Songs in the key of life

Music is what runs through me.

It helps me feel and express myself. I enjoy so many genres of music, especially African American ones including Hip-hop, Soul, Blues, Jazz... And its also a way for me to discuss social issues with my inner self.

Thus I decided to perform and produce, incorporating what I heard to my own discography.

My La La Land

I listen.

My knowledge of music come from the things that I listen to.

Been listening to music for 10+ years, due to a unique familial atmosphere and my strong interest in it.

Got a large vinyl collection.

I sing.

I became a member of China Welfare Association Choir 9 years ago.

Then I went on singing the music that I like: blues, hip-hop and soul mostly.

Attended numerous school concerts and talent shows.

I produce.

A professional hip-hop producer, YB, taught me basic skills on beat-making. Now I'm a spotify musician and I just dropped my first mixtape, "Sampler, Simpler". Will further collab with other artists.

I have a passion for music.

It pushes me to,

-Put on my headphones.

-Actively perform on stage for 10+ years.

-Become the president of the vocal club and create opportunities so that all club members could shine.

-Meet new people in the industry and exchange ideas with them.

AND I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO DO THESE IN COLLEGE!

As the president of the club, I have to:

Organize Christmas Concerts

Album recording

charity donation

30+ singers each year

professional studios

original songs

Perform for school events

Summer Camp

30+ times

various
themes

the global
voice

a musical
experience

ExLac
music production camp

I earned the chance to learn music production from an established hip-hop producer, YB, in the winter of 2024.

Learned Ableton Live from scratch

24/7 devotion in a week

Paid a thorough listen to records of different genres and recreated them

Professional studio tour

Performed my own tracks on a DJ set to the pedestrians

Produced and released my first beat mixtape

untitled 01 (01.24.2024)

00:00 / 02:11

"Sampler, Simpler"

As a way to expand on the music production learning experience, I chose to continue producing music. Among all my inspirations, I picked and elaborated on 9 tracks to form my first beat mixtape "Sampler, Simpler". Releasing my own works feels different yet fulfiling, along with the production process.

Link

Suggested by the title, the mixtape is focused on the unique charm of hip-hop: sampling. In most of the tracks, I sampled dusty blues/soul records and transformed them into rap beats, just like what Pete Rock's doing in the cover.

I always see hip-hop as a music genre based on the "open source" African American culture, which incessantly encourages the flow of future ideas. By reconstructing masterpieces from the past, I take this mixtape experience as a chance to resonate with my favorite hip-hop artists.

Jason Fang