Today we’d like to introduce you to Derek Graham.
Hi Derek, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey as a sound designer and composer was propelled by my life’s journey as a musician. Since I was a kid, I have been creating or performing to some capacity, whether it was sketching, painting, singing, writing poetry, or performing on stage. The arts was essentially a safe haven for me during a time where it was easy to feel like you were stuck in a bubble. I had issues being accepted by people as a kid and it imposed a detrimental effect to my social skills. I had issues finding words to express myself and yearned for an atmosphere where I can convey an idea without judgment from other people. For me, music production and theater were those exact things I needed. I went to college for music with a focus in audio engineering, getting an in-depth look at the recording process as well as the tools needed to prepare a record.
Amid that, my core major courses consisted of music theory, aural skills, voice lessons, piano, and recital performance. The techniques I learned and unlearned allowed me to tackle sound design, which was a chance encounter from an old theater textbook. It allowed me to look at storytelling with a different process using effects sequencing, although I was more interested in extending my musical ability to tell these stories. My first sound design was for Eric Coble’s Cinderella Confidential. It was the first show where I got to experiment with this new process and soon discover the power of the craft of designing sound. Over the years, I’ve taken on different shows that offer different challenges for sound. Getting contracted to sound design or compose shows offered a creative endeavor I never anticipated would be a prime profession. When you are training for those years in undergraduate and graduate degree programs, there is a lot of noise, but I’m glad to be where I am today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been far from smooth. Although the socioeconomic landscape in North Carolina consists of many barriers, nothing holds a candle to the doubts I’ve had. Of all the things I’ve faced, dealing with myself has not been easy. I’ve endured financial and emotional hardships; losing my father and brother within three years of each other; I sometimes felt I haven’t found my footing. It’s hard to function when, deep down, you’re falling apart but the rest of the broken world makes you function anyway. I also have mental health issues, namely depression and anxiety, and those present a unique set of challenges as it relates to my quality of life.
At the root of my professional life is my humanity, and I am not exempt from life’s challenges, no matter what I excel in.
To be brutally honest, I have always been a perfectionist, which resulted me in taking a lot more time to fine-tune my projects; it’s probably the worst and sometimes the best thing about me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a professional sound designer, audio engineer, music composer and producer a primarily operates in the realm of live theater, concert production, and online multi-media. I freelance when I am called on to sound design or for music. Apart from theater, I also produce, record and mix music across mainstream genres like hip-hop, r&b, pop, EDM, etc.
My most recent accomplishment is having published a concert choir spiritual that I wrote into a manuscript over ten years ago. I’m not accustomed to having a lot of pride in my work, so this was a huge accomplishment for me.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
This is a profound list but Billicia Hines, my theater professor; Candace Jennings, my drama mentor; Walter R. Swan, my music mentor; Jessica, my wife, rock, and life partner; Byron Coolie, my best friend and best man (literally!); John L. Butler (audio engineer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood), who mentored me in sound for motion picture and has forgotten more about sound than what I’ll ever know; Jared Graham, my brother (deceased), the one who showed me how to make a beat when I was 10; Irvin Graham (deceased), my pops and one of the greatest men on the planet; Gloria Graham, my mother, who is the reason why I developed an affinity for the arts. God has given me an amazing village throughout this journey and although there are many more people on this list, these people in particular, make up the beating heart of my artistry. Everything I create comes from a place of love first, just as a chef who cooks their favorite dish and their existence is a gift.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dgsound.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dgrahamsound/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DGrahamSound
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/derekgrahamsound
Image Credits
Headshot, courtesy of Isdell Photography SoundWAV Logo, courtesy of Charles Mumford, Graphic Artist/Designer
