus on this, it helps propel me along my journey and inspires me to pursue a future in music.
Whats one piece of advice youd give to your high school self?I would tell my high school self to trust the process and know that I will meet incredible people along the way. But I would also advise myself to start ear training earlier on.
Rafaels Top Five Songs Right NowWe asked Rafael to tell us his favorite songs of the moment. Heres what he said:
1. The Wind, Keith Jarrett '67I heard this tune when I was about 15 and it blew my mind. It is one of the primary reasons I wanted to study music.
Keith Jarretts New Album Features Unheard Gems
The first single from The Old Country takes us back in time while still making a vital addition to the pianists influential catalog.
Listen now.
2. Hikoutei ( ), King GnuThis one is just a blast and hypes me up. The lyrics are great!
3. Antonia, Paco de LuciaWhen I was five, my dad encouraged me to play this tune on percussion. It was challenging but it is such a beautiful piece and I fondly remember it.
4. The Way Up, Pat MethenyThe entire album tells a compositional story. Its a masterclass in composition, illustrating how to connect pieces seamlessly. This album is a must-study in jazz popular music, as its both written and improvised within a contextual narrative.
5. Huelva City, Sandra CarrascoShe is one of my favorite singers in the world and is a great example of traditional flamenco-style singing. Ive had the honor of performing live with her; she is one of the best!
Related Categories
News
Student Spotlight
Most Popular
Jim Lucchese
Image by Kelly Davidson
Jim Lucchese Named Berklee's Fifth President A 20-year music industry veteran and a committed artist advocate with deep Berklee roots, Lucchese sets the tone for a new era at the institution.
Latest
Farayi Malek
Image by Najee Visuals
Signature Series Presents Country Music: Black Roots and Branches New Dangerfield, Dom Flemons, Donna McElroy
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
16/07/2026
33 leading exhibitors are taking part in the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland Pavilions and linked locations across IBC2026 (Amsterdam RAI, 11 14 September)...
16/07/2026
Hitomi Broadcast will introduce Spectra, a new HDR colour verification solution measured in picture, not using VPID, at IBC2026 (Hall 10, Stand A40). Expanding ...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Zixi, a leader in live video delivery and workflow orchestration, and Comcast Technology Solutions (CTS) today announced a strategic new integration to deliver ...
16/07/2026
Blackmagic Design Cameras Capture Immersive Flight for New Cirrus App
Brie Clayton July 15, 2026
0 Comments
Leader in Personal Aviation taps URSA Cin...
16/07/2026
XenData Announces LTO Archive Appliances with both File and S3 Object Storage In...
16/07/2026
Together the semi-finals had a combined reach of 1.98 million unique individuals...
15/07/2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a big deal for DAZN, which has distribution rights in three markets: Italy, Spain, and Japan. Each requires a different editorial app...
15/07/2026
As sports-media organizations manage rapidly growing content libraries and incre...
15/07/2026
HBS director of digital Johannes Franken talks SVG Europe through the operation built to serve FIFA World Cup 2026 rights holders remotely from Stratford, east ...
15/07/2026
IBC has unveiled the conference program for IBC2026, with this year's event ...
15/07/2026
Software-defined wideband RF platform supports 96-kHz monitoring, streamlined fr...
15/07/2026
New AI-powered module enables broadcasters and content owners to extract dialogu...
15/07/2026
Weeklong gathering at EBU headquarters will test new IPMX capabilities and expand certified product ecosystem...
15/07/2026
Force Tech has announced the appointment of Bryan Adams, CTS, as Vice President of Integration. Adams will oversee AV and broadcast integration project delivery...
15/07/2026
USA Sports has announced an exclusive English-language agreement with the Bundes...
15/07/2026
ITV Sport's FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage has been produced from one of the m...
15/07/2026
Program will provide professional camera kits, training, and technical support to participating local newsrooms...
15/07/2026
San Francisco church becomes first U.S. deployment of the 2 M/E production switcher...
15/07/2026
Former ESPN and NFL Network executive to advise startup league on media, distribution, technology, and fan engagement...
15/07/2026
The Houston-based RSN is the live-game home of the Astros and Rockets...
15/07/2026
Launched alongside new FreqSoft installer
Designed to bridge the gap between hardware and software, Freqport's FreqInOut FO1 unit provides a simple way ...
15/07/2026
Save up to 55% on software until 23 July 2026
Expressive E have just launched their Summer Offer sale, with discounts of up to 55% now applied across their ...
15/07/2026
Real-time stem-separation tool updated
zplane have recently released a new and improved version of their real-time stem-separation plug-in which they say ma...
15/07/2026
A new benchmark in bass enhancement
Described as a new benchmark in bass enhancement , Baby Audio's latest release has been designed to augment the lo...
15/07/2026
DMC Production's AR 1 and AR 2 units reverse the conventional OB workflow, keeping all production-critical processing at the venue while operators work remo...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
GigaCloud, a leading Ukrainian cloud service provider, and Cubbit, the first geo-distributed cloud storage enabler, today announced a new Business Alliance Part...
15/07/2026
SMPTE, the global society for media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has announced the launch of the SMPTE 110th Anniversary Campaign, a fundraising...
15/07/2026
Studio Technologies, a leading manufacturer of high-quality audio, video, and fiber-optic solutions, unveils the new StudioComm Model 762 Stereo Level Control, ...
15/07/2026
COW Jobs: Producer, Virtual Events - Hybrid, Full Time, Salaried
Brie Clayton July 15, 2026
0 Comments
Producer, Virtual Events (Hybrid | Full-time | ...
15/07/2026
Brazilian media organization builds nationwide CDN with Broadpeak's high-performance software for low-latency streaming and new content distribution service...
15/07/2026
DHD announces a new utility designed to increase the efficiency of its audio mixing systems during initial installation and subsequent configuration.
Anyone w...
15/07/2026
BCNEXXT Brings Next-Generation Vipe to IBC2026, Breaking the 1:1 Channel-to-Server Ratio New innovations liberate broadcasters from legacy playout infrastructur...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
General-purpose robots and autonomous machines are moving from research labs to ...
15/07/2026
Wednesday 15 July 2026
Screeners and press pack now available: Gomorrah: The Or...
15/07/2026
Trinity's Treasures features Ruth Negga, Eleanor McEvoy, and David Norris, a...
15/07/2026
Join geographer Dr Susan Hegarty, Engineer Tim Joyce and Architect Orla Murphy a...