Meet Stan Lin: A Local Gem
Meet Stan Lin, a musician from San Diego. I met Stan at the Amplified Studios open mic that happens every Wednesday. Stan was actually at the first-ever open mic here at Amplified Studios. He is a steadfast local supporter of the DIY music community in San Diego. So without further ado, let's see what Stan has to say about what inspires him, his start in music, and what he will be up to in the future!
Tey Lin on IG @artbyteylin
NAME, WHAT INSTRUMENT YOU PLAY, AND WHERE YOU ARE FROM.
"My name is Stan Lin. I play guitar, bass and sing. For San Diegans, I'm from Carlsbad. For non-San Diegans, I'm from San Diego."
WHEN DID YOU START MAKING MUSIC? WHAT INSPIRES THE MUSIC YOU MAKE?
"I started writing my own music around the Summer of 2021. I had been doing cover songs until then and decided to write my own piece of music. People, in general, inspire my music. Everyone has a story; though our stories differ, the underlying emotions are similar. So I hope people can hear my music and reflect/relate it to something they experienced in their lives."
WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET INSPIRED? IS THERE A CERTAIN PROCESS YOU HAVE? OR DOES INSPIRATION COME MORE SO OUT OF THE BLUE?
"I try to play guitar every day, and I also try to be observant of what's happening around me and in the world. I don't necessarily want to write about specific events but how they make me feel. Songs (music and lyrics) usually come quickly if what I'm playing and feeling mesh, but getting to that place takes time and effort. If I'm in a creative rut, I'll listen to different types of music and do music theory stuff (scales and modes) to hear different sounds."
Photo taken by Tey Lin on IG @artbyteylin
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO YOUR DEMOS, AND I'M A BIG FAN. SO, HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT MAKING THESE DEMOS?
"I'm in DIY mode right now. I'm recording on my MacBook using Logic Pro (I started with GarageBand) and a Focusrite Scarlett interface. It's amazing what you can DIY these days. I'm fumbling my way through tracking and mixing...learning as I go."
I LOVE THE DEMO, "GO," YOU HAVE OUT ON YOUR SOUNDCLOUD. CAN YOU TELL ME A BIT MORE ABOUT THE SONG?
"'Go,' for me, is a reminder to give yourself grace. When I wrote it, I was amid one of many (and more to come) 'tortured artist' phases... guitars sounded bad, vocals were terrible, etc. Have to remind myself to take a breather and know this music 'thing' is a slow burn, not something that can be rushed or forced. Just control what I can control and enjoy that I get to do this every day!"
WHAT ARE SOME ARTISTS THAT INSPIRE YOU?
"So many, but a short list of what I've been listening to lately to keep inspired... Hendrix, Soundgarden, Sleater-Kinney, The Velveteers, The Raconteurs, Miles Davis, Spotify's Alt-Country Classics Playlist."
WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOU IN THE FUTURE?
"I'm recording demos for many more songs, so look out for that. I've been taking a break from performing to write and record, but I started going to open mics (Amplified Studio and others) again to get a better feel for the songs and playing out. I hope to get a band together soon to perform the songs in all their glory."
