what is your name?
Cal
how would you describe what you do?
I’m a musician.
what are you currently working on?
Releasing new music with my band, WD-HAN. We’re releasing one song a month for all of 2020.
what has had the greatest influence on your work?
I would say other musicians and artists. Jimi Hendrix, Dire Straits, great films and tv shows.
what is the greatest misconception about you or your work?
That you have to be born with an ability to do it as a career. I certainly wasn’t born with a knack for guitar. I’ve been working hard at my craft and continue to do so, it hasn’t come easy! But if it was simple all the time I think I’d get bored.
what do you see as the main strengths and weaknesses of the medium you work in?
A strength is that you can write a song and anyone can connect with it. It goes beyond gender, race and religion. A weakness? Losing track of the time in the studio…you can get lost in there!
how has technology impacted upon the work you do?
Greatly. It’s constantly evolving. For example I have a piece of equipment that has many kinds of amplification models and many sound choices which wouldn’t have been possible years ago. I can carry around in my car over one hundred and fifty amplifiers without breaking my back! And now you can record high-quality music in your home, the technology in music is getting better and better.
what’s the greatest piece of advice you would like to pass on?
I saw a meme going around a few months ago which I completely disagree with. It had the text, “The biggest compliment another musician can give you” and had a picture of someone crying. I believe that the greatest artists in all mediums create their art to inspire others, not bring them down. So my advice is to continue to create and allow the great work of others inspire you, not make you want to quit.
where can we find you online?
All over! You can follow my band on Facebook: Facebook.com/wdhanmusic
Instagram: Instagram.com/wdhanband
You can find our music on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
what are you reading at the moment?
Red Rising! Great book, one of my wife’s great recommendations.
what are you listening to at the moment?
Rival Sons, Third Eye Blind, Bryce Fox, Phil Good…the list could go on and on.
anything else we should know?
I also started a podcast with my wife called The Pay it Forward Podcast. If you’d like to hear some good news for a change, check it out on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60NhI0buWIbyp7wZGICVGj?si=wSZzOQzvSHCg73QCy7Isdw
