Meet Derek Chan

 

We recently connected with Derek Chan and have shared our conversation below.

Derek , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

My musical experience started while performing in my childhood church where my mom was Choir Director. During our time there we both experienced racism from the congregation and leadership as the only Chinese-Americans in leadership positions in that community. Not only was she ridiculed for her accent but it was an early moment of realization for me- it doesn’t matter what the other people in the room look like, it matters how they make you feel. As I got older and began working around different crowds of people during my time at SDSU and in the San Diego community I wasn’t intimidated by working with someone who’s community “looks” different than my own. The people I work with know it’s all about the experience in my studio, when you step in you’re part of my community no matter what background you come from.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I started out recording my own music because I always had an idea in my head that I wanted to make sound better. As my college friends saw me create a home studio in my dorm room people began to ask me to help me with their projects. Eventually word of mouth spread and my friends’ friends’ friends were hiring me to record, mix, and master their music. By the time I graduated from SDSU I was working with artists from a variety of genres with one thing in common: they didn’t know how to turn the idea in their head into a radio-worthy track. The Train Station Studio has been helping artists of all kinds execute the vision they have for themselves and their art into reality. Whether you’re starting from scratch or you already have a song or album you’re ready to record, TTS can help you turn any voice into something you feel great about. We specialize in music production and vocal tuning but have resources to help you with any entertainment industry needs!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

One skill and area of knowledge that I’ve noticed has been the most impactful on my personal and professional journey in music is my understanding of music theory and live composition ability. Technology is great and there’s a lot that your computer program will do for you but being able to find they key of a song just by matching it to a few notes on my guitar is more than just a party trick for me. I learned about music theory from a very young age and built upon it as my musical interests developed but the trick has always been a passion for playing. Although you can make great music through a computer there is something that translates across genres by being able to hear someone sing what they imagine a part of the song should sound like and being able to play it back to them on my guitar and see their vision come to life in front of them.
Having an understanding of music theory would only have gotten me so far if it weren’t for the consistent dedication, perseverance, and resilience I have developed through starting my own business. I started my home studio before the pandemic and watched as some of the comparable studios folded. It took getting back up time and time again, picking up my guitar week after week, and continuing to do my best every day to get to where I am now.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

I read The Four Agreements around the time I opened my studio and have reread it multiple times since due to its impact on my personal and professional mindset. Every time I read it I get new takeaways and I think everyone could benefit from its teachings.

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Image Credits

Jose Gutierrez, Devonte Roberts, Shelby Forman

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