Dillon brown
What did Norco music mean to you?
Norco Music meant discovering myself again in a few ways. One by bringing back my passion for writing and producing music, another by learning new ways of creating music and recording it, and also by learning from the other musicians who really pushed my creativity.
Favorite memory of your time here?
I would say my favorite memory from my time at Norco Music is a tie between the timed songwriting challenges in the MIS-2 Songwriting class, as it really challenged me to be creative and quick. I have told several people that it helped me get more comfortable with my songwriting abilities. That is tied with the times I got to collaborate with and record several different students in the studio! It was always a blast to just create music in a studio for hours.
What are you doing now?
I just finished my BA in Mass Communication and Media Studies at Arizona State University, and have been writing, recording and publishing music with my band Catammonia, while also playing shows regularly.
Biggest challenge you've faced?
The biggest challenge I have faced is finding the right job and project for me. I’ve found that it can be difficult to find the right job that is a perfect fit for each person, but it is out there. I am extremely happy that Catammonia has been that right project for me, and I am so proud of what we have done so far.
A moment you knew you were on the right path?
A moment that I knew I was on the right path was when I started at Norco College studying audio production, while also eventually forming a band at the same time. I was learning so much about recording, production, the music business, and songwriting while at Norco music, while also getting to put that knowledge to use with projects I worked on in class and with my band.
Project you're most proud of?
I’d say the project that I’m most proud of is the music video and recording we did for my band Catammonia’s song The Receptionist. We wrote the song a while before we got it recorded, which gave us time to fine tune it and test it out with our audiences. It’s one of the songs I’m most proud of writing, plus getting to film an extremely professional music video with a full film crew and sets was a dream come true.
How do you stay inspired?
One way I stay inspired is by learning as many skills as I can. For example, learning how to record, mix, and produce was really inspiring, and I love to spend hours producing my own or other people’s music now. Another way I stay inspired is by listening to as many different new bands and genres as I can. My friends have put me onto so many different bands and artists that I had never heard of, and through my own searching I have discovered even more artists. Listening to these new artists has inspired me both consciously and subconsciously, as I find myself influenced by sounds I’d never used prior to listening to them. Lastly, listening to interviews by artists I’m inspired by also keeps me inspired, because they have usually gone through so much to get where they are.
What advice would you give current Norco Music students?
A piece of advice I’d give to Norco Music students is work extremely hard towards what you want to do, and learn as much as you can from different musicians- whether they are other NOMU students or bands you’ve never checked out before. It can take a long time for you to find the right project or job for you, but it is out there, and make sure you are having fun in the process!