Musician John Faye On Asian Representation in Entertainment and Writing His First Book

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of chatting with John Faye, a recording artist, producer, and recently retired songwriting professor from Drexel University in Philadelphia, whose career spans over four decades. His various music projects—the Caulfields, John Faye Power Trip, IKE, John & Brittany, and his solo works― have yielded over eight hours of recorded music, song placements in film and TV, and  radio airplay.

With the release of his book, The Yin and Yang of it All: Rock n Roll Stories from the Cusp As Told By a Mixed Up, Mixed Race Kid, John can also add author to his list of creative achievements.

We cover a range of topics in this conversation, including the incredible highs of being one of the only Asian American rock musicians in mainstream 90s rock. We also talk about arguing for the validity of the music middle class, which often gets overlooked in today’s fame-obsessed society.

For more on John Faye, visit: johnfaye.com.

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SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

1:19—Meeting at Mariano + Michelle’s

4:42—John’s early life growing up in Delaware

6:41—Getting inspired by his family creatively

10:44—Being mesmerized by the B52’s

12:30—Writing song parodies as his first outlet

13:18—There was a songwriter in me before I played an instrument

17:09—It’s never too late for anything

18:26—Dealing with racism from an early age

23:29—Getting signed to A&M records at 27

29:30—Asian  representation back then vs. today

31:40—”We don’t know how to market you.”

35:18—Back-handed compliments + preferring to be invisible 

39:59—John’s definition of creativity

44:30—Plans to adapt the book for the stage

46:30—Where John finds inspiration

51:57—The importance of being a good observer

54:54—The inspiration for ‘The Ying and Yang of it All’

1:00:00—Doing do diligence on memoir writing

1:09:00—Arguing for the validity of the music middle class

1:14:00—Maintaining the artist life for the long haul

1:15:59—What’s next?

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:19 Meeting at Mariano + Michelle’s
• 4:42 John’s early life growing up in Delaware
• 6:41 Getting inspired by his family creatively
• 10:42 Being mesmerized by the B52’s
• 12:30 Writing song parodies as his first outlet
• 13:18 There was a songwriter in me before I played an instrument
• 17:09 It’s never too late for anything
• 18:26 Dealing with racism from an early age
• 23:29 Getting signed to A&M records at 27
• 29:30 Asian representation back then vs. today
• 31:40 ”We don’t know how to market you.”
• 35:18 Back-handed compliments + preferring to be invisible
• 39:59 John’s definition of creativity
• 44:30 Plans to adapt the book for the stage
• 46:30 Where John finds inspiration
• 51:57 The importance of being a good observer
• 54:54 The inspiration for ‘The Ying and Yang of it All’
• 1:01:00 Doing do diligence on memoir writing
• 1:09:00 Arguing for the validity of the music middle class
• 1:14:00 Maintaining the artist life for the long haul
• 1:15:59 What’s next?