Carlos Castaneda

Carlos is a passionate bassist and guitarist who is deeply focused on the enjoyment, appreciation, and connection that music brings. He began playing guitar at the age of 10 on an old instrument missing several strings, before transitioning to bass during high school, where his love for the instrument truly developed.

While completing a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education at UNSW, Carlos explored a wide range of musical styles and cultures, including rock, pop, country, blues, funk, jazz, and Latin genres such as salsa, choro, bossa nova, and samba. This diverse background continues to shape both his playing and his teaching approach.

Carlos is an active performer across Sydney, playing in projects such as Candela, a 12-piece Latin ensemble, the jazz fusion group Caipirinha, and a folk-pop duo with Amy Andre. He also works regularly as a session musician, collaborating with a variety of artists including Bella Rose, Shayna Veloria, Gene Gibson, LEIANNA, Ryan Mead, and Douglas Aguiar. Outside of performing, he creates content, collaborates with musicians, and produces and mixes tracks from his home studio.

Carlos draws inspiration from artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Sergio Mendes, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Charlie Puth, RAYE, and Olivia Dean.

In his teaching, Carlos focuses on making music an enjoyable and meaningful experience. He uses a holistic, student-centred approach that helps learners achieve their personal goals while developing confidence, creativity, and musical expression. Above all, he believes music should be celebrated as a unifying and joyful experience rather than treated purely as an academic exercise.