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...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
IPC Expands Brazilian Presence with New Channel Partner CCATech
Industry veterans Carlos Abrah o and Bruno Lopes strengthen local support and expand IPCs prese...
20/08/2026
Zixi Enters Mauritius Market Through Strategic Deployment with MTC Jockey Club
Worlds Oldest Horse Racing Club in the Southern Hemisphere Selects Zixis Softwar...
20/08/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Scripps Research assistant professor Tiantian Liu has received a five-year NIAID DP2 award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Di...
20/08/2026
Audiences reveal appetite for multicultural Australia on-screen 20 August 2026
Dr Georgie McClean, Dr Rebecca Huntley (L-R)
By Dr Georgie McClean and Dr Rebec...
20/08/2026
How Mavis Studio Is Expanding Live Production Teaching at Sussex
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image displays a student about to mix be...
20/08/2026
Vertical Unscripted Series Legal Queens Captured with Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Reality TV veteran Eric Gardner create...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
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. 
