Making Music, an Artist's Message, and the Dark Times EP
Host: Eric Chow · Guest: Diggy Derk · February 5, 2020 · Episode 24 · 64 minutes
Transcribed from the episode audio and edited for names and terms. Speaker labels are assigned automatically and can occasionally place a line with the wrong speaker; the episode itself is the record.
Eric Chow
What is up everybody? Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of the Eric Chow Empowers Podcast. I'm so excited you're here In fact, I swear I keep getting more and more excited as I release more and more episodes of the podcast So thank you for tuning in Before we get started. I just want to ask you for a huge favor. Could you please? screenshot that you're listening to the podcast and go to Instagram or Twitter and post a story and tag me or tweet me at underscore chow eric that is at underscore chow eric that is at underscore chow eric you guys letting me know that you're listening is my oxygen is what keeps me going and would literally make my day and when you finish the episode I'd love to hear about your thoughts and reactions to it as well as to the podcast in general and answer any questions you may have so if you could do that for me that would be awesome now to the episode. Enjoy. He is the one who kind of put us together. So how did how did you meet Isaac?
Diggy Derk
Let's start with that. It's crazy dude. Like so I've never really met Isaac like I talked to him all the time like we're on the phone day and every other day or every day so but Isaac's actually now I'm manager, but I'll get to that in a second, but how we met so I lived in LA Los Angeles and Hollywood back in July of 2018 and Now this is a cheering actually and I went to Popeyes on how the boulevard met another guy that's very Near dear to my heart his name is Jalen my homie Met him in Popeyes and Jalen's just got a nice little social following and somehow him and Isaac met in like some business Whatever, I don't know don't know that full story, but they met and then Jalen listened to one of my songs and he promoted it and through his promotion Isaac D.M.
and me as like a man fuck with your shit and I was just like yo bro like let me get that like let me read that interview that you did and I did that and I was like man this guy sounds a lot like himself so at that point I just hit him I was like bro like I'd love to talk to you about what you're doing and then after that called him for an hour we talked for like actually like an hour and a half and ever since then we've been rocking with each other just always been cool love it man
Eric Chow
Oh, yeah, why don't you introduce yourself to the audience who who are you man? What up audience? My name is digging. I don't think they can't see you.
Diggy Derk
I'm not recording video. All right. All right, never mind That's funny. All right, so I'm digging dirt on an artist that I knew him in Indiana been doing the shift for three years Work my ass off and what I do I make money and I pretty much put it all back in my music in some way Whether that's actually recording time, whether that's getting money for a show that I'm about to put on April 4th, I actually plug myself in. But yeah, I pretty much make money, spend it all on my music, go to the studio, get fucking photoshoots done. I have my buddy Sky who does music videos for me. He did my last one, Oxycontin on my latest project, which is called Dark Times. Check that out anywhere. I'm gonna put it.
Eric Chow
I'm gonna put some links in the episode description.
Diggy Derk
All right, but thank you. Yeah, no problem. And that man, like it's just been a journey finding on what I stand for in life as a whole. Like, that's kind of what I base my music around. Like, you know, what I feel goes on around myself. Like I'm not trying to put on a fake persona or anything. You know, it's a lot of my main focuses in my music is mental health. You know, I've struggled with that shit personally. I know the world struggles with that shit, you know and Really if someone can listen to my shit feel that that like emotion that I put into it and it helps I'm like and it's a win You know what I mean?
And that sounds really cliche. I know but like amen. I'm a good person at heart And I know there's a lot of good heart people in this world that's kind of fucked up so And I'm just trying to pray positive vibes damn right
Eric Chow
I like that you, and I told you this, I was listening to, I've been listening to your shit for like, cause I mean, let's see, you and me connected with like two weeks ago, a week ago or something like that, right? I've been listening to, like I don't listen to a lot of music anymore, cause I'm usually listening to podcasts, but like I was listening, like the only music I've listened to is basically yours. For like two weeks, so it's dope, man. I like the two things that you mentioned there, which was like one is like authenticity. Like everything is just genuine. Cause like, especially in our world now, like it's so there's so much like faking or like putting out that persona. It's all for me today. Exactly, bro.
Diggy Derk
And like, you know, in an industry like this, I get it, you know, you have to have that social media personnel and whatnot. And you know, I want to be there, but like I want to do it in my own way. Yeah. And personally. It's one of my weaknesses social media is a full because like think about it bro like you got Drake who has 45 or probably 50 million now on Instagram a lot Yeah, he's got his brand going through there and like there's just a way people can always check on him But they know let his legacy and what he is as like when he drops music that's all business, you know what I mean?
So well you guys get better at that. I know that yeah, and Isaac's dude That's my guy straight up. Thank you Isaac. I hope you listen to this. I'm, I'm, he probably will. Yeah, probably.
Eric Chow
The other thing that you mentioned was that I, that I liked was something that I've talked about a lot on my podcast, mental health. Okay. Yeah. So it's a topic that needs to be talked about. I agree, man. Especially since, especially since what most of the time when mental health's brought up, it's always like, I support mental health. Of course I do. And then like, but do you really? Next it's gone. It's gone. They don't even mention it after that.
Diggy Derk
It's done. Oh, I know, do you?
Eric Chow
Yeah, I know. What's been, what's, give us like a brief synopsis of how you're, how you, why you're interested in mental health, why you talk about it so much. Just a brief synopsis, nothing too crazy.
Diggy Derk
All right. Brief, I got you. Really, when I went to college, I developed my own form of depression. And like, I didn't really, I guess, fully believe that like, depression can really lead to suicide and like all this extreme measures because I've never experienced the truth and Dude literally the moment I have fucking experienced that shit. Oh my goodness. I like I wouldn't wish that on anybody and Because of how I felt, you know, like that is just the worst darkness and worst hole that you could ever be in and At that point I really knew what would make me happy give me satisfaction as a human being would be literally helping people with their dark times.
Eric Chow
I love it, man. And to kind of transition into that, how did you get into music? How did you get into music as a thing you wanted to do? For sure.
Diggy Derk
Well, really, it all stems back to when I was in college, you got that depression, you know, like a way for me to help my well-being was literally just expressing myself in some way. And I've come a long way, bro. Like, You know, if I didn't feel so confident about myself, like genuine about how much I love music as a whole and really believe in myself, then I wouldn't be where I'm at today, but it also goes back to depression when I was in college, and I wanted to better myself so that I would never have to feel the way I did again. And I've stuck true to that for the past three years in my life growing up and we have...
Congratulations on that, man. three years. That's amazing. Yeah, but like don't get me wrong man. Like we all struggle day to day and even though like I'm in a lot better place than when I first was but like you know I still struggle every once in a while. We all do because late at night bro you still got to go deal with your own thoughts.
Eric Chow
It's a hard thing to deal with but it is something that we do.
Diggy Derk
For sure bro and I wish I had the answers. I don't think they're all around. Yes, the way I've looked at it. Yeah.
Eric Chow
I was actually thinking of this. I think of it as a constant fight. I think of it as a constant fight, but I don't view it negatively. I feel like people when they hear that, they might go, oh, it's a constant fight. This sucks. But for me, I don't know. I just view it with optimism, like, hey, it's a chance to grow. It's all on how you take it. It's all on how you take it. Yeah. For sure. So the depression thing and then the music happened at the same time. Several years ago three years ago in college.
Diggy Derk
Yeah, and then you've just been running with it ever since were you interested in music like before that like in terms of making I mean I feel like I feel like if you ask anybody I feel like they all have had some type of dream of Being a fucking recording artist sometime in their life, you know I mean because music has that effect on people. That's true But do people ever really pursue it? I mean most people don't And did I ever think I really would? No. I'll be honest with you, I didn't. But like I always had that dream of growing up and like being that fucking powerhouse of a musician like Drake or Lil Wayne back in fucking 2000s Eminem type shit.
I mean that's what it is bro. Like but when I started growing up and getting into sports and figuring out my pros and cons like I didn't like my voice. I never liked singing and I mean I loved listening to all different types of music. I was in the 80s rock, 70s rock. I swear my music, like my music background stems from it, then it got into hip hop and all that. But like I didn't even hear fuck with like any genre. It doesn't matter. I'm not picking anything that sounds good to the ear.
Eric Chow
Then like I don't have a problem. I'm the same way.
Diggy Derk
Oh yeah, that's how it should be. Music is too beautiful and too many different aspects. Not to feel that way. It sucks that people don't look at it. I mean, everybody's got their taste.
Eric Chow
Who have been some of your idols people you've looked up to in the music industry?
Diggy Derk
That's just all in perspective, I guess, if you look at all time or if you look at it right now.
Eric Chow
Let's not say the ones that sort of inspire you as you're making your music.
Diggy Derk
When I first got started, you could say Drake, you could say Eminem, you could say Mac Miller, you could say so many different artists, there's so many. But once I started... getting into music and start doing it for myself, it's all in the time frame that in the mindset I was in, Isaiah Rashad is a huge reason I got into music to begin with because his album, The Sunshine, Tyrae, I think that's how you did it, I don't know, some shit. That album touches all mental health and how you feeling like it really resonated with me to the T and... Then logic at that time frame was like my favorite artist me and my best friend Ethan went out and went to one of his shows and that was like I just kind of gave me that like love for like damn I would love to be in front of that kind of going crazy like that and he's Ethan's one of my original rap partners and one of my first collabs and shit like that we used to do shows together along with Jordan, which is Young Truth.
It was by YT now and then also Castor and Pollux. They went by Jim and the kids at that time. But all four of them, the twins are Jim and the kids. But they go by Castor and Pollux now and all of them, like I owe the world to me and they help me find myself and give me out of that whole oppression that I was in and like through our music and one night and we performed together and seen that. I mean, we all kind of win our separate ways due to some stuff I don't really want to talk about. Sure. It happens. But at the end of the day, I still love them all.
I still care for them. They're not home. I'm never chipping my back on them. Love it. But, you know, it's how good it is sometimes.
Eric Chow
I wanted to ask you a little bit in a very practical sense. How did you get started with recording? Those are moments where you could decide to, hey, I kind of want to try recording music. How did you get started doing that? I was hoping you were going to ask me that.
Diggy Derk
Good. Well, I'm glad I did. It's crazy, dude, because I don't know or necessarily care. I don't know what you believe in, but I believe God has everything happens for a reason. And at the time of my depression and everything, it's almost like... Got new what would help me because the twins Castor and Pollux came up to me like they were going to college to a trying university I was going to Indian West New Year two hours apart and those were been my best friends since I was eight and They come up to me and like start playing a song and I listened to it and I was like that's just pretty cool Like I don't know who it is and then they're like bro.
That's us. It's like shut up And I was just like, are you sure? And then I'm like, yeah bro, I swear we recorded at David's. And I was just like, well I've seen Davidson, Baseball as a kid bro. And they're just like dude, like what do you think? Should you do it? I love the fucking way you use the introduce. Like let's go. You know what I mean?
Eric Chow
So I eventually went over to David's house, recorded. My first song with the twins and then after that the rest of history I recorded two little projects with David then honestly how our little separation found a new producer current producer to his name's TZang who's fucking beast. He's a worldwide touring artist I'm grateful to have him in my career honestly. That was me in many ways That's incredible. So it was literally just like a chance kind of Rending like yeah, I was feeling some type of way and then all these people showed up together and be like yeah, let's do something great. That's awesome man.
We still make music. I'm still making music Easy's at times he makes it but he's more on hobby and same with Jordan sure That's awesome, man. I think that kind of goes to like just opportunity when it's not always like trying to chase something or get something. Sometimes it just shows up randomly and you're like, I'll do it. I'll try it. Why not? And then it just works out.
Diggy Derk
Yeah, it's like the moment I tried it, bro. The moment I tried it, I was in love.
Eric Chow
Yeah. I think people are afraid to try.
Diggy Derk
It is a big part of it, dude. A lot of people can't cope with how other people view them, I guess. And I think that's a big reason. social media is tied into music because you have to have it but if you're not strong enough to have it then you won't have your music. I don't know. I feel like they go hand in hand but is what is. Everybody can do it their own way and can get it in a different way. So that's the best part about it. There's different formulas that work.
Eric Chow
And just goes back to authenticity. I also wanted to ask you also in like a practical sense, what's your like writing process? Like how do you come up with the the idea of a song or the lyrics of a song, how do you write?
Diggy Derk
I'm not, like, let me think about that for a second. Okay. I do it in different ways, you know? I'm not set to, this is how I do it every single time. Like a lot of it's similar, don't get me wrong. But I guess for me, it just depends if my homie sends me a beat. He just texts me, Jacob, what up? It's J Rolla. Literally you sent me like eight beats yesterday and the first thing I do with any beat is if I like it and get a nice little Like vibe I don't like anything. Yeah, if I don't like anything if it doesn't come off as like a certain Nostalgic feeling or necessarily has a good like rhythm and like you can ride with it and flow with you know what I mean so at that point he sent me one Slower shit just as in like it was a slower pace beat and First thing I did, bro, is start humming with the beat.
And then I start changing the hum off the actual sound of it, and I alter it and like, kind of make it mesh and flow with it. I don't want you to say a single word. Literally, I just hum. And at that point, whatever I think the vibes is for that shit, it is more of like, it's more of like a slower winter type pace, in my opinion, like winter and like how like cold. Cold hearted or whatever, you know, I haven't really put lyrics to yet But in a way like you could come out to that it just depends on Sometimes I'll be working because I mean I worked 12-hour shifts bro, and it's a lot of factories so a lot of times I'm just thinking and Especially on how motivated I am a lot of the thinking space towards my music and There's a lot of times bro where I just catch myself thinking and like one song that I haven't released yet But it's just badass and working on some final touches on it It's called pick your poison.
And I was just thinking about the term pick your poison. And it really came out to really dope. I can't wait for that song to drop. Should be end of this next month.
Eric Chow
Okay. And day by day took one month, right?
Diggy Derk
You told me that?
Eric Chow
Yeah, day by day I cooked up in a month. And it was just like, all right, I'm ready to get this out. And me and Isaac talked about it. We decided that doing it the lux version of dark times that I dropped on in September. would be the best way to do it because a lot of the newer shit that I'm about to drop is not necessarily dark times. Like, you know, dark times was a lot of a collection of a lot of stuff from over the past two years in my life. And I didn't say that in a like a verse or anything, but collectively dark times is literally shit that I wrote over the past two years and just Collectively like mastered one by one and then put it all together because I mean these last two years I'd say about six months ago to right now I'm in the best spot I've ever been in this music industry and Before then when I was living in LA a little bit of time before that and after I got back from LA for beginning 2019 my dog I've never been that was the worst I've been since my time in college And you know Isaac really did help me with that and a lot of people not just Isaac and a lot of people helped me through my dark times and I feel like dropping into the Lux literally flipped the page of a book and I'm past dark times So that's why I took stuff like my favorite shit that I've made from the past two years mastered it putting into the best dopest way I possibly could and then dropped it as a project That's why Day by Day is the only new song on there.
The other three songs that I dropped on the deluxe version never been that paranoia and revved up. Dude, never been that I dropped because that was the first song I made that literally put me onto my actual new sound and what I am today. So I felt like that had to go on there. And in paranoia I cooked up the next week after never been that. And I was like, Dan, these two songs really are monumental to who I am in this music shit. And then wrapped up, I made that on my right before I moved to Cali. Amazing, man. By the way, for the listeners, Dark Times is Diggy's EP.
It's available on Spotify, Apple, everywhere, basically. I will put the link to that in the episode description. That was the link I was talking about. That's the one on the team.
Diggy Derk
Please listen to it. I hope it helps you.
Eric Chow
I've been fucking with him for like the past like two weeks guys. It's it's amazing. Appreciate that Eric. Yeah, absolutely. What would what would you say is your your big message when it comes to mental health like or or not just mental health but like your your entire album and whatnot?
Diggy Derk
Let me read it to you bro. Alright, so that quote are you talking about what I like to stand for? is we all go through our struggles whether it's addiction or depression or anxiety you are not alone the power of the mind is more powerful than any demon you encounter stay strong and overcome everything love it bro love it that's such a dope message yeah dude that's that's one thing that I want to carry throughout my whole career like that's just like something that like you know I've struggled with addiction myself I've seen people struggle with addiction and like still struggling and you don't want the best for him and I'll be go to the extent to help them at any time and then depression and anxiety.
I see so many people struggle with that and I'm no different. I struggle. But I also, out of a lot of people I know, I know I'm very good at controlling my mind and being able to distract the feeling of depression. Maybe depression never goes away or anxiety never goes away. I don't know. We'll find that out later on in my life, I guess. But if you can learn to distract it. On command then really do you have depression?
Eric Chow
That's a good thought Not try to get rid of it and said Because maybe maybe you can't get rid of it. Maybe you can't I don't know but yeah distracting it and then you for you you're distracting it sort of with by doing music 100% Which is sort of your passion the thing you love And the thing you've built a bit of a team around, right, with your producer with Isaac, with everybody else and that's involved. Yeah. Yeah.
Diggy Derk
So I want to take this moment and say, love my homies because they, I mean, I know I got my producer in Isaac, but two people that are super monumental to this whole thing, even still going on is my homie Rick and my homie Brandon. Shout out to them because Low keep bro, if I didn't have them I wouldn't be making music right now. I know that's perfect They know that they know how much I appreciate them.
Eric Chow
They know how much I know how much they appreciate me And that's my favorite part about it. I don't think a lot people Take the time to actually like express their gratitude for people enough in general Yeah, that's really awesome that like you're doing that right now. I don't think people do that enough.
Diggy Derk
I agree bro. I think the world is too shallow. I'm too whole-hearted of a friend to ever really want to let someone go. Because I cherish. One thing for me, bro, I cherish my childhood. You know, my parents did their best to give me everything I possibly could and enjoy. And that's what I want to do for my family. And right now I don't have a family. And in due time, it'll happen. But right now my friends are my family.
Eric Chow
I had a quote that I love, friends are the family you choose for yourself.
Diggy Derk
Emrite, that is awesome. I've never heard about it or thought about that. But that is awesome. I like that. Friends are the family you choose yourself.
Eric Chow
That's the shit. You really like that I can tell. I type of shit resonates with you. I think one of the things that I think stands out to me really quickly as I was listening to music. and I'm no fucking expert. So, you know, my word doesn't mean shit, but like- Yeah, but everybody's got their two cents. Well, here's mine. One of the things I really liked was like, you're putting out all this stuff and like being, in a sense, kind of like vulnerable, sharing these sort of dark times with people, which a lot of people don't do. They love putting on like, oh, everything's going great over here, man.
Or they'll like joke, like I'm depressed, ha ha. Like people aren't. putting out that difficult part just openly and honestly and just like completely like, hey, here it is. Right. And I think that by putting out that kind of stuff, people listening go, Oh shit, it's not just me. Yeah. And whether putting it out in like you're putting it out in music, I've put it out on my podcast. That's how I've done mine. I'm glad you're doing that. I don't think just like doing that is like a really powerful thing that I'm starting to see more and more happen. And I'm really glad it's happening.
Diggy Derk
Yeah, bro. My friend Mike, his dream is to put together, like he's in the process of putting together. It's pretty cool like watching him come together. But he's in the process of putting together a news company.
Eric Chow
And literally, it's only positive news. Yo, man, I love it. Sick as fuck right I think that's great.
Diggy Derk
Yeah, that's another guy that I can save my life but like Like you said the vulnerability dude, that's that's that's really what it is Yeah, I think I think There's so many artists that I mean everybody's got their own vibe but like for me Drake's a huge part of that think of a Think of some of the shit. He's come out with like some of the most badass parts the most all in lifestyle you can think of but that man will still come on and have a song like Marvin's. So just being able to flip the switch and be be vulnerable and be emotional and connect with people on more than just spending money. You know what I mean?
Eric Chow
So I think I just I don't want to ever limit myself and you know I'm not gonna play that vulnerable card in every song of course but it's being able to tap it. tap into that and I think that's what the music is about. Don't limit yourself as an artist. Love that. Especially since, I mean, I think plenty of artists don't do that. They always want to show off something. Right. And songs or especially in their music videos. They always want to like show off something and then taking a seat.
Diggy Derk
But the thing is, the thing is, it's sad that society wants that. That's where I would... would love to see change and like honestly a lot of more artists are changing and starting to show the volume of the site which is awesome but I'm not saying do away with the big money facts about that. I'm not ever saying get do away with that because it needs to be a mix and balance because not everybody needs to be emotional all the time. You know what I mean? That's why I feel like day by day was like such a good song for and fit for the deluxe version because I say some depression based lines, but like at the same time, like it's more of it's an upbeat. I'm ready to get over this shit. I'm taking it by day to move on.
Eric Chow
So it's like a it was sort of day by day was sort of like the shift in attitude from 100 old songs. This is dark times and then I'm going to take a day by day and then now you're going to come out with the next big thing in late February.
Diggy Derk
Yeah. Love it, man. I'm actually. I think it's two weeks from today, actually Valentine's Day. Hey, everybody listening.
Eric Chow
It's going to be one week from when this is released because I'm going to release this probably on Wednesday. You said Valentine's Day, so it'll be a week or two days from when I'm releasing this episode.
Diggy Derk
All right, cool. So at that point on Valentine's Day, I'm dropping a four song EP called Heartbreak After Dawn. It's more of a love song, a little bit of an inside, a little bit of a love song based, but like it's not R&B, you know, nothing like that. Don't even begin to think that if you're gonna get listened to it. It's not R&B, but it is, it is a very, I guess, emotional, but I wouldn't say there's really a storyline to it, but all the songs for it. But no, it's definitely got some rock in it. It's got some new age. like Juice World, like Lil Peep and sound like that, you know? It's got the vibes, that's what I'm trying to say.
Eric Chow
I was literally about to ask you, I literally just wrote the, I always have like a little notebook in front of me when I'm like recording. Just to write down whatever random thoughts and I literally just wrote down, how would you describe your music? And then you went into like rock.
Diggy Derk
I'm like fuck. Hey man, yeah, like to answer your question again, like a lot of time music. You asked about my writing process earlier. I guess a good way to say that is I base a lot of my structures and rhyme schemes and like necessarily like holding out when I'm singing like certain notes. I base that off block. Actually, that's one thing that a lot of people don't know is like, yeah, it's over a hip hop beat because the high heads and the snares and the kick drums and the 808s and the sine that. But if you listen to most of my beats now. Like on the newer shit that I'm going to be dropping, you'll start to notice a little bit of similarity in the beats and that similarity is a guitar.
A lot of the beats I'm starting to use are guitar bass and for me I love it because it's actually like the easiest and most melodic type of instruments to flow with and if you ask me do the guitars the most badass sounding instrument there is but... Actually forgot bro. I dropped a song I learned today. Oh, it's called Shits called a lesson down through peaks and valleys out in California Do me a favor and sign it over to me?
Eric Chow
I'll put it on my story after this recording or whatever.
Diggy Derk
Yes cool. Do you listen to Apple or Spotify Spotify? All right. Yeah, it's on Spotify.
Eric Chow
All right bet I'll put on my story and say we just recorded a podcast.
Diggy Derk
That's what I'll do I appreciate that. Yeah, absolutely But what part of California? Love them Bay Area Bay Area. All right. I'm about to Coming out March 2nd actually I'm gonna visit with Jalen that guy met and Popeyes met Isaac through and then Isaac's gonna be in LA to somebody up with him to each shit All right, so link up if we can absolutely man you asked my number of techs we broke I got you I got you Sean one and ask you this to
Eric Chow
And this is something that I kind of heard from somebody who is the guy somebody had asked this dude on a video like, Hey, what would be your biggest advice to someone starting a podcast? And his answer was identify your listener. And so that's something I've been starting to think about now. Because I hadn't heard that before. I kind of had a pretty good idea at this point. But I also want to hear yours and obviously not podcast, but for your music, who's your listener? Who is your sort of I?
Diggy Derk
You know I thought about that too Thought about that because you have to think about that if you think about it, you know if you if you're just making a different Video or like say you're a YouTube channel, you know here's a great example of that think of the ace family, you know that is They're making videos for literally other Parents that are young and I have kids and that just look up to that lifestyle. You know, they can relate to it 100%. So you have to think about that no matter what hustle you're doing. And I have thought about that. And for me, I guess I haven't really found it out 100%.
But I have a broad spectrum, I guess. I was a pretty popular kid growing up, don't get me wrong. But like also from the kids who were more popular or whatever. you know, everybody experiences some sort of bullying and feeling like an outcast at times. And for me, when I was at school, I felt like an outcast because I went to an all Christian school and, you know, I didn't feel at home even though I was a Christian. Like, I didn't feel at home because I didn't relate to any of these people and I felt like an outcast. And I guess that's where my music resonates.
I would love for the outcasts to take time out of their day to listen to my music and feel better about what they're going through. Because I've been there. I've been called the loser. I've been made fun of. And like I said, I was pretty popular, but at the same time I've dealt with so many fake people too. And anybody would and will. But I definitely would say like My music's meant for pretty much anybody, dude, because I touch on subjects that resonate with anybody. Right. You know, I'm not trying to limit myself to one, one genre or nothing or necessarily even a fan from base.
But I understand what that guy's singing. It makes sense. You have to know who you're trying to reach, because if you don't, then that person will never know you're trying to reach him. I guess I'm just trying to help the loner, the loner inside. Kid Cuddy is one of my favorite people because that's why he stands for two.
Eric Chow
I love it, man. What would you say is your sort of that message to the outcasts of the world? Like the one thing you would tell to somebody who's feeling in some way alone or in some way maybe they don't fit in with some of the other people? Or, you know, I think I actually think before I before I have you answer that question. I think a lot of people have a bit of the outcast in them. Maybe they're not like an extreme, like they're not like feeling completely like that. But I think a lot of people at some level feel like an outcast. Maybe they feel different than some of their friends or some of their peers or some of their classes or co-workers.
We all have insecurities. So I think it's a message that kind of goes out to everyone but... especially the people who really feel like the outcast. So what would you say is your message to them?
Diggy Derk
Literally keep on going. Like I hate talking about it. The sewage diet is a dark thing and I know it's a bottom of the soul that you feel like it's the only way but it is not. You are loved. You just gotta keep on going. Nobody's gonna do it for you until you commit anyone that who... that's one thing I've experienced, you know. Until I actually wanted to get help, like I never got the help actually needed because they would have done the same thing but my mind wasn't accepting, it was pushing me off and whatever. But literally just you gotta do it for yourself not because you feel bad if someone else is feeling this way. No excuse, you gotta do this shit for yourself and you gotta get better to get better.
Eric Chow
Do it for you is such a powerful, like, simple idea. especially since a lot of people like they'll do things because they feel like they're supposed to or they feel like somebody told them to or or or they're just not willing to take care of themselves because they feel like they have another responsibility or obligation or whatever it is. So I love that little idea that you put in there, do it for you.
Diggy Derk
That's back to day by day. Yeah. Perfect. But I mean, you can't expect someone to help you when you don't even want to help you. That's right. That's fucking right. Like, how do you come up with themes for...
Eric Chow
So, okay, well, I'm doing a very bad job of phrasing this question. So, Dark Times was two years of just Dark Times. Yeah. Day by day is a transition song. Your next heartbreak, right? That's what it is? Yeah. Heartbreak what is sort of love so How do you come up with these themes so dark times was your life at the moment as love and something that you've kind of been thinking about recently?
Diggy Derk
Oh, I mean everybody thinks about everybody wants to feel loved but I mean I don't have a girlfriend right now I know I'm playing on having a girlfriend right now, but I've had my fair share of them and I remember how it feels how that made me feel and you know I feel like for myself as an artist, I wanted to touch that side of my artistry. So, it just happened that right now, that's where it played out. I've passed dark times and I wanted to express a different side of me. And dude, this is the best music I've ever made, hands down. And I'm excited to put it out. I'm excited to hear it now, man. Yeah, bro, I'm telling you, it's...
Eric Chow
It's Diggy Dirk I guess. Oh, this is actually an interesting question. I'm curious what you're gonna say to this. What is the Diggy Dirk like what's which which song best represents you? Released or unreleased doesn't matter. Release or unreleased? What is the what is the what is the song that tells people like if they listen to it? This is this one tells the most about who you are.
Diggy Derk
Damn bro. I'm either gonna say it's between three of them. One of them's called I'm over it. I should it That's like the most rock song I've ever made like actual likes times like rock you'll hear it on and on down on Valentine's Day got it Then I made a song called loner. Okay, and that's not finished, but like dude It's cool. I like I like what I do with it I experimented a little bit and it came out really cool And then pick your poison that one I talked about earlier. Yeah, really cool too. I don't know Those like and those are all new songs bro and like one thing one thing me and Isaac talked about recently is like I mean like not like he has talked about but like he told me that like every time I said no something and like I would exceed his expectations and like my progressions Unreal like he's seen me grow in the past like three weeks type shit and like he said he never would have expected it and All I can say bro is I'm ready for this like I want this like I genuinely love making music and I want to do it as a profession. And when I get there bro, I'm gonna be putting music out all the time bro.
Eric Chow
That's awesome man. How many songs have you made so far? Since the day I started recording? Roughly like guess. You don't need an actual number.
Diggy Derk
Probably like 75 to 100. Wow. I'm the type of person that if I do something bro, I'm gonna put 100 to 100. Fuckin love it. It's just like, wait if you do something, why would you not do your best?
Eric Chow
How you do one thing is how you do everything.
Diggy Derk
Yeah bro, I mean, best in peace could be Bryant but the mob of mentality.
Eric Chow
How yeah, how yeah. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm getting the vibe that I'm over it. Uh, Cloner and Pick Your Poison are describing different parts of your life.
Diggy Derk
Yeah. Yeah, you actually got that 100%. Let's pick your poison. Why I pick your poison is literally me talking to myself. The hook is I have I hear voices in my head screaming at me This is what they said pick your poison because we all are gonna die in the end shit No matter when I die tell me what happens then pick your poison pick your body so That's like just me in my head like my demons picking at me, you know, I mean and I'm over it is Me breaking up or my girlfriend I didn't really put a perspective on who's breaking up a who but like I'm fucking over you.
Yeah, you know I'm over this and over that I'm over That's that one is like and then loaner is they just I? Believe him by the code of a loaner tell me where the fucking go It's all it's all different but like it all intertwined.
Eric Chow
You know, it's all vulnerability I kind of I kind of knew that was gonna happen and that's why I kind of got that I think I kind of got that vibe cuz like When I asked like, hey, what's the one song? It's probably not gonna be one song, you know what I mean? So I kind of knew that was gonna happen.
Diggy Derk
Yeah. Yeah, bro. I love my music and like, I mean, obviously, because I make it, you know, but I do, I do generally think like it is something that other people could like, unlike a mass, you know what I mean? as a whole. I'm not trying to be a SoundCloud rapper, you know, I'm trying to be a legit recording artist. And that's one thing Isaac likes about me. He knows I'm not trying to be underground or be a SoundCloud rapper. He generally looks at me like an as an artist. And I think him for that because he's taking a lot of responsibility into my social media and helping me out.
I told him, hey, he is a huge reason why my music is being quite better. This is taking so much weight off my shoulders and it's awesome. Isaac's incredible. He's a good guy. Yeah.
Eric Chow
I want to kind of get you to speak a little bit on something because I think this is something that I think a lot of people struggle with and it's something that you've done well at this point, which is just trying something new. Like I said earlier, right? A lot of people are afraid to try something new. They're afraid maybe judgment or maybe they're afraid of wasting their time or there are plethora of reasons that people can have for like being afraid of trying something. But for you, you got a random mass opportunity to try a song, you tried it and you kept rolling with it.
You got an opportunity to try a different vibe, the different. kind of song, maybe making more of beat with day by day. Like you had an opportunity to try a lot of different things and you got the opportunity to hang out with these different producers and different artists to collab with and the managers and whatnot that you've tried a lot of things randomly. So I kind of want you to speak on that a little bit because I think a lot of people struggle with it.
Diggy Derk
All right. Yeah. Like I have taken a lot of different situations and been very optimistic about all of them. And it's all finally for me, dude. It's everybody goes at their own pace and it happens at its own pace. But like everything for me, dude, is really coming together very nicely. And I'm grateful for it. And with the sounds that I've experimented with, bro, it's really built up to this sound that I'm at now. And this sound is really playing part in my future sound. And it's awesome, like knowing the progression I'm having. And the progression I've seen because I mean it's me I've seen it over the past three years and it truly is cool as fuck it like seeing that first name and I was talking to my current producer about it He literally like he told me that my progression from when he first started working with me to now is the most drastic and most progressive he's ever worked with so like him telling me that was really cool bro and the song I'm over it when I made that He literally poured up two glasses of Bacardi and me one he took one and he said cheers to your future career and I was like boom kicked it back.
I thought that was so cool and one thing about I'm over it it's a song featuring my boy Rick the one that I mentioned earlier and Shout out to him bro because he did a good job with that and that's like only his second song or third and fourth but No, he did a good job, bro. Like he's got a great voice and I'm working with him a lot more. We're really trying to figure out What he should do for himself, you know, like I'm there for him.
Eric Chow
He was there for me. How do you think about Like like you your music has evolved your sound has evolved. How did you how do you think about that journey of like how did you progress and how did you? You just try different things and decide didn't
Diggy Derk
thought you fucked with it, is that kind of what happened? A lot of it's been ups and downs to peace and valleys, man, straight up. Like, I think that's part of the reason I dropped that song in today called that, because it's been a roller coaster, dude. There's been highs, then there's been lows. Like, I remember the height of our group before we all kind of went our separate ways, we performed our first headliner together. We threw on a show, we sold that bitch out and they had a bad ass night and then literally the next day we all wanted to set the way. And after that bro, that's when I started slipping into this whole new fucking hit of depression.
And I'm finally over it bro and I'm about to literally sell out a show at the same venue that was two years ago. Wow. That was February 3rd, 2018. It's about to be February 3rd, 2020 right now. So it's just, it's crazy how everything's about to hit a bull's circle.
Eric Chow
First of all, amazing. Congratulations, man. That's awesome. Thank you. That's epic. And I like that, like, I get to hear this from someone who's sort of gone through some tough shit and hearing like, hey, everything, like, it's worked out. It is or it's working out at work. Yeah. Yeah. I wouldn't say I worked out yet, but it's like it's working out like all years of difficulty and obviously like you said, we all go continue to go through it, but it starts to make sense. It starts to come together. You start to meet the right people at some point. And I think that's that goes back to like the outcasting we were talking about earlier.
Like you were an outcast popular, but still felt like an outcast and I felt I know that feeling very well. And then at some point you started to meet some of the right people that have supported you and helped bring you to where you are now. And then it's just an awesome sort of journey to look at.
Diggy Derk
Yeah, dude. It's like you hear all these artists like saying my life is a movie. And Yeah, people think it's because they're living such a luxurious life. But if you think about it, bro, everybody's life is a movie. Some movies are sad. Some movies are fucking dope. Some movies are badass. But I'm a full believer on you're the director.
Eric Chow
You pick what it is. You pick how you want to continue it. I read this a few weeks ago. It was think of your life like a book as if you're reading the book and you are like, part way through the book and the rest of the pages are blank and you have to decide how you want to write the rest of the book. That's facts too. So yeah, I mean that's kind of the same same kind of thought like there's a movie, maybe a good however X number of years has already been filmed and edited and put together how do you want to maybe edit that part, reframe it?
How do you want to make the rest of your movie? How do you want the rest of your movie to be? And then I heard Kevin Hart on an Instagram story or something or something. He was saying like, look guys, let's focus on, hey, how are we going to end this movie? How are we going to make sure that ending like that last bit? That's the part that really like, that's the part that everyone wants to see like when when you go down, when when you're dying, what's the last thing?
Diggy Derk
Yeah, what's the ending to you book? And I'm gonna have to think about it, but like- Yeah, I was literally just about saying it's not how you should live your life like necessary, because then you're gonna try and go to the extremes just to make it a better story. But like, it's all about keeping that in mind and living your life to better it and like make it a good story instead of a bad story. That's exactly right. It's all working out for me, man.
Eric Chow
I'm grateful. I'm excited for you, man. That's epic. And I'm glad Isaac put us together. Shout out to Isaac. We've shouted it out like 300. I might have to delete some of them.
Diggy Derk
It's got to get it too much. What's just starting to sort of wrap this up?
Eric Chow
I kind of want to keep it open-ended for you. What are you thinking about? What are you paying attention to these days other than so obviously your music?
Diggy Derk
So right now You know, I wish it could all be music. I really do but reality is I'm not that funny and Right now I wake up at about 5 p.m. Go to work at 6 Work 12 hour shifts to get off at 6 Get off eat a shower I stay up for the next like two hours reading work and like I read one chapter and then I listen to some new beats Maybe you know write something if I got something going on But if it's just listening kind of getting vibes if not to the writing stage then I'll just listen to a few beats or maybe hop on Xbox for an hour and then I'll go back succeed a lot of my co-workers look at me like I'm crazy for going to work and then getting off and then reading and then staying up for another two hours because then I'm going to bed at 10 or 11 and I have to wake up at five and go to work again for 12 hours and it's hard labor.
It's not easy, but when it's all said and done, bro, I know how hard I work in the world will eventually I know how hard I work now and it's all for purpose and I use every day to work towards that goal and that's one thing I wish people would really do for themselves because the bottom line is nobody else can do for you and a lot of people never will deal for themselves and those people have to feel sorry for you.
Eric Chow
You brought up Kobe Bryant earlier. That's one of the things I respect the most about Kobe. Like that man worked. Yeah. I was watching a video of like a story. Some dude was saying like, I remember that he was about to play Kobe. I don't remember what team he was on or who he was. I forget. Like he was about it. He was going to play a game against Kobe, his team and Kobe's team. And he went in the gym and he worked out. for like hour, hour and a half. I think it was hour and a half, maybe two hours. And Kobe was there before him and he finishes his workout.
He worked hard. He said he'd like a one and a half hours, two hours of hard work. And he sat down, he's like, I'm lacing his shoes and Kobe's still going. He's like, damn, this guy was here before me. He's still going. What the heck? And so he just like, all right, I might as well watch. And Kobe works out for another 25 minutes after that. And then. He stops and then they go take a shower and then Kobe had got like a shit ton of points on them in the game like they went on the game and Kobe dropped the shit points on this other team and so he goes up to Kobe after the game and he goes Why were you in the gym so long and Kobe goes?
Because I saw you come in and I wanted to show you that no matter what you do I'm gonna work harder than you I mean that's just... That's the mentality you've got to have to be successful.
Diggy Derk
Success is different to everybody. Everybody has their own definition of it. Right. Working hard will give you to whatever you believe in.
Eric Chow
Especially when you're working hard for something you actually love. Definitely. In fact, that's what it's like. I'm going to say only when you're working hard for something you love.
Diggy Derk
Dude, 100% Kobe, Rest in Peace, Sush is crazy bro. You know, I'm not a Lakers fan, but I am a fan of Raw talent. You know, that's why I loved Kobe. That's why I love MJ. But like, I love fucking the brown dude. That dude is awesome. But like, anyone who's got Raw talent, but like, I'm a fan of him. That's the way I am with the Partistry 2. If you got Raw talent, bro, and you were cold, I would fuck with that. You don't gotta be a certain type of vibe for me to like it. You know, I'm... Well, around it, you know, I like those guys.
I like Trippy Red. I like Eminem. I like Logic. And those are all totally different artists, you know? And I'll never, I'll never stick to one main.
Eric Chow
For listeners, I think one thing I want to point out from this all the whole conversation, Diggy and I have just had is I'm sure everybody has like some something that they want to put out, whether it's music, whether it's some other hobby, maybe maybe you want to start a podcast, I don't know, maybe you want to start a business, maybe you have some project you want to do a career that you want to pursue, but you feel like people are going to judge you for it. Whatever it is, like, if you love what you do, that's when you're going to be able to excuse me work hard for it.
I don't know. Yeah. And even if you have to do something like what you're doing, right, you have to do other shit too. Like it's not like you if you love to put all your time into music.
Diggy Derk
Bottom line is I gotta make money though. Exactly. He's still got to survive, but you can do both Yeah, and you can absolutely do that's one thing that I want to prove is you can do both you can spend 12 hours day in fact dreams still come out on top damn right It's only mad time, baby.
Eric Chow
What's the final sort of thought actually before I asked that Any questions that you wanted me to ask that I didn't ask no honestly, it's my first time ever talking to someone like
Diggy Derk
on like a podcast or anything kind of like in interviews like all I wanted to do was talk about my music and how it's played out and one night and it's not. It's a touch on all that. One thing I do want to say is a lot of people and I know this is how artists other artists feel. A lot of people ask what this song's about. What do you mean by that line? Stop asking that shit. You ask what it is that it would take that doesn't make it art anymore.
Eric Chow
It's up to the listener to interpret the song for themselves.
Diggy Derk
Yes, that's what I'm trying to say. But now definitely let the listener decide what it is. You know, like it's no longer art when you have to tell them what it means. It needs to be abstract.
Eric Chow
Let's let's go to the final thought what's what's what's your final thought for the podcast or what's the moral of the story for for you right now like for our conversation What do you think is the moral of the story?
Diggy Derk
More of a story be yourself Stop trying to be someone else like or what someone else wants you to be You know I've spent a lot of time in the pursuit of being hopefully being popular whatever trying to please other people but that shit don't matter That shit is not mad bro. You got your only guy have about 10 friends you stick with you and support you and everything you do not saying don't have other friends but Stop trying to be someone else It's ironic kind of when we try to please other people and try to get popular We don't do a very good job, but once we start being ourselves More people start to fuck with us.
Yeah, and that's I low key see that in a lot of like New social media person I was over like the past few years. They're also like like a For instance David Dobrik or Emma Chamberlain. Yeah, they are the most real like themselves, but like people love them Yep, and that's why so like why are you trying to do something different? Mm-hmm damn right David Dobrik's not idle. Love that dude. I love that bro. He's he's awesome. I love that guy
Eric Chow
I'm hoping to buy my friends a car someday like he does.
Diggy Derk
Oh 100% though that's the goal I hope to buy all my family and house and everything you know everybody hopes that.
Eric Chow
My thing is I want to send my parents on vacation bro.
Diggy Derk
That's my right. That's right. My mom literally told me it's like you start throwing me 20 bucks every once in a while. Just because you bought eating my food and I'm like I got you. I was like but I do plan on paying for your retirement so chill. Now to wrap it up bro Dark times the luck edition out right now. I've seen those are peace and values out in California up now Streaming everywhere on Valentine's Day heartbreak after dawn presented by excess records the dirt It's been real. Thank you for having me on Eric. I appreciate it Hopefully we can do this again sometime. Yeah, no problem bro But it's nice meeting you nice talking to you.
Eric Chow
Hope to talk to you soon. Yep same same here. Yeah, bye-bye, bro.
Diggy Derk
Peace Hey everybody. Hope you enjoyed my podcast with my guy diggy dirk.
Eric Chow
This was a very interesting podcast episode for me because I haven't talked to too many musical artists about topics like this topics like What is your met big message it to people? How did you? get into it, who's inspired you getting into music. I haven't talked to a lot of musical artists in that sort of way. And so this was a very new sort of topics of conversation that I touched on, but it was really, really interesting for me. And it was a pleasure to have Diggy on for the podcast. I hope you guys enjoyed listening to our conversation. Like I said, for me, it was totally new.
So I was definitely learning a lot. And maybe you guys... Maybe if you don't know a lot about this kind of stuff, you learn something or if you're interested in this and sort of the behind the scenes of a musical artist, maybe this conversation was interesting in that way. Like I said, Diggy's links are gonna be in the episode description so you can go ahead and listen to some of his music and whatnot, follow him in social media. But yeah, really, really interesting episode for me and I hope you guys feel the same way. So I will see you in the next episode. Oh, one more thing.
Let me know if you enjoyed this interview that I did with Diggy. If you guys are interested in these sort of interviews with people in these kinds of fields and sort of creative fields, maybe I can start trying to get more people on like that. But in any case, let me know your thoughts, message me, and... Share the podcast all across social media at underscore chow Eric you already know But yeah, I'll see you in the next episode have a fantastic rest of the day