Music Q&A with Cloudchord
Photo courtesy of Cloudchord
Derek VanScoten is the producer, guitarist, and Emmy-winning musician behind Cloudchord. Via Cloudchord, he has been releasing new music this year. In this Q&A, he talked about the new music, the best advice a musician has given him, and more!
Congratulations on the release of Tulips! What does the EP mean to you?
My music is very much connected to nature. Tulips is an ode to the sound of Spring.
You have also released a follow-up single titled “Inner Luv”? Why did you decide to not include it on Tulips?
Tulips was a body of work that highlighted my lofi-esque collaborations with Ian Ewing. “Inner Luv“ is the beginning of a new phase, the sound of summer, and will consist of several new collaborators! This new phase has a touch more energy to it as well, as summer does.
What's the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?
Don't spend your first big music check on an expensive new car. Drive something cheap and invest in your studio.
What’s your favorite thing about making music?
The joy of spontaneous discovery. This gets me out of bed every morning.
We all have our days where it may not be going as well as we’d like. People deal with their worst days in different ways. What helps you get through the bad days? How do you stay positive?
I have a handful of things I try: Playing guitar in nature (outside of my studio), hanging with my wife and daughter, yoga, biking, swimming, and red wine. Turning the phone/ internet off usually helps too.
Thank you for taking the time for this Q&A. Any last words or final message for the readers?
Even though music is a deeply spiritual and colorfully romantic adventure, you have to treat it like a job and show up everyday in order to yield significant results.