Cuban Cowboy in the 305: Orlando Mendez on Motherland, Miami Roots & the “Always Summer” Six-Pack

Summary

Podcast Summary: Stay Tranquilo – "Cuban Cowboy in the 305: Orlando Mendez on Motherland, Miami Roots & the 'Always Summer' Six-Pack"

Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Andre, Stay Tranquilo Network
Guest: Orlando Mendez, "The Cuban Cowboy"

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode spotlights the Miami-born, second-generation Cuban-American artist Orlando Mendez, best known as the “Cuban Cowboy.” The conversation explores Orlando’s deep Cuban roots, his journey to embracing and modernizing his heritage, his path into country music, the emotional power of his breakthrough track “Motherland,” and the creative process behind his new, summer-soaked project, "Always Summer Six-Pack." The laid back yet passionate exchange celebrates cultural identity, storytelling through music, and the joy of keeping traditions alive in a Miami context.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Miami Roots & Cuban-American Identity

Timestamps: 01:57 – 07:09

• Orlando shares his family’s classic immigrant story: fleeing Cuba during Castro’s regime, starting over in Miami with nothing, and the responsibility he feels as a second-generation Cuban-American to honor that legacy.

• Discussion on the “baton-passing” of culture and the challenge of maintaining traditions as the generations move further from the homeland.

• The hosts note the importance of embracing the Cuban-American identity rather than shying away from it.

• Notable Quote:

  • “At the end of the day, we are...almost more American than we are Cuban...But that culture that runs through our veins, that Cuban blood, that's still there. It's our job to carry it on. Because if not us, then who?” – Orlando Mendez (04:00)

• Orlando reflects on a period in his life (especially in high school) when he distanced himself from his Cuban roots, only to later reclaim and celebrate them, realizing their importance after losing his grandparents.

2. Discovering Country Music & the Birth of the “Cuban Cowboy”

Timestamps: 07:16 – 10:41

• Orlando’s unexpected path to country music blossomed in high school, inspired by artists like Darius Rucker and Tim McGraw.
• Unlike many in the genre, Orlando discovered modern country before delving backwards into the genre’s roots (e.g., Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard).
• The “Cuban Cowboy” persona represents this blend of American and Cuban culture—modernizing and owning both sides of his identity.

3. Pandemic Pivot: From Acting to Music

Timestamps: 10:42 – 15:02

• Before the pandemic, Orlando pursued acting in Miami and NYC, landing theater and indie film roles.
• The COVID-19 shutdown abruptly ended his acting momentum, forcing him to return home.
• Quarantined in Miami with “all the time in the world,” he finally taught himself guitar (with YouTube) and began songwriting in earnest.
• Notable Quote:
  • “I feel alive [entertaining]...COVID changed the trajectory of my life. I’ve never looked back, and I’ve never been happier.” – Orlando Mendez (14:52)

4. Songwriting Process & the Creation of “Motherland”

Timestamps: 15:07 – 19:52

• Orlando describes his early songwriting as raw and uninhibited—"straight from the heart, straight off the dome."

• Two life events sparked “Motherland”: participating in the influential Miami show Amparo (which deepened his connection to his Cuban roots) and losing his grandparents.

• “Motherland” became a local anthem, directly connecting his personal journey to the broader Cuban-American experience.

• Notable Quote:

  • “One of the first things I wrote was that Motherland song...it was just coming straight out of me.” – Orlando Mendez (15:39)

• Reflecting on the songwriting process now, Orlando shares how increased experience has made him more self-critical, sometimes complicating the process that used to be so free.

5. The “Always Summer” Six-Pack: Concept & Creative Process

Timestamps: 20:29 – 26:46

• In a rut in Nashville, Orlando had a “look in the mirror” moment on a flight back to Miami, reflecting on what brings him joy: sun, ocean, boats, and the perpetual Miami summer.
• The concept for “Always Summer Six-Pack” was born: six summer-themed, coastal-vibe country songs capturing the Miami spirit.
• The bulk of the project came together during a two-day writing retreat in Key Largo with collaborators from the Mr. 305 camp, yielding 4-5 songs and most vocals recorded onsite.
• Notable Quote:
  • “I was on a plane back to Miami...just low, man. And I started thinking—what makes me happy? The sun. The ocean. Summer. Wouldn’t it be cool to write a bunch of summer-sounding songs?” – Orlando Mendez (21:07)

6. Tracklist & Songwriting Approach

Timestamps: 24:43 – 27:49

• Orlando shares how the tracklist came together:
  • “Modern Day Pirates” (written in 30 minutes), “Hurt to Hit,” “Day Drinking Tonight,” “Built to Last,” “Saltwater Salvation,” and “Beers Back Home.”
• The team typically started with titles (“probably the one thing that I’m best at”) before building songs around those concepts.
• “Beers Back Home,” written before the writing camp, is a proof-of-concept single about the comfort of returning to Miami and one’s roots.

7. Overcoming Project-Release Challenges

Timestamps: 30:27 – 32:15

• The EP’s release was delayed from summer to December due to funding, industry logistics, and collaborative scheduling.
• Orlando notes the importance of supportive local sponsors and the hurdles of being an independent artist who must “wear all the hats.”

8. Miami's Summer Vibe: More Than Weather

Timestamps: 32:06 – 34:32

• Miami’s “Always Summer” essence isn’t just climate, but a mindset and way of life sustained by culture, friendships, and environment.
• Orlando aspires for the Always Summer Six-Pack to bottle that feeling in music.
• Jimmy Buffett is cited as an inspiration for creating a lifestyle through music—transforming escape, peace, and leisure into anthems with universal appeal.

9. Music as Life’s Soundtrack

Timestamps: 35:07 – 36:51

• The hosts swap stories about the power of music to define memorable life moments (weddings, homecomings).
• Orlando shares his dream:
  • “I want my songs to be anthems in people’s lives. Just like I have anthem songs...that help get you through the joyful and the tough moments...that’s what I want my legacy to be.” – Orlando Mendez (36:22)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “At the end of the day, we are...almost more American than we are Cuban...But that culture that runs through our veins, that Cuban blood, that's still there. It's our job to carry it on. Because if not us, then who?”
  – Orlando Mendez (04:00)

• “COVID changed the trajectory of my life. I’ve never looked back, and I’ve never been happier.”
  – Orlando Mendez (14:52)

• “I want my songs to be anthems in people’s lives…through the joyful moments and the tough ones. That’s what I want my legacy to be.”
  – Orlando Mendez (36:22)

• On Miami: “It’s always summer up here [points to head]…and always summer in your heart.”
  – Orlando Mendez (32:12)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Miami/Cuban-American legacy: 01:57 – 07:09
• Country music discovery & Cuban Cowboy identity: 07:16 – 10:41
• Pandemic shift from acting to music: 10:42 – 15:02
• Creating “Motherland”: 15:07 – 19:52
• Origin & writing of the Always Summer Six-Pack: 20:29 – 26:46
• Beers Back Home, tracklist discussion: 24:43 – 27:49
• Project release hurdles & gratitude for community: 30:27 – 32:15
• Always Summer philosophy & Jimmy Buffett inspiration: 32:06 – 34:32
• Music as life’s soundtrack & anthems: 35:07 – 36:51

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Flow & Tone

The episode is vibrant, affectionate, and deeply personal, rich with Miami flavor, Cuban family lore, and the insider’s grind of an independent artist. The back-and-forth is casual and brotherly, full of laughter, encouragement, and heartfelt appreciation for heritage, hard work, and the magic of music.

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Where to Listen & What’s Next

• Orlando’s “Always Summer Six-Pack” project drops December 5th, capturing the Miami sun in country melodies.
• Follow Orlando on socials:
  Instagram & TikTok: @orlandojmendezmusic

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Whether or not you’re Cuban-American or even a country music fan, this episode oozes Miami soul, immigrant pride, southern storytelling, and the healing optimism of summer and song.

Transcript

[Lowe's Announcer]

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[Andre]

Good morning. I. Buenas dias. Welcome back to another episode of Cafecito. Icroqueta is brought to you by State Tranquilo and H and co. Today we're joined by a repeating friend of the family, friend of the friend of state, Rankilo, Mr. Orlando Mendez, aka the Cuban Cowboy.

[Orlando Mendez]

What's up, brother? How we doing, bro? First time here on Capacito? Yes, I, this is, listen, I've been watching this segment for a while now. You guys crush it on this. And of course, my favorite sponsor ever, Johnny Cube. We got all the whole fam here on set represented, bro.

[Andre]

Fam, baby. It's, it's, it's as Miami as it gets.

[Orlando Mendez]

100%, bro.

[Andre]

You got, you got the cafes, croquetas right there with your friends from Cow Bakery. Cow Bakery. We got, you know, we got a little Johnny Cuba hot sauce and beer. We got our business partners at a Chinko and of course, us at State. So just a. Oh, and let's not forget about our friends over at yeti. Great, great, great people. So here we are. It's a beautiful day. Want to, obviously we've had you on, on the state pod, but obviously a lot has changed since then and we really want to kind of highlight obviously your story. That's kind of the basis of a lot of these conversations, highlighting the stories of Miami, all the influential, amazing people that walk through Miami. Right? So I want to. Let's bring it back, right? Let's bring it back from the beginning. You know, tell us about being born, raised in Miami, family, Cuban, you, all that fun stuff. Tell us a little bit about that.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. So born and raised right here in the 305, second generation Cuban American, Maya Willows had, you know, a very honest and very, you know, genuine Cuban, Cuban story. And leaving the island of. That's where their heart was. That's where they had worked, you know, not only them, but generations before to make their lives over in Cuba and, and then to have everything taken away from them, right. From the Castro regime when they took over. And then, you know, I say it all the time. They were left, like a lot of families with a Choice, you know, they could stay there, but everything they ever worked for would not belong to the state. The government, you know, was no longer theirs. Or they could leave, but they weren't going to leave them much. And they left with hardly anything and, and made their way, you know, and then found their way to this great city in this great country. It took them in. And so, you know, my story is very much like the Cuban American story. And now just trying to continue carrying that with me, you know. Absolutely. As. As the second generation, as it gets further from, you know, as my world was our now passed. And as we get further along the line, just carrying that. That mantle.

[Andre]

Yeah, no, absolutely. I mean, it's funny, right, because we, like you mentioned, are the next generation of. Of Cubans, right? Like what? Keeping the traditions alive, keeping the cultural identity alive. And not to say that, like, we feel like we have to, but I. I think we're just so passionate about, you know, where we've come from, and you don't really appreciate it until you start getting older and older. Right. You know, our grandfather, all my grandparents are gone, you know, so now it's really like the pass of the baton. And obviously my, my parents are around and, and all that. But, like, for me, it's like we are that next generation, right, because they were directly associated with that direction, considering they're their parent. But, like, if it's not us, then it. Then it dies, right. Then. Then it's over. So I think for us, it is really about keeping those traditions alive, but like, in a more modernized way, of.

[Orlando Mendez]

Course, at the end of the day, we are, you know, we are second generation. We are almost more American than we are Cuban.

[Andre]

100%.

[Orlando Mendez]

100%. Being born here, being raised here, and, and, you know, this is what we know. But like you said, that culture that runs through our veins, that Cuban blood, that's still there, it's our job to carry it on. Because if not us, then who? Our will is passing away. Our parents now getting older after that. Really, like you said, our parents have that direct lineage. They have that. Those are my parents.

[Andre]

Exactly.

[Orlando Mendez]

But now we're two generations. It's like now we need to, you know, dig deep and find it and carry it. Carry it on.

[Andre]

100. And obviously, I think you've done a great job of doing that. You're now. Your nickname's the Cuban cowboy.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah.

[Andre]

Right. So, I mean, and we talk about, like, that modernization of, like, how do we keep it around and. Because it is your identity, right? And it's Not. It's not necessarily straying away from it, but it's actually like owning it as part of your identity. Because I have friends that they're like. They ask, like, are you cute? You know, like, where are you from? Right. And they're like, I'm American. Right. But I'm like, okay, yes, you are American. We were all born in America. I'm not. I'm not saying we're not American, but, like, why not label yourself as Cuban American, right? Like, because that's really who you are. Right? Because you want to be here in America. If it wasn't for the fact that your grandparents left Cuba to find a better life, and owning that, that is part of your identity. And it's like there's. There was, like, almost like, a stigma around, like, coming from Cuba or not, like, being proud of, like, being from another country or being connected to another country. Right. And reality is, whether you came from Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico. Dr. And wherever, whatever place, we have that cultural connection to it because it's where our ancestors came from. And they are the ones, like you said, that made the choice to come into America is for the opportunity and for that better life. So for me, like, we are Cuban American. And then, you know, you being the Cuban cowboy is, like, the perfect way to kind of just express that.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. No, you know what? And, you know, Andre, you said something there. It's like, I also ran from it for a while.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

I'm not gonna lie. It's.

[Andre]

Did a lot of people did.

[Orlando Mendez]

I spent a portion of my life, especially for some reason, man. It was around that, like, high school age that I. I just kind of neglected anything, like, being Cuban. I was like, I'm a. What I love, you know, I'm American. I love football, and I love country music, and I love Truck, you know? And although I still truly love all of those things, they are part of me. I started digging deep when I started losing my will. I started digging deep is okay. But there's this whole other side of things that I absolutely love, too. And it was all because I love my willows and because I love them. I felt an adopted love for the land that they came from, for my heritage, for my culture. You know, everybody who surrounded me, my family, my parents, my. My brothers, you know, my Diaz and Theo's, they are all go back to this common thing of, like, we are all Cuban 100%.

[Andre]

100%. And I think for us, like, this is. We lived it, right? So we experience it, and now it's Part of our identity. So tell me a little bit. Obviously, we mentioned Cuban cowboys. So when was it that you chose to. To get into that? Right. You will get into kind of your.

I guess, path into music. Right. But part of that path, I'm sure, is where kind of the inspiration of the Cuban cowboy came into life.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah, where. Like, where I found country music.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. I. I mean, I think I was like, I always try to remember, but I. The best way I can pin it, I was like, in high school, around high school age agent. And I remember I found the music of Darius Rucker, who I remember being a very familiar voice from my childhood. Of course, like, I. Like, we all have. You know, we had that. That common theme of every Sunday when the dolphins lost. You know, that song would bring us right back. Every single time, you know, hooting, the blowfish. And so that voice just kind of connected. It helped. I had a. You know, I had a girlfriend at the time who loved country music as well, so she kind of got me into the genre, found Darius, found his catalog, and then that led me to, you know, like, Shelton and. And Dirks, Bentley and Billy Curry to all the people, all these guys and. And female artists that were popping off at the time fell in love with the genre. I mean, just like, took the deep dive and loved it, bro. I mean, the stories, the lyrics, the store, you know, like I said, the lyrics and the melodies and mostly just the stories it told. Like, every song was. Had some sort of meaning. And I've lived my life to story time 100%. That's what I'm most passionate about. So. Dude, just fell in love with the genre. Deep dive. And then I found country music kind of in reverse. You know, a lot of people.

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[Orlando Mendez]

Grow up with it, right? And they. They grow up with, like, their parents country, which is, you know, the 70s, 80s, 90s country. And then they get, you know, then their own taste comes into it with the modern stuff, right? I found the modern stuff first. Those early, you know, 2010, late 2000s, 2010s, country. And then had to do my work, you know, and my research to go backwards, right? Start Listening to the Johnny Cashes and the. And the George Jones is in the. You know, all these incredible. The Merle Haggards and all these incredible artists that had come before, Right?

[Andre]

Yeah. It's funny you bring up Johnny Cash. I remember my grandfather used to listen to Johnny Cash a ton. Yeah. Like, he loved Johnny Cash, but for me, it never really gravitated, you know. Now I love the hell out of and appreciate Johnny Cash like crazy. But for me, it was not like kind of just heard it like in the background. Right. But it's almost like that subconscious mind is like, you hear it, right? And you're. You're kind of like vibing, but you're not really like, damn. I love this because you're so young, right? Like, so like, if it's not popping or it's not like mainstream, then for you it's just like, it's whatever. But you. You're actually kind of drawn to it without even realizing. Right. And for me, it was very similar. Like country music. My mom was the one that would always just have it on in the car. It wouldn't like in high middle, like late middle school, early high school. And that's where I really started to listen to it. And it was. Who was it? It was Tim McGraw.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. The man.

[Andre]

Yeah. Tim McGraw is really what got me into country, into country music. And that was the evolution of my like country fan hood. Because I mean, it wasn't like generation to generation. It was really around. It was just now like, hey, this is here. I'm listening to it. And it kind of. You kind of like go through that self discovery, which I think is interesting.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah, Yeah. I learned country in reverse always.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

To say that.

[Andre]

And then so around Covid, right. Was when, like your music making journey began, right?

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. Before that, I was. I was acting, actually.

[Andre]

Okay.

[Orlando Mendez]

I've like, entertained my whole life. Okay.

[Andre]

So entertaining's always been in the DNA.

[Orlando Mendez]

I know for a fact I was born to do this because I've never wanted to do anything else. I've always, my entire life wanted to just be. Either be on a stage or in front of a microphone or on a camera, just entertaining. And. And that's where I feel alive.

[Andre]

Right.

[Orlando Mendez]

And I've known that since I was probably six, seven years old. Yeah, yeah. Six, seven, eight years old. Yeah. So.

And then, you know, really, like you said, when it kicked off was covet. I was acting. I was going back and forth between Miami, New York, auditioning, after I got out of college, for everything, bro. I mean, I did A lot of theater stuff, but also on camera stuff. Small commercials and roles and indie films and stuff like that. Covid shut that whole thing down. I was actually in New York when Covid, like, was, like, first started popping down. And I remember I was over there auditioning for something. I was in the middle of, like, what I thought was going to be my biggest role ever. It was for an off Broadway production. And I was in rehearsals one day and things just started getting weird. The news started coming out that it was hitting and people just. It was like pandemonium. I remember one of those days looking around and there were. The streets were empty and people were like, just staying home and. Stockpile.

[Andre]

Yeah, it was like, apocalyptic.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah, stockpile and stuff. And I remember calling my mom. Be like, mom, I think I gotta get out of here. Like, I don't think I need to be here. I was on the next flight out and literally, like, the week after New.

[Andre]

York shut down, I was gonna say, because New York was one of, like, the first places to shut down. So. Yeah, you would have been. You would have been stuck there.

[Orlando Mendez]

I've been stuck, but I would have been bad.

[Andre]

I mean, maybe get in a car or something like that.

[Orlando Mendez]

Maybe. Yeah, maybe rent a car.

[Andre]

But even then, I don't even know if he would have been able to rent a car.

[Orlando Mendez]

I don't know. My mom would have found a way to get me out. Let me tell you, if there's anything that a Cuban mom would have found a way to get my ass out, for sure. But I don't know. I. I don't care. It would have been a plane, a train, a boat. She would have got my ass out.

[Andre]

She would have just drove herself up there and picked you up. Driving 20 hours north and I'm driving 20 hours back.

[Orlando Mendez]

She wouldn't care, bro.

[Andre]

It's so crazy.

[Orlando Mendez]

I got out.

[Andre]

True.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah, but I got out and then, like I said, I was at home, like a lot of us with all the time in the world and nothing to do. And, you know, I looked over to the corner of my room and there was this guitar that I had two times in my life, tried to pick up when I was a really young kid. I quit quick.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

I couldn't understand my teacher, and I didn't like it, and so I quit. And then the second time, I was probably, like, in high school. Same time I kind of started liking country music, But I liked girls too much, too. So I would. Didn't spend enough time.

[Andre]

Priority.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. Didn't spend enough time playing And. And so I had all this time. I picked up the guitar and taught myself how to play, you know, YouTube, you know, taught myself how to play my favorite country songs. And. And songwriting has always been something I'm passionate about. Even when I couldn't put chords to it, I would get a notebook and start writing lyrics, start writing songs. But now I finally had chords and music to put behind it. And that's where. Really. Honestly, bro, that's where it all sprung. It's.

[Andre]

It's crazy because Covid was like that for a lot of people.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah.

[Andre]

Kind of like new new identities, I guess, that were built through the process of COVID because it's like. Like, you said, you had so much time.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah.

[Andre]

No one really knew what to do with that time because you've been so occupied and just doing whatever you were doing on a daily basis at that time, and that's what consumed it, Right. There was not, like, the flexibility to just say, hey, I'm gonna pick up a guitar and try to learn how to play. Right? Or, I'm gonna pick up a paintbrush and try to start drawing something. Right? Like, that was not really an option because we get so consumed in the everyday that we don't really have the time to actually think about other things that maybe we might want to try or even attempt to just like, immerse ourselves in. And here you are during this time, and it, like, changed the trajectory of your life really, like, a percent. You were saying you were going into acting. You know, you're about to land, you know, kind of like this Broadway role, and for you, obviously, you've been in the entertainment space, but reality was like. Universe was like, hey, now we're going. Going a different direction.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. Yeah. I've never. And I've never looked, and it never.

[Andre]

Was a guitar in your hand.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah, bro. And that's just so special. I've never looked back, and I've never been happier. Yeah, I know for a fact, like, this is. This is what I want to do in my life, you know? And so it's been game changing. Game changing.

[Andre]

Yeah. So talk. Talk to us a little bit about kind of, like, the process of writing those songs, right? And.

[Orlando Mendez]

And.

[Andre]

And obviously, the. The evolution, right? Because, like, let's say somebody wants to get into music, right, and doesn't know the first thing, like, how does that songwriting process look like? Like, how do. How do you go through that, and how do you evolve over the course of time and becoming a better songwriter?

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah, no, it's changed a lot for me, you know, it's like anything. You get better at it. The. You know, in the beginning, I think there was still something special because it was so raw, you know, it was genuine. It was coming. Right. It was flowing right out of me, and. And, like, one of the first things I wrote was that Motherland song.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

And just because I didn't know any better than to just. Right. Straight. Straight from the heart and straight off the dome.

[Andre]

And, like, before you kind of get into the rest of this. Right. You bring up Motherland. Right. And I. And I think it's important to mention. Right. Like you said, like, it was just coming out of you when. What was it actually that, like, you were like, I got to write this song.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. I think there was two things, two major kind of moments in my life. The first was right before the Pandemic. I was a part of a really influential show here in Miami called Unbaro.

[Andre]

Okay.

[Orlando Mendez]

Experience. I was part of the last part of it. You know, I took over for one of the roles. Yeah. I took over for one of the roles the last month or two of the show, which was super special, but really connected me to my roots because that show was just so powerful that it told the Cuban American story in such an incredible way and made you feel like nothing else, made you feel more connected to Cuba and the story than anything I've ever experienced. So Amparo was definitely big for me. The second thing was I started losing my willows around that time, started losing my grandparents, and just started to understand how big of an impact they had had in my life and how much they meant to me. And because of that, I started digging deep into, okay, who were they and who am I because of them? And that's really why I think Motherland came out like it did. It was just. That stuff was so fresh on my heart, you know?

[Andre]

Yeah. Because, I mean, could have wrote about anything. Right. Usually it's. It's a breakup or, you know, you know, a celebration maybe. But you went true to, like, to the core, which I think is. Is very unique and honestly has paved such a direction for you from, like, you know, a branding standpoint, obviously, but, like, you as a whole and as a person. Right. And I. And it is impressive to say that, like, that was the song that kind of, like, drove you into this direction. Right. You know, being a Cuban artist in Miami when there's, you know, very few to none that. That make music of this genre, but being able to still bring it back home. Right. Which is. Which is. Which Is crazy, right? Because it, it was literally something that was here. It was fresh in the moment. It was connected to your roots and then being able to turn that into a song fresh out of, you know, a new experience essentially that you were getting into 100.

[Orlando Mendez]

And like, like this goes back to the songwriting thing is. I didn't know any better.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

Like I didn't know to write about exactly all these other things or like to make it. To like try to make it perfect. I literally was just coming straight up, straight from the heart, straight from the hip. And like those lyrics I wrote never went back and edited. Edited them, you know. Yeah. A lot of times it's fresh now. Yeah. Raw now. I go back and I write and I freaking overanalyze and I come back to it. I'm like, that's trash. And I, you know, and I, I over complicated now because now, you know, with, with time and experience, now I know and now I'm like aiming for something else. I'm aiming for the next, you know, for, for song. Right then it was just really, just telling my story and what I was feeling, you know. And a lot of times I try to get back to that. Now it's harder because I'm much harder critic now on myself. But back then it was just like, this is what I'm feeling. This is, this is what I feel like saying and putting it on the page.

[Andre]

I was about to ask you that, like, do you ever feel like you'll. You'll try to like lean into that more maybe? I don't know if it's like free flowing or. You know, obviously we're always going to be our biggest critic, right. And sometimes that's, it's for the good, but it's also for the bad. Right. Because you're kind of putting a cap on what you think. But reality is it's like could be anything and that's really what motherland was at the end of the day.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah, no, I get like, I like, you know, like I said, I get over overly critical now where I try to aim for. Yeah, let me write something fun. Let me write a hit. Let me try to write a hit. Which you never know what's going to be a hit until it's a freaking.

[Andre]

Hit, you know, like true.

[Orlando Mendez]

And I'm trying now nowadays to really get back to my roots with that, with that free flow, free flowing, genuine. Just like what's on my heart, what's on my mind, what comes out from my mouth and playing these strings.

[Andre]

Yeah, no, that's Awesome. I mean, listen, Motherland, I know, has been a hit for a lot of people here, obviously, especially in Miami. It's a great song.

[Orlando Mendez]

And.

[Andre]

And I think it's been a catalyst, obviously, for you and. And to where you are today. Right. You know, you're. Now you're here working on a new project, which is a phenomenal project. I've seen it from, like, inception to what it is today, and I think it's perfect timing, but I know you had some obstacles along the way to get it out, but it's out. So tell us a little bit about this new project and kind of like the dynamic and the thought process of this new project that you're working on.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. So this. This project now called the Always Summer Six Pack. And you have seen it from inception, from the very beginning. I probably came up with this concept. I don't know, probably February, March, earlier this year. To be honest, I had a tough end of last year, beginning of this year in Nashville, and just really a lot of setbacks and. And like, one of my, you know, kind of one of those moments in life where you just kind of, you know, look around like, what am I doing? You know, where am I going? What am I doing? What's, you know, one of those crisis. Not. Not crisis moments, but just a really, you know, a look in the mirror moment.

[Andre]

Yeah, exactly. That's a good way to put it. Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

And so I was on a plane back to Miami from Nashville and just low, man, just in a low, low point, and I was sitting on that plane. All of a sudden I start thinking about, okay, well, what are the things that make me happy? Like, what are the things that I'm escaping Nashville to go do? And it was to be in the sun. It was to be on a boat, was to be on a beach, to be back to the places that make me feel good, man, that make me feel whole, that make me feel present with life. And so as I started going through and just visualizing all the things that I love, the palm trees, the ocean, all these things I was like, and summertime. And man, what. Would it be cool to write a bunch of summer sounding songs?

[Andre]

Oh, yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

And so I came up. It just sprung my mind, like the summer six pack. Six songs, all about summer, all coastal vibe, you know, all just like about the things I love the most, man, and just free. Free sound and stuff. And so the second I touched down, I called my friend Chris Daniel from the. From the. Yeah. Mr. 305 camp and told them about the Told them about the concept. Told you about the concept. I don't know how early it was in the process, but I know it.

[Andre]

Was early because I. I mean, I don't even think a song had even been, like, recorded.

[Orlando Mendez]

No.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

No, I hadn't even gone and written them yet. It was just like, concept.

[Andre]

Right.

[Orlando Mendez]

I told you. I told Chris Daniel, like I said, I told also Juan. Yeah. You know.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

Our boy.

[Andre]

It fits so perfect with, like, the beer, right?

[Orlando Mendez]

With the brand.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

And then I remember we had. We had a conversation at some point about the concept, about, like, what the songs were going to be even before they were written, what the songs were going to be sound like, and what the look. Look for the project was going to be. And so that's how it kind of started.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

And so Chris Daniel got on board. I was lucky enough to get Fillmore, who's also part of Mr. 305 Records, to jump on. We. We went to the Keys, stayed in a beautiful house in Key Largo, and wrote for two days straight. Just wrote and had fun. We drank and had a good time and. And we wrote and did.

[Andre]

But you immerse yourself in that experience to be able to get those creative, you know, that creative flow going.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. This is like May at this point. Once, once this started coming about, we spent two. Two days just writing in the. Like I said, in the environment, and we banged out, like, four or five songs of the project just in those two days. 48 hours.

[Andre]

Yeah. Wow.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. Completely is a special place. Super special. And we were inspired, man. And. And, you know, it doesn't always happen like that. There's a lot of writing camps and. And especially Chris Lock, who's the producer of this ep, he said it best. He's like, man, I've been on a lot of these writing camps, and they don't always go like this. Like, really, you know, sometimes it's not two days, sometimes four or five days, and you don't get a quarter of what we did here and nothing of value. We got, like four or five solid songs. We used every single one of them on the ep. Wow. And on top of that, we recorded most of the vocals at that house, a portable mic like this in just straight into a laptop.

[Andre]

Holy cow.

[Orlando Mendez]

So not only did we write, but we also cut almost all of the vocals, and he. He produced out a big chunk of the songs right there.

[Andre]

Damn.

[Orlando Mendez]

In those two days.

[Andre]

That's impressive. In 48 hours, like, I. I'm just, like, going through the process of, like, a 48 hour period, maybe with like some sleep component in there.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah, very little.

[Andre]

Yeah, very, very little. And just thinking of like, damn, know, maybe a song. You be like, hey, you know what? This is a great song. Maybe two, but four, what was it? Five.

[Orlando Mendez]

You said five.

[Andre]

Five is crazy. Yeah, five's crazy as. So what, what, what are these? Like, Tell us.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah, so they're all five.

[Andre]

Summer. Summer themed. Right. So what, what, what, what are they?

[Orlando Mendez]

We wrote five there, but there's six in total because one of them I did write in Nashville. So we got Modern Day Pirates, which is the first one that came out. And dude, the way. I just want to get in for a second. The way this process kind of works, I'm coming up with titles all the time. There's like little. That's probably the one thing that I'm best at is just putting titles together in my head. So I had all these. I have a notes, you know, a note on my phone with probably 3, 4, 500 titles. Just a scrolling note. And I came with all these concepts. So Modern day pirates hurt to hit day day drinking tonight Built to last we have.

Beers back home and the last. And the last one. I'm forgetting a goodie too. Saltwater Salvation. Yeah. So I came with all these titles and then we just started, you know, I would, I would launch them. Titles and titles. Titles to like that one. And we would, we would go with it.

[Andre]

So when. When you obviously said you had a list of those song titles out, but when you were producing those songs. Right. Or writing those songs in the Keys house, was it already with the intent of lining up with those names or were those songs written? And then you were kind of like, okay, let me look through my list and see what song name matches these songs that I've written.

[Orlando Mendez]

No, no, we started off with the titles. With the song. Yeah, we started off with the title.

[Andre]

So the song names played some sort of inspiration.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah.

[Andre]

Into the. Okay, that makes sense because I'm like, okay. I'm assuming, like there's got to be a tie into the name, obviously, to be able. Or did you just have so many song names that they just happened?

[Orlando Mendez]

No, no, no, no, no, no. We started the reverse order. Yeah.

[Lowe's Announcer]

So we would.

[Orlando Mendez]

We sat down and then. Okay, well, what do you got? We, you know, we all started throwing titles out there. I think the first one we wrote was Modern Day Pirates. And I wrote Modern Day. I said I got this title called Modern Day Pirates about just, you know, mostly inspired by people down here. Like in the Keys.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

Living like modern day pirates, you know, get up in the morning, get after it, bro. You know, like, this is my favorite kind of people.

[VRBO Announcer]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

Especially in the keys and say, that's.

[Andre]

That's keys living right there.

[Orlando Mendez]

Dude, that song we wrote in, like, 30 minutes. What? Yeah, like, in 30 minutes.

[Andre]

That's insane.

[Orlando Mendez]

It was.

[Andre]

You know, that's impressive.

[Orlando Mendez]

And I think what really hooked it, I think Fillmore was the one like, what about. Or Bonnie and Clyde and on an island. I was like, that is like modern day Pirates.

[Andre]

That is a golden.

[Orlando Mendez]

You know.

[Andre]

Yeah. It's crazy. And then you got beers back home, right? Talk to me about that one. That one, I. I feel like, is, like, fits that summer vibe, but it's also, like, a testament to, like, the story that you were just telling, right? Like, yeah, what are the things that make me happy? Like, I'm coming back from Nashville, I'm kind of down, and I need to kind of, like, just feel like, you know, I'm doing all this right, which is aligned with my purpose and my passion and all these things, but yet here I am, and I'm not, you know, I'm not feeling fulfilled. Right. And it's like, I needed to get back home, right. I needed to find that sunshine. I needed to find the ocean. And Beers Back Home to me is like, that moment where you kind of are, like, experiencing this, like, in your career, where. But realizing, like, beers Back Home is, like, what makes you happy.

[Orlando Mendez]

Of course. Yeah, of course. And I can't believe I didn't say this, but that. So Beers Back Home kind of proved the concept to me, or it was the initial proof of concept. I wrote that song with Fillmore and Chris months before we even did this writing camp. Actually, I think almost a year before we did the writing camp. That was when we got together. So Beers Back Home wasn't written on the writing camp. It was written almost a year before. Remember, Chris? Daniel called me up. He's like, hey, I want you to come to the studio. I have our. Our country artist on the label. His name's Fillmore. He's going to come through, and he's in town. Like, we're just going to write. And we got there, and, you know, I thought I was going to be writing for Fillmore, and for some reason, it turned out everybody started writing. You know, they were like, no, man, I write for me. Enough, bro. Let's write for you. And super, super selfless of him, man. I was like, that's. That's awesome. And so we started Talking about stuff. And I brought up a conversation very much like that. We're like, I'm in Nashville, but my heart's in Miami. My heart's back home with my people. And he started thinking. He was like, you know, no one's. No one's ever wrote a song, I don't think, called Beers Back Home. And he started looking. We started looking through Spotify. Sure enough, no one had come out with something like that yet.

[Andre]

Wow.

[Orlando Mendez]

And then we wrote it, and it was just like. It just made so much sense to me.

[Andre]

I mean, you think of, like, the. The concept of the song that resonates with anybody.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah, right.

[Andre]

Like, how many times are we kind of pulled out of, like, our home, Right. Or pulled out of our life? You know, whether that's for jobs, relationships, whatever, opportunities, Right. Like, those things. But there's something. Or even if, like, you're a college kid, right, and you're going. You're going out, you know, going out of town for college because you're going to God knows where and you got to return home for the holidays or whatever it is. There's something about returning back home and just having, like, that drink with, you know, with your boys and your family. And just like that, that moment just hits different, of course.

[Orlando Mendez]

And the way I intro it now, like on live shows, it's like this song is all about how when you're around people you love, when you're around your people, how the laughs are just a little harder, you know, the time just goes by a little faster and the beers just taste a little sweeter, you know? And so absolutely, that's the. That is the theme of Beers Back Home. And it really, I think, brings the, you know, brings the EP to a close. It's the last song on the ep, but it's nice, really. Just saying this is my, you know, this is my feel good, what I'm about, so.

[Andre]

Yeah. Yeah. So have all six been released?

[Orlando Mendez]

No, not yet. So the. The other three. There's been three releases? Yeah.

[Andre]

Three Modern Day Pirates, Hurt to Hit and Saltwater Salvation.

[Orlando Mendez]

No, actually Beers Back Home and then.

[Andre]

Because. Oh, I remember because the whole thing happened with the Saltwater Salvation.

[Orlando Mendez]

Saltwater Salvation, Yeah. There's been a lot of ups and downs on this ep, bro. I'm not gonna lie. This thing was supposed to come out.

[Andre]

It was a summer six pack, and then it was always summer six pack.

[VRBO Announcer]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. This thing was supposed to come out during the summer. Like, this is supposed to be a August release, you know, while it's still hot and while we're still, you know, on in the water. But there's been a lot of ups and downs on this. First of all, from funding. And I gotta just say thank you so much to the people who have believed in this project and who decided to jump on board. Johnny Cuba, my friend Juan and Johnny Cuba being the first.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

And then from there, John Bell Construction Cow Bakery, La Le Tronera.

[Andre]

Big time for them.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah.

[Andre]

The holidays coming around, they're incredible.

[Orlando Mendez]

And just jumping on board and believing on it. So funding was a big setback at first. Just it. It takes money to record, it takes money to get music. We don't realize that and more than you think, you know, so that was a thing that pushed it back. Then we also had, you know, when you're dealing with other artists, timelines and record labels and stuff like that, that pushed the saltwater Salvation, got pushed back a lot and then ultimately pushed the project back a lot. Right. So just things we had to deal with, man, intentions, the nature of the business. Yeah, of course. And I'm learning every day, you know, I do this all by myself, independent. I wear all the hats, which hopefully will change here in the near future for sure. But with that comes, like, things slip through the cracks or I'm not able to go to bat sometimes as well as I should.

[Andre]

Right.

[Orlando Mendez]

And push for things. And so instead of August, we have a December, early December release. But, you know, we're still getting it out there, man.

[Andre]

But it's always summer, Always summer. That's all that matters down here.

[Orlando Mendez]

Always summer down here. And you know something I love about State? Tranquilo. Always summer up here.

[Andre]

Oh, yeah, it's always summer up here.

[Orlando Mendez]

Always summer up here. And always summer. You know, in your heart, I mean.

[Andre]

You know, like, State was born off the Keys, just like, you know, like when you. And that's why I love beers back home so much because, like, those moments do hit like that, right? And those moments provide, you know, this here, like, we need that, right? Like, you got to be around your people, got to be around, you know, the, the just the right places in the sunshine, right. There's a reason why people from the up north come down here when it's freezing cold and the Sun's setting at 3, 4 o', clock, right? Like, and I think it almost kind of fits the narrative. Like, it's always summer because it is always summer down here. Like, this is the place to be. And guess what? Yeah, it gets hot. Guess what, we're going to the beach. And we're going in the water and we're going in the pool. Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

Like, it's how we live.

[Andre]

It's how we live down here. And to me, this is like that vibe. Like, I. I can't leave Miami. It's possible. It's hard, it's impossible. And I know you left in Asheville for a little bit, and I could do those type of things where maybe.

[Orlando Mendez]

I leave for a little bit, but come back.

[Andre]

You're just going to somehow always just get pulled right back over here because it's. It's really special.

[Orlando Mendez]

No, it's places where my heart is. And I'll. Yeah, I pray that I can live and die here, bro, and, you know, do my work and make it to a place where I can be down here full time.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

And that's the ultimate goal. Yeah, you know, that's the ultimate goal. And, you know, this EP more than anything in caps, you know, captures that idea, right? Always Summer. It doesn't matter where you are. You know, Jimmy. Jimmy Buffett did an incredible job at this. And why he was such a legend is because he captured the vibe of Always Summer.

[Andre]

Yeah.

[Orlando Mendez]

And took it to the world.

[Andre]

Margaritaville.

[Orlando Mendez]

Yeah. Like, it's always five o' clock somewhere, you know, Right here. Right here.

[Andre]

Like, that's like, when you talk about a guy, like, inspiration that. Right. Like you said, like the parrot head, like, you know, kind of like lifestyle and that Margaritaville was a song, but it really became a lifestyle. Right. Everybody wanted to live in Margaritaville or be a part of or, you know, be in Margaritaville. Right. And you then started associating it, you know, with the water and all that. And it's like creating that level of association through a song or through a tagline, whatever that may be. And like, you said, he did that, right? When you think Margaritaville, like, you're just like, I want to just be chilling. Yeah. Like, that's it.

[Orlando Mendez]

It's an escape, man. Yeah, it's an escape.

[Andre]

So that's next. Jimmy Buffett right here. Next.

[Orlando Mendez]

Oh, man. You know, right here. Big, like I said, big inspiration of mine. And just. Dude, if I can. If I can bring even half the absolute peace and happiness that he did to people, then. Then that's.

[Andre]

It is crazy how much music is like that kind of outlet, right? I. I love music so much. All genres. Country, reggae, hip hop, maybe a little creed. Yeah, it could go anywhere.

[Orlando Mendez]

I love a little creek.

[Andre]

It's so crazy, bro. So at my boy's wedding in Colombia, you know, they have like their playlist for the wedding and all that. And all the group. Well, not all the group is like me.

[Orlando Mendez]

The.

[Andre]

The groom and one of the other groomsmen are all there just kind of talking before, like the actual wedding. And I don't know why, but Creed came up in a conversation and we're all like, yeah, bro, like Creed. Like Creed's fire. Like, I don't think we give like, Creed enough of his flowers. And we're like, we're like kind of listening to a couple like lyrics on. On the phone there on Spotify and Low. And then we're like hired by Creed and we're like, yeah, that song's great. And we're like, wait a minute, we gotta play Creed at the wedding at one point and play higher. And weddings going on, you know, after party, all that stuff. And then we got the dj. The guy kind of looks at us in Colombia. I don't even know if he knows who Creed is. He goes and he plays it, bro. Everybody comes off the dance floor and just like eight guys in the middle of the dance floor screaming at the top, you take me.

It was one of the craziest moments. It was so awesome. And I'm like, that's why music is great, cuz it's moments like that, you know, like memories you'll forever have. And if you can attach a song to a specific moment, like, that's. That's it.

[Orlando Mendez]

That's literally why I do this. And I always say my biggest inspiration of doing music is I want to be my. I want my songs to be anthems in people's lives. Just like I have anthems through my life, I have anthem songs in my life. So if I get to the point where my. Some of my songs can be anthems, you know, for people to deal with, with life. The joyful moments and, and the moments that are. That are tough. Yeah, the heartbreak moments. If my song can be anthems at any point in someone's life, that's, that's. That's what I want my legacy to be.

[Andre]

I think that's a. That's, that's the way to kind of like think about it. I mean, that's awesome. But listen, appreciate you as always. If you guys haven't, go check out the ep, let them know where to find you, let them know where to see it. And obviously there's going to be more music to come, as always. So it's, it's always a pleasure. And we love your music.

[Orlando Mendez]

Love you.

[Andre]

Absolutely.

[Orlando Mendez]

Orlando J. Mendez Music on Instagram and Tik Tok. We got the Always Summer Six Pack coming out December 5th. It's going to be a movie, bro. We're going to try to promote the hell out of it. We're going to try to keep this ball rolling and keep the good times coming.

[Andre]

Absolutely. Hell yeah. Always Summer, right?

[Orlando Mendez]

Always summer. Always summer up here.

[Andre]

All right, guys, well, thank you so much for tuning in this week. Make sure to always sip your cavito, eat your croquetas, and we'll see you guys on the next one.

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