With a background as a guitar player, Eric Lam eventually moved on to producing electronic music. However unlike a lot of other rising stars, Lam’s foundation comes from his experience through internships in the music industry while he was in college. Maybe that has helped him build his platform and hide his image behind the inverted triangle you see above.
Now a graduate from Indiana University and new Los Angeles resident, he’s locked himself into work mode and surrounded himself with the people he needs to be successful.
What role did interning play in your development as a producer? Would you recommend that route to other people?
Having internships is probably the best thing that ever happened to me as a producer. My first was an internship for Vince Lawrence, one of the founders of Chicago house music. There I learned about mixing/engineering and how to act and be professional in a studio. My second was for Tommy Rotem at Beluga Heights (they brought up and developed Jason Derulo, Iyaz, Sean Kingston). There I learned about A&R and what makes certain artists intriguing and what to look out for in new talent. I just graduated college so after doing that and practicing my mixing skills for 5-10 hours a day for the last two years, I feel pretty comfortable in my own skin as a producer. I would 100% recommend internships to other producers. Whether you’re interning for college or just on the side of a job, nothing’s better than learning from people that know what they’re talking about in those kinds of environments. They show you what it might be like before you actually get into that career. You learn a lot that way.
From recording songs for Tj Mizell to building your own studio, how did all of these things come together? When did you find out that you were talented as an electronic producer? How did these other opportunities come up?
They just came together from being very passionate. I have always been really into certain things and motivated to do them as a career. I was into skateboarding, then I was into playing the guitar, now it’s production and I’ve been at it since junior year of high school (6 years ago). After I worked in Chicago my sophomore year of college, under Vince Lawrence, I got my first major placement. I wrote the music for the Dr. Oz television show, which was an amazing experience. At that point I knew I had something and should 100% pursue it, I just had to work really hard. I have been constantly writing and practicing to be the best I can be, since. I found out that I could pursue electronic music after people started following me, blogs started reaching out and people started commenting on my tracks.
You have a background as a guitar player but have transitioned into electronic music production. Does that help set you apart from others? What impact does that have on how you produce music?
I played the guitar for years and used to do it like I produce now. I would just sit in my room and play for like 5-10 hours a day. This was back in high school. I would try and learn every song I could, watch youtube videos constantly, and just learn to be as good as I could be. I was exposed and drawn to a lot of rock music at that point in my life and I think certain tracks like “GTA” make it very apparent. I think being drawn to those types of sounds help set me apart from others but I really just want to write the best songs I possibly can, so at the end of the day I just try to produce what I think sounds good and original.
Were you able to DJ gigs while still in school to work on the live phase of dance music?
While I was in school I DJ’d at all the bars/clubs around Indiana University, but always put my focus into the production. Being a great DJ is important in pursuing electronic music but if you’re a good producer as well, you’re on a whole different level. I want to be able to get to a point where I can DJ a set and play the majority of my own originals and remixes and people will know them.
What promoted the move to Los Angeles? Do you think it’s better to put yourself in an area with people of similar interests and a bigger music scene?
I moved to Los Angeles because I wanted to be able to network and work as much as possible without traveling being an issue. I have actually never even been to California, I just moved here because I felt it’s where I needed to be. I think surrounding yourself with people that share your same passion/interests can help a ton. It’s a lot easier to meet people and go places, career wise, if you’re shaking hands and meeting face to face.
When you’re writing new tracks, where do you go for influence? Are you listening to others or do you find that the ideas just come to you?
It can happen anywhere. I am constantly listening to others but usually my best ideas just come up at random moments. I can be walking around, eating dinner, or even working on a song and I just think of something that I think sounds pretty strong. I always start with the melody because I think that a great melody can stand-alone. Drums are extremely important too but melodies are what makes a song last forever in my opinion.
You have promoted a ton of original tracks through your Soundcloud already, so what’s next for Eric Lam?
I just graduated IU and left campus last Wednesday. I just moved into my place in West Hollywood and am going to be working 24/7, constantly trying to outdo myself and bring the best music to my fans that I possibly can. I know as long as I work hard and follow my heart everything will fall into place.
Stream his new release the Black EP.
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