Teacher Feature: Chill Smith
Audio Engineering & Production Instructor
Tell us a little more about your background! Where are you from?
I was born in Paterson NJ, moved to Bayville NJ when I was around 15 years old. Living in urban and suburban neighborhoods privileged me to many perspectives. My first taste of musicianship was around sixteen years old. Ian, a friend of mine in high school invited me to his studio session, which was a makeshift studio in a shed. By my early 20’s I decided I didn’t want to pay for studio time, my father bought me Pro Tools 7, an M-Audio interface and a Shure KSM27.
What do you like to do when you're not teaching or playing music?
I’m a nerd, I like playing video games and watching superhero movies. I also spend massive amounts of time on YouTube, I love watching recording studio tours and beat breakdowns.
What are you working on right now?
I’m in the midst of recording and mixing hip-hop/spoken word artist Chris Rockwell, also in the early stages of producing/beat making for what I’m aiming to be my next album.
Where/how can we follow you and your music?
@yochillsmith (everywhere)
Who/what are your top 3 favorite artists/bands right now?
Nas will forever be my favorite rapper. Drake is one of my favorites right now and I’m anticipating J. Cole’s next album.
What is one piece of advice that has shaped your view of being a musician?
Do things out of passion and love.
How do you stay motivated and continue to learn and grow as a musician?
Motivation to me is a fleeing emotion, I make music to get through life, I aim to grow as a person which coincidentally makes me a better musician.
If you had to create a soundtrack for your life, what would be the top three songs on it?
Nas “I did it my way”
Joe Budden “Black Cloud”
Nirvana “Something in the Way”
Share your thoughts on the value of music education in a person's life.
I went to vocational school for audio engineering in my early 20’s. I’ve made lifetime friendships, shared stages, and toured the country of classmates I’ve had in engineering class. I would be a completely different person without music education, I wouldn’t be writing this newsletter, I wouldn’t have meet Sugar Hill Gang, or Eric B and Rakim, I doubt I would have learned to deal with my emotions in a productive way.
What's your favorite genre, type of music, or technique to teach?
Hip-hop, I love sampling. I never learned how to play an instrument but hip-hop comes from people with limited resources. Rza of Wu-Tang didn’t know how to play an instrument or even keep songs in key, the early Wu-Tang albums aren’t in key at all and the mixes is terrible. I like encouraging people to use the resources they have and not allow anything to get in the way of making music.
If you could bring one famous musician back to life for a jam session, who would it be, and what song would you play together?
Prince, I would’ve like to converse with him, Prince and I were raised Jehovah’s Witness. Dude played all the instruments, I would rather watch him play than jam with him.
What band/musician/song is a guilty pleasure?
Taylor Swift, Ice Spice, and ironically Will Smith, his “Red Alert” album is fire!
How did you become interested in teaching music, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?
Several years ago I was working a security job, someone I worked with had plans on running a studio, he would ask for advice and I was able to answer his questions. I didn’t realize I knew as much as I did, that experience made me think of teaching. To harken back on vocational school, it was mainly geared toward people who played instruments, there was a lack of respect for Hip-hop, and the teachers didn’t look, act or think like me. Most of what I know is self taught, I know these kids are teaching themselves, I can give them a massive push with information that applies specifically to them.
Beyond your role as a music teacher, what are some of your life goals?
I really would love to destroy the patriarchy that marginalizes people of color, women, transgender people and the disabled. In my older years I plan on pursuing politics. It’s rare to have a teacher who appreciates you as an individual.
Share a memorable life experience or adventure that has shaped who you are.
Stanhope House, Joe Budden was the headliner, some of the openers were very underwhelming, the crowd was getting rowdy and started booing people off stage, out of the 400+ people, about 40 of them were with me, but I remained cool as a cucumber. I asked some of them to chant my name as I made my way to the stage. As I stepped on the stage I not so politely asked a member from the act before me to get off, to that the crowd responded well. As I’m on stage I have a bit of trouble connecting to the backline, the boos slowly start. I perform the first song, crowd was slightly into it, then I rapped an a cappella, it was around the time Sandra Bland was found dead in a jail cell and the police officers responsible to Eric Garners death were acquitted. The audience became silent the entire time I was rapping, I felt like Eminem on 8 Mile. I was the only act besides Joe Budden who didn’t get booed off stage.
In your opinion, what can students gain from learning music that will serve them in life?
I encourage people to learn as many things as possible. Music will always exist, plus learning how to play a guitar or sing makes you look cool, duh.