Erick Ramos shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Erick, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What battle are you avoiding?
I don’t believe in avoiding battles. Every challenge that presents itself is an opportunity to learn, grow, and improve resilience. I prefer to face obstacles head-on rather than postpone them because I know that avoiding them only makes them grow over time. Whether it’s personal or professional, I welcome challenges as part of the path toward greater achievement and to fulfill my ambitions. I know we can’t choose all our battles, but what we can do is choose if we let them trample us with or without a fight.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Erick Ramos — Founder of the symphonic metal band Black Vatican and President of the events production company Kaizen KC. Both my band and company share the romance and values of looking out for the little guy in their own way. My band poetically talks about the struggles one goes through when not being accepted by society, while Kaizen is a company that creates alternative-themed events that provides fun safe havens for the black sheep of the family. What makes our work unique is that we provide spaces where people who often feel overlooked or out of place can come together, express themselves, and belong. Everything I do is built around hospitality, music, performance, and of course a lot of partying. I’ve always been about community, acceptance, and celebrating individuality.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
This may get a little dark, but it’s vital to my story. My story is made of moments that carved deep scars physically, emotionally, and spiritually. From childhood to early adulthood, I was exposed to several different kinds of trauma: locked away in basements by caretakers, betrayed and SA’d by people I thought I could trust, and declined the necessary help when I needed it most. When I reached out, I was told I was either exaggerating, fine, or even deserving of it. That silence hurt more than the pain itself and it ended up turning inward.
But instead of lashing out at others, I actually became protective. Who knows how many confrontations I got into against bullies and primitive adults, but I did it for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves—friends, family, and the small nerdy/weeby kids trying to get home safe after school. I believe in standing up for the little guy because they are the quiet backbone of society: the dreamers, the creative, the humble, the kind. There’s enough injustice in the world, but honor shouldn’t let us ignore it. Thus what I learned is you can either let pain shape you and keep you down as a victim, or you can let it give you purpose.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, permanently. I was trapped in an abusive relationship where she studied me like a book, made me feel comfortable talking to her, and had me disclose all the insecurities, emotions, and fears I would never tell others only to weaponize them against me. She convinced me to quit my favorite job, become financially dependent on her, cut off my relationships with friends and family, and isolated me from those who could’ve spotted the first signs of trouble. Soon after. she began her next phase of being physically abusive. As a man, I was afraid to fight back because society would shame me if I did, so I just let it happen. I felt completely isolated in a prison I helped build. Those nights were the darkest of my life. Death felt less like an enemy and more of a relief, life felt like I was watching myself in third-person living without a soul. I was no longer Erick Ramos, just some empty vessel like a corpse at a foreshadowed funeral.
Fortunately, her own stupidity eventually triggered a spark that helped me get rid of her hold for good, but it wasn’t without sacrifice. I had to take therapy for the next several years just to gain my sanity and self-confidence back. Though she’s gone, I periodically still have nightmares of her screams, and while running errands I can still feel her talon-like nails piercing my neck. Unfortunately, I know I will never be the optimistic person I once was. So who I am now is someone I never thought I’d have to become just to find reassurance in this world.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
For the most part, yes, but not entirely. I wear several different masks for several different occasions and reasons. In this line of business (and life in general) one must be able to identify when to wear the right masks at the right times. Like the saying goes, “There’s a time and place for everything” and that includes self expression. Unfortunately, we live in a world where what you advertise reflects the treatment you get from people. Not only that, but there are people out there who want to take advantage of you for their own gain, so you must give them a mask they’ll respect. I tend to treat life seriously and pursue nothing but my ambitions which consists of constant planning, analyzing, attending meetings, collaborating on business, and moving my chess pieces where they need to be ahead of time. This version of me is my most common and productive and requires the right “Business Mask”, thus it’s what I wear most often.
There are very few times where I can remove my “Business Mask” and get to relax and let loose. From how others describe me, they say that I am naturally a chill, stoic, comedic, and enjoyable to be around. That’s usually when I’m hanging out with my inner-circle of friends with a bottle of wine. Most of which would say I am the silliest of the group or the biggest dork without a care in the world. Around genuine company, one does not need to wear a mask.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
It’s strange. I remember in my younger years all I did was what I was told to do. Get certain jobs, enroll in certain schools, talk to certain people, etc. And honestly, all of it lead to nothing I use today. The world isn’t here to reward us just by doing what’s expected of us because even then I struggled to find happiness, to be financially stable, to find useful resources to survive, and to find good friends. You can play life by the book and still lose, because that’s life and it is here to humble us. So no, I am not here doing what I was told to do.
I’m also not here to do what I was born to do. For one, I do not believe in destiny; I don’t like the idea that I have no free will or can’t control certain aspects or outcomes of my life. That’s like saying a destined “president” didn’t have to build up, but to sit on his butt all day and watch TV until the role falls on his lap. Fate has no business meddling with what I pursue or my ambitions.
Instead, I am simply doing whatever the hell I feel like doing. I tend to get bored very easily, so my life can take any path at any given time. I’m a business owner today, but I can become a skydiver tomorrow if my work ever bores me. I can sell my business and build a brand new one for no reason at all. I can quit everything, move out of state, and pursue my music career further. Whatever I choose I will always give it no less than 150%. I am the main character, the narrator, and the author of my own story; my end is my choosing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaizenkc913
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaizenKC913
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/black.vatican913
Image Credits
Qfox Photo
