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My First CDR | Eric Lau
When and where did you first attend CDR? What do you recall?
Back when it was at a venue called Bridge & Tunnel. I remember being really nervous not knowing what to expect!
How did you hear about CDR?
I think I heard about from going to a night called Blacktronica. I met Charlie Dark there and he encouraged me to go.
What has CDR meant to you?
It was the first time I ever got to hear my own music on a proper system in a public space. It gave me confidence and allowed me to get real feedback.
Have you collaborated with, or hope to, any artists via CDR sessions?
I haven't yet but I'm definitely open to.
Any other noteworthy CDR memories?
CDR did a nationwide tour and compilation CD called Freeness and I was lucky enough to be part of it. It really helped me gain a lot of exposure and made me believe I could take my music to the next stage in my career. I also remember hearing my track on Radio One when the CDR team were interviewed on Gilles Peterson's show. I was in a car with some friends coming back from doing some workshops, I will never forget that moment.
Please could you describe your work life/creative life tussle. Any tips or tricks for managing to keep making music?
The work life/creative life tussle goes hand in hand. I feel that if you can utilise all your skills you will be able to have enough resources to be an artist and make the music that you wanna make. I supplement my artist side by doing other things like DJing, mixing, spec work, teaching.
Have you a favourite club and/or soundsystem?
Plastic People, had so many great memories there. Not only is the sound great, I always seem to learn something new about music there every time I go.
Please give a brief description of your current production/recording set up.
Mac Pro, Logic, MPC, UAD 2, EQ's, 1210, Moog Little Phatty, Event ASP8
Have you a favourite piece of equipment? Something you always return to or at the centre of your studio.
UAD 2: just allows me to get a good sound without having to spend £100000's Been on UAD since it first released.
Also my friend lent me an Orban EQ which is not really known, but is amazing on drums!
Any projects or tracks your working on at the moment that you'd like to let us know about?
I just released my second full length album entitled One of Many. Also working on an instrumental project.
Finally, have you any advice or words of warning for producers/musicians developing musical works in progress to play at CDR?
My advice would be just be to just do you.
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See/hear plenty more at ericlaumusic.com.
Read + Listen on: More My First CDR... features including Daisuke Tanabe, HowAboutBeth, and (DJ) Simbad.
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Since we started back in 2001, CDR has been all about community, creating spaces for people to connect and develop through music.
Back in the Plastic People days, you could fit all of us in one small room around one soundsystem. Today, our projects and programmes extend from the dancefloor to schools, youth centres, as well as grassroots clubs and venues across the country and further afield. But in challenging times, with grassroots organisations like ours closing all around us, every bit of support counts.
Your help will enable us to continue delivering music programmes and events in the UK to the people who need it most. Our mission is simple: to build an equitable music ecosystem for producers and artists.
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