I am a musician, producer and DJ. I have made music for films, fashion shows and brands. I have played on records with artists such as Chromeo, Jacques Greene, and Disasterpeace. I have worked with record labels such as Fool's Gold, LuckyMe, Kitsune and Vice Records. I have a band with my brother Darrell called Goodnight and we have released one album, an EP and are preparing to release our second album.

What inspired you to pursue your dream, and how did it all begin?

When I was young my parents made me take piano lessons and it never really stuck but when I was introduced to the bass guitar by my dad because I was playing violin in middle school and it was "like a violin tuning but backwards" thats when it clicked for me. For a good year I would just turn all the knobs up to 10 on my amp and just strum every string and make the loudest noise possible. From there I found any way possible to make noise with my bass, numerous bands in middle school and high school, jazz band, pit bands and anywhere I could play with others. Jamming and playing music with my friends in high school for hundreds of hours or "musicating" as we called it was how we discovered our sound, instruments and how to communicate and express ourselves without uttering a word.

In 4th grade I remember my friend Dimitri showing me Napster on his family computer after we watched the Weezer "Buddy Holly" video on Windows 95 and the world of mp3s and illegally downloading music. That is where my voracious appetite to discover, listen and share music all began.

Can you share a defining moment in your journey that shaped your perspective and fueled your passion?

In 2007 I started my music blog asiandan.com while in college after seeing Justice DJ at the Ed Banger 2 year anniversary party in Paris. It was a culmination of my passion of mp3s and sharing the music I am passionate about. It was an era when disseminating information was at in a freer space and access to information and music was more than just content that instantly evaporates on your feed. My music blog somehow transcended the borders of the world through the power of the web and I gained a big international following that connected me with music industry folks but more importantly just people who loved music. It really fueled my idea that sharing music anyway possible is the main goal. My blog brought everything full circle when I was asked to fill in on bass with a French band called Jamaica we toured North America in 2010 for 2 weeks and I literally got to play in front of thousands of people on bills of artists that I respect.

I've been lucky enough to have met heroes of mine and can talk to them on a candid and personal level about music, the business and how to deal with all the anxieties and rewards that music bring into our lives.

My music blog allowed me to meet Daft Punk backstage at MSG in 2010 where I had some really personal conversations with them :)

How do you handle setbacks and keep pushing forward in the pursuit of your dreams?

It took me years to develop my own point of view, voice and sound where I felt confident enough to share it with the world. But I trust in myself and that every little piece of information, song I listened to, the time I put in practicing my instruments and learning about gear and software all was adding up into creating my own perspective and sound in the world.

Are there specific individuals who have inspired you along the journey?

The constant support from my friends, family, teachers and mentors is what has fueled and inspired me. Their constant outpouring of acceptance and freedom is what allowed me to develop my own voice and vision.

How do you maintain a balance between pursuing your dreams and handling everyday responsibilities?

Only in the past two years have I really started to trust that my dreams and passions can fuel, my daily life but also reap financial benefits. A lot of opportunities and gigs have come up all because I started to put myself out more and trust my skillsets, vision and voice.

How do you overcome self-doubt and stay confident in your abilities?

I am at a place and age where I know there isn't really any turning back and I am willing to keep doubling down on my path and goals. Learning to take criticism or even complimentss is a big thing that I have been overcoming lately. I have to remind myself that the things I make or even myself as a person isn't meant for everyone in the world.

Can you share a memorable success story or achievement that resulted from your determination?

Peak pandemic time Summer 2020 I got back heavily into golf because I was a hot headed bad tempered teenager that would get caught up in my own head when I had a bad swing. I decided to use my old outdated clubs again and get good at developing my own swing and flow with the game of golf. Fast forward to last year after hitting 15,000 balls that I would constantly post on my IG stories I began collaborating with friend's of friend's golf brand that lead me to modeling in a J. Crew golf campaign.

This idea of discipline and sharing my craft and journey at getting better at a specific task all came from my devotion and passion for music, it made me feel like I can translate that mindset to any space in my life. There will always be ups and downs but I will always be moving forward.

In what ways do you stay motivated during challenging times?

Just recently I went through a hard drive of old demos and ideas that I never finished or even released but they all had this throughline and similar energy to the newer music that I am finishing and getting ready release. It feels like the "me of now" has always been there and that I should've just trusted myself more back then. Revisiting music or films I love and have inspired me are like time capsules and reminders of why I am doing what I am doing.

What dream are you living right now?

I have scored three films with some notable actors such as Terence Howard and Dolph Lundgren (Showdown at The Grand). I modeled for a J. Crew golf campaign. I get to make music with friends and share it on bigger platforms. I finally finished a second album that took almost 5 years to make, it feels like a huge relief and I am very excited to share it all with the world. I feel extremely lucky and privileged to make music with people I care about but also see them make the music they want to see and hear in the world.

My instagram @asiandan is where I update and showcase all my current projects.

Listen: https://linktr.ee/goodnightmusic

What advice would you give to someone with a dream?

Do thing only you can do and only you can make in the world. And that is the best that we can all do on this crazy spinning ball in space.

Photography credit: instagram.com/rashadrastam
instagram.com/matthewyoscary
instagram.com/orsonoblowitz

Connect

Website: http://asiandan.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/asiandan

TikTok: http://twitter.com/asiandan

Twitter: asiandan