This is the second and final part of the interview I conducted with Jake Chen from Musefy. You can read Part 1 by clicking here.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

Oh man, I can’t remember that far back… I have to say at least before elementary school, since I was really excited during those days when you got the opportunity to try out all of the instruments. Then again, I was already set on the saxophone by then because of jazz music, and I suppose the saxophone really represented that style of music to me. As for that first album, I really can’t remember unfortunately, sorry 🙁

Are you in a band yourself, or have you been in a band in the past? Is there a file on YouTube or elsewhere we could watch?

Hope I don’t lose a bunch of users for saying this, but I’ve never been in a band myself. I didn’t pick up guitar until college, before that I played piano and saxophone and never looked to join a band using those two instruments. The only thing that resembles a group in high school were the school jazz ensembles I joined every year. During college, I started practicing guitar (which was more portable compared to a piano) but couldn’t find a band to join, which is why I started Musefy. So I just ended up practicing alone or jamming with a friend.

There is a Youtube video of the result of one of these jam sessions, which you can find at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GENQPoVD9E
where me (on the right) and my friend are singing at the Asian American Association’s annual Fashion Show. Man, we were out of tune >__> oops hahaha.

Musical likes and dislikes? Favorite artists?

My musical tastes fluctuate depending on what I’m doing while I’m listening, but generally I’m a fan of anything created by musicians are talented and technically strong. A good beat and musical structure with roots in solid theory are also plusses. As a result I listen primarily to rock music as well as electronic/trance/house music but I also really enjoy classical music as well. I usually can’t take hip-hop, rap, and mainstream formulaic pop for too long, but if there’s actual substance to the content outside of drugs, booze, and womanizing, there are a couple of songs that would count as my guilty pleasure hahaha.

As for favorite artists, I have too many and the list is too diverse, but I guess Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Muse, Dream Theater, as well as Above and Beyond, ATB, and Chopin, Vivaldi are often on my playlist. Since I’ve been looking into my ethnic roots, I’m listening to more and more Chinese rock, so bands like Reflector (反光镜), Convenience Store (便利商店), and Tizzy Bac are my current faves.

If you had to name the song that moves you the most, what would it be? Can you pinpoint the reason why?

Hmm… having to pick out just one song is really tough, so I think I’ll have to skip.

Is there a song that – to you – captures the spirit of your startup and what you have set out to do? What would it be?

Weezer’s Pork and Beans. Me and my friends listened to this song quite a lot when the song first came out, which coincided with the time that I was beginning to piece together the plan for Musefy.

Thank you so much for your time, Jake! Hope to see Musefy go from strength to strength!