You need to strap in and listen to “Prize” by Ronaldo Fuentes. This isn’t some factory-assembled track; this is a gritty, synth-driven rock anthem born from tragedy and recorded with a do-it-yourself spirit that you can’t fake.
So who is “Ronaldo Fuentes”? He’s a lone wolf from Sydney, Australia, the sole creative engine behind this powerful single. This guy pulls lyrics from thin air, producing meaningful, personal stories set to sound. For “Prize”, he drew direct inspiration from his friend, the 80s artist Vey Antonio, originally creating the soundtrack for him before constructing this darker, more relaxed version as his own.
And what’s it about? This is where the rock ‘n’ roll heart really kicks in. “Prize” is a raw-throated homage to the 67 figure skaters whose lives were tragically cut short in the January 2025 plane collision. This context transforms the song from a mere tune into a goddamn monument. The central lyric, “Never take your eyes off the Prize,” is a roaring reminder to seize your dreams NOW, because tomorrow is never guaranteed. Fuentes conveys the anger and the sadness of a life cut short into a rallying cry. It’s heavy, it’s real, and it gives the entire track a weight that most modern music desperately lacks.
This wasn’t laid down in some fancy studio. Fuentes recorded the vocals in his bedroom—his rebuilt childhood home—using his GAMING HEADSET for Christ’s sake! He used that thing to get the exact reverb-drenched sound he wanted. That’s the kind of ingenious, screw-the-rules attitude that built rock music. He tweaked the EQ to bring out a haunting howl in the instrumentation, adding to the track’s eerie, cinematic feel.
Ronaldo Fuentes has been grinding for six months, training his voice and aiming for a slot at the Laneway festival. “Prize” is the sound of that struggle, a witness to his own advice to never take your eyes off the prize. This is how you make music that matters.