Spread Love with Nardo, the Hippie
(AKA Carlos Leonardo Acosta)

Nardo, the Hippie (AKA Carlos Leonardo Acosta) is a 28-year-old independent music artist born and raised in Dallas, Texas. In his youth, Nardo grew up with close ties to the church and he was an active child participating in sports and theater (acting, musical productions, etc.). He took piano lessons from the age of 9, and musically he always looked up to his father who was a cantor and choir member at the church where his family attended Mass growing up in Dallas.

 

Nardo first began writing music/poetry his senior year of high school after saving up from his summer job to buy Ableton Live 9 on his laptop to create his first collection of songs which would eventually form his very first project "Charlie the Hippie: Demo Tape". Nardo went on to self-record, mix and master his first three mixtape projects on his laptop by himself in his dorm room or wherever he could makeshift a studio with his equipment while he was attending Texas Tech University as a full-time student. It wasn't until his junior year that Nardo realized he could take advantage of the professional Crossroads Recording Studio located int he basement of the TTU Library - it was free to all students with an active Raider ID Card. He recorded the mixtape project titled "Virtuocity" with the help of Damon Dennis, a local Lubbock music artist who helped Nardo infamously record, mix, and master the entire project in just four sessions.

 

Nardo's first performance of his music was for the TTU Poetry Society in the Spring of 2017 where he performed a few songs from previous projects and debuted his song, "Bout It" from the upcoming "Virtuocity" project. He moved on to performing his first show in the Fall semester of 2017 following two performances: 1) opening up for an Indie Rock band called Indica Children at the Gypsi House & 2) a headline performance at the BLNKA IV: A Collective Exhibition.  The Gypsi House was a local artist house that was used as a hangout/venue that hosted local shows regularly in the Lubbock art/music community - special shout out Jake Mendoza, Paul Hernandez and Tyler Simpson for always holding it down! 

 

The first Trill Texas pop-up showcase was held in Nardo's backyard in the Spring of 2018 called "The Bonfire at Nardo's Island". After the success of throwing his first event, he was inspired to improve and refine his events into what they are today: a reinvented kickback vibe complete with complementary food, refreshments, interactive art/artists, live music performances, a swanky DJ, a merch booth and party games. Nardo and the Trill Texas team aim to provide event goers a one of a kind experience at every Trill Texas pop-up event with exclusive merch and a welcoming atmosphere. Overall, Nardo has always done his best to stick to his core beliefs of spreading love and empowering others with knowledge and confidence. Music has transformed Nardo's life in so many ways, and he feels it is his mission to give back to the world at least a fraction of what music has given him through his music, his art and his platform.

 

After graduating with his undergraduate degree in Psychology & Spanish from Texas Tech University in May of 2018, Nardo officially founded his independent record label: Trill Texas Sound Entertainment Worldwide. He spent two months touring Western Europe over the summer of 2018, performing at various venues where he had the opportunity, attending music festivals and promoting for the release of his third independent album: Adventures on Nardo's Island. Nardo recorded his first music video for his song "Feelin Alright" in Stuttgart, Germany in August 2018. Nardo founded Trill Texas Worldwide, LLC dba Trill Texas Sound Entertainment in October of 2018 and he founded Trill Texas Productions, LLC (a professional videography and photography production company based in Dallas, Texas) in February of 2019. 

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Nardo has since evolved to throwing interactive pop-up showcases, and recording his music primarily with The Wizard OZ, owner of Element Sound Studio located in North Dallas (Richardson, Texas).  Nardo is known for a diverse sound with a fusion of everything from hip-hop to elements of R&B, EDM and other grooves that make you move. His musical influences include: Kid Cudi, Toro y Moi, Curren$y, The Notorious B.I.G., Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott, Skepta, Quavo, Feid, J Balvin, Bad Bunny, Skepta, Akon, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Kool & the Gang, Earth, Wind & Fire and Kirk Franklin.

 

Surrounded by a community of musical talents, Nardo, the Hippie brings an original and innovative approach to his work. Catch all the updates as he progress through his music career. Follow him on social media @nardothehippie