key2nostalgia

SEEKING

Band to Join, Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, Piano.

ABOUT

Hi! I'm Nostalgia, owner of the Chromatic Dreamers blog. A site I created for beginner musicians, bands, and anime/J-music fans.

I took music all through school and casually played keyboard, clarinet, viola, and bass drum in drumline. I've also sung with my schools' choirs for 2 years, and performed in a high school musical production (Little Shop of Horrors). I got to perform with these clubs at Roy Thompson Hall, Massey Hall, Juno Hoops, etc. I always had a love of performing. I don't care for the spotlight nor need attention, but I believe the arts are meant to be seen and enjoyed by others. There's no better feeling than working with others, enjoying the experience from fruition to stage, and leaving with lifelong memories ^_^

I picked up guitar as an adult to bring my teenage band dream to life. I watched anime on TV for as long as I could remember and stumbled across Japanese music via their original openings in 2006. Since then, I always wanted to make an anime cover band. So when I picked up guitar later on in life, Japanese music was what I focused on the most. I've only been playing guitar for about 3.5 years in total now, but my rhythm is pretty good (if I should say so myself). I've performed live 4 times between 2022 and 2023 with my anime rookie cover band: 1 time at a small venue (See-Scape), 2 times at a convention (Pretty Heroes), and 1 time at a festival (Japan Fest at Mississauga Celebration Square)! You can find videos of these performances on the Chromatic Dreamers Youtube channel.

Japanese music is quite complex (long progressions, uncommon chords/borrowed chords, advanced strumming patterns), so I've had to advance pretty quickly to play it with my band. I have a good foundation of chords and strumming patterns, along with a deep interest in music theory as it was the only way to understand how Japanese music works.

While I grew up Christian, I was only truly reborn when I put my faith in Jesus alone around new years 2023. My anime singer kept nudging me to start another band, and I owed it to her for helping me fulfill my dream yet she didn't get to do much songs she loved, so we gave it another round that summer; however, I said to myself that I would be done with Japanese music and any worldly pursuits after Japan Fest in August 2023. I went on an immediate hiatus, telling God that I won't play again unless for him.

In January 2024, I was recruited by a church plant through this site to play guitar, and have been serving each week during their worship service. It has been a great opportunity to learn to play songs using their progressions instead of memorizing their chords as the key may change last minute. I also worked more on playing by ear and following the singers or other musicians during the session. I was also singing backup as needed. I then served as the only musician for over 4 months. I enjoyed assisting the church in various ways as a member, but decided to leave in October 2024 as the church is out of my city, along with other concerns.

In March 2024, I was asked the day before to be the guitarist in a gospel music video last minute, but had a lot of fun filling the role.

In November 2024, I started a new collab band project to cover Japanese Christian songs. Japan has the 2nd biggest music industry, but less than 2% Christians, so there's no one really interviewing or writing about these artists to bring them exposure, nor is anyone really covering their songs so other scan find them. More details on the project on my website.

I also make Jpop-inspired/Christian-themed BGM music when I feel inspired under my username. You can find the on all streaming platforms and my Youtube channel.

I'm still open to other opportunities where I can use my talents to serve God and spread the message of the gospel~

Feel free to connect with me on gram key2nostalgia <3

Screen name:: key2nostalgia
Member since:: Nov 15 2022; Active within 1 month
Level of commitment:: Very Committed
Years playing music:: 5
Gigs played:: 50 to 100
Tend to practice:: More than 3 times per week
Available to gig:: 2-3 nights a week

Influences

*Only listing my favourite artists whom I would know and love more than 2 songs from*

CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ARTISTS (Listening/Exploring birth to 2012, and 2024-): Donnie McClurkin, James Fortune, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Carlene Davis, The Winans, CeCe Winans, Matt Redman, Travis Greene, Israel & New Breed

JAPANESE ARTISTS (Listening/Exploring between 2006-2023): One OK Rock, Official Hige Dandism, Spyair, Kouji Wada, The Oral Cigarettes, Nico Touches The Wall, Burnout Syndromes, Polkadot Stingray, Centimillimental, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Yui, Ace Collection, Frederic, Stereopony, Scandal, FliP

WESTERN ARTISTS (Listening/Exploring between 2006-2014): Hilary Duff, Hannah Montana, Demi Lovato, High School Musical, Camp Rock, Barenaked Ladies, Cheetah Girls, Lemonade Mouth, Bridgit Mendler, Zac Brown Band, Various songs from Guitar Hero/Band Hero

KPOP GROUPS (Listening/Exploring/Dancing between 2011-2021): Griend, F(x), Twice, Crayon Pop, Orange Caramel, Wonder Girls, SHINee, Sistar, BTS, 4Minute, Mamamoo, Got7, Red Velvet, Stellar, AOA

Instrument experience:

Rhythm Guitar:: Advanced
Background Singer:: Moderate

EQUIPMENT

GUITARS: Ibanez S Standard, Epiphone Les Paul Special, Jasmine Acoustic-Electric.

GUITAR ADD-ONS: Roland Mini Cube Amp, Snark Super Tight Chromatic Tuner, Capos.

PEDALS: BOSS Distortion, Amazon Overdrive, Sonicake Noise Wiper, FLAMMA Preamp, DONNER Reverb, Delay, and Mod Square.

PERFORMING TOOLS: Variety of Earplugs (2 Loop Quiet, Bernafon Molded EarPlugs, Disposable Foam Plugs), Soundbrenner Core Steel Metronome/Tuning Watch, Getaria Wireless Guitar System

RECORDING TOOLS: Focusrite Scarlett Interface, Audio-Technica Condenser Microphone, FL Studio