From Dreams to Music: Marion Carrillo's Next Chapter

Marion Carrillo is excited about his new album, Between a Dream and Gone, and continuing his musical journey.

Marion Carrillo has never seemed interested in making music for music's sake. For the New Mexico singer-songwriter, songs are a way to tell stories, create connections, and invite listeners into a particular moment. That approach continues with his newest album, Between a Dream and Gone, a collection that has already received a warm response since its release earlier this year.

Carrillo released the album in May, and while every artist hopes their work connects with listeners, he admits that the reaction has been especially gratifying. "And it's just the reception's been beautiful. People have, you know, everyone has something nice to say, which you never know if that's a good thing or not."

There is a little humor behind that observation. Praise is wonderful, but artists also need honest feedback if they want to continue growing. "I kind of wish I had somebody being like, I don't know, man. Well, it's not like to be like, well, the lighting was good."

The desire for constructive criticism, however, doesn't diminish Carrillo's appreciation for the response the album has received. After putting the songs through the process of recording and releasing them, hearing listeners connect with the finished work is its own reward.

Much of that confidence came from the musicians who helped bring the album to life. Carrillo recorded the project with his local band, Fret Not, a group that had already spent years performing the songs together. Because the musicians were so familiar with the material, the recording process didn't require endless rehearsals. "So I've got my band here in town, Fret Not, and we've been playing these songs for a few years."

That familiarity allowed the recording sessions to move quickly. Carrillo booked two days with Ken Riley at Rear Grand Studios, and the band made the most of the limited studio time. "I think we did maybe max three takes on anything. And I felt really good about that."

For Carrillo, that efficiency mattered. Recording music can be expensive, and having a band that knows the material inside and out made it possible to capture the performances without spending unnecessary time chasing something that was already there.

The sessions also gave Carrillo room to stay open to the creative process. Riley offered suggestions and observations throughout the recording, giving Carrillo another perspective without taking away his control over the project. "He would point out things and be like, maybe we do it a little differently. And here's why. And I'm very open to being wrong about stuff. So it was good for me."

https://youtu.be/b20l-s-FWp8

Ultimately, he says, the band arrived ready to give everything they had. "But, you know, the band just turned up, and they played their hearts out and sang their hearts out. And yeah, I'm just really grateful."

That gratitude extends beyond the studio. Carrillo's music has also been taking him outside New Mexico, including a recent trip to South by Southwest.

His manager, Brian Van of Jet Fuel Artistry, made the experience possible through persistence. Carrillo acknowledges that getting an artist onto the South by Southwest stage can be difficult, particularly without a massive social media following. "I don't necessarily have like a big social media following or anything. So he was really relying on the strength of the music and his own persistence."

That persistence paid off. Carrillo not only performed at the showcase he was originally booked for, but ultimately played two additional showcases. "I wound up playing two more showcases than I was originally booked for as well."

Beyond the performances themselves, the trip provided exactly the kind of opportunity that can help an independent artist build momentum: new relationships, new friends, and new connections. "Got down there and just, yep, things worked out in such a way that I could."

"I made a lot of new friends, made a lot of good connections. And yeah, I had a great time. I'll definitely go back if I can."

While Carrillo focuses on his own music and touring, his commitment to the broader arts community matters as much. That commitment shows up in Trapdoor Projects, an initiative his wife, Katie Doyle, started as an art gallery.

The gallery's story took a devastating turn in 2020 when arson destroyed it. Rather than letting the name and its purpose disappear, Carrillo and Doyle have kept finding ways to evolve the project. "So it's gone through a few iterations in ways that we are working to keep kind of the name alive, but also to work on building community and bringing people in, building networks, particularly like mutual aid networks and things like that."

Cover of Carrillo's latest album Between a Dream and Gone.

One way that vision has taken shape is through a monthly community potluck held on the last Saturday of each month. Everyone is welcome, and during the summer, the gatherings have expanded to include live music.

Carrillo books artists to perform and collects donations from attendees, with the money going directly to the musicians. "We don't keep any of it. It's not for us. You know, I believe in paying people."

His philosophy is straightforward: artists deserve to be compensated for their work. "We pay a guarantee in addition to the donations because I'm not going to ask anyone to play for free. I wouldn't accept it either."

As the weather changes, Carrillo hopes to bring other forms of art into the gatherings, potentially including performance art, poetry, painting, and fiber arts. The goal remains the same—to create a place where people can gather, share their work, and build community.

For Carrillo, music and community have always felt like they belong together. Whether he's recording with Fret Not, performing for audiences across New Mexico, traveling to a major music festival, or creating opportunities for other artists through Trapdoor Projects, he keeps finding ways to keep creativity moving.

With Between a Dream and Gone now out in the world, Carrillo is turning his attention toward touring and future performances. He is also continuing to look beyond New Mexico as he works to bring his music to audiences around the country.

"I, you know, I look forward to seeing folks out. Maybe we'll get you out on the dance floor."

The album may be called Between a Dream and Gone. Still, Carrillo's current chapter feels firmly planted in the present—creating music, building community, and finding new audiences one performance at a time.

For listeners who want to follow Carrillo's performances, music, and upcoming projects, he can be found at marioncarrillo.com and across social media under @themarion.