This week Derick met with Chang Park, a trumpeter based in Portland, Oregon. Chang plays with improvised hip-hop dirt music band Dusty The Gorilla, disco-funk band Brizzleman, and is the head of his new group Namu - all based in PDX. They discuss Chang's educational upbringing in music, his mentorship from Portland drummer Alan Jones, and the commitment it takes to be a career musician before talking about his shift in mentality before performing on stage, go over Hidden Trax of the Week (including an excerpt of Chang playing live with Dusty The Gorilla), maneuvering life without social media, the essence and difficulty in creating your own sound.

This week Derick met with Butter, a three-piece alt-pop band currently based in Portland, Oregon. The trio consists of Aaron Schmidt (electric guitar/vocals), Thomas Shipley (bass), and Jarrett Tracy (drums/symbols/sample pad). Butter recently released two-singles titled 110% and When You Were Young (Killers Cover). They discuss the sound of pop-music, Butter's long-standing friendship and their move from Southern Oregon to Portland, the process of writing songs for other artists, and approaching their next projects with a veteran mindset before talking about their upcoming musical work with PNW artist Mal London, go over Hidden Trax of the Week (including Butter's tracks F*ck L.A.and No Stone Left Unturned from their self-titled EP, Butter), our favorite NFL teams, and lastly, the importance of crediting creatives for their work.

This week Derick met with Zaysims, a producer and DJ from Portland, Oregon. Zaysims recently released an 18-track beat-tape titled Durag Chronicles, Vol. 1 (2018) earlier this year and is set to release his upcoming album Inverse on February 15th, 2019. They discuss the origins of sampling, the musical impact of growing up in the church, the essence of west-coast bounce, and his 2018 beat-tape Durag Chronicles, Vol. 1 before talking about his upcoming 10-track project with Mal London that is set to be released before the end of 2018, go over Hidden Trax of the Week, his track and field/cross-country background, and lastly, pushing for excellence in your craft.

Derick met with James Villa aka Brizzleman, a multi-instrumentalist songwriter from Portland, Oregon. Backed by his Brizzle-Band, Brizzleman blends old-school soul with modern jazz and electronic synths to present music that moves the body and soul. They discuss Brizzleman's humble beginnings as a musician, the current state of "pop" music, his opinion on the qualities that make a good musician, and dancing "safe-spaces" before talking about the most optimal environment to learn music in, go over Hidden Trax of the Week, the debate of movies vs. video-games, and lastly, the importance of supporting live music.

Derick met with Lee Hauser, a drummer and curator for 5th Man Music - a booking brand that Lee uses to support bands/shows he's playing in or that he's into around town and want to show love to. Lee plays primarily in the neo-soul/hip-hop band Adebisi as well as the improvisational dirt/hip-hop music group, Dusty The Gorilla. They discuss the business aspect of being a musician, Adebisi's new single "Nuisance," his booking brand 5th Man Music and what inspires him to transition into the business-end of the music-scene, and the awareness of leverage in various situations before talking about the financial position an up-and-coming artists go through, go over Hidden Trax of the Week, and lastly, we break-down some quick thoughts regarding the our decisions and if we would start over if we could.

This week Derick met with Jeff Chilton, who is a trombonist natively from New York. Jeff primarily plays in the neo-soul/hip-hop band Adebisi, but also has various other musical projects in Portland such as his quintet Jay Si Proof, which represents a lo-fi/funky/groovy/hip-hop sound and inspiration. They discuss Jeff's latest musical release, The Afternooners, the novelty of the trombone and how other instruments are defined, and the beauty and struggle of playing in a seven-member band before talking about the stress that comes with constantly being busy, recharging your own battery, go over Hidden Trax of the Week, and lastly, we break-down some quick thoughts regarding the importance of timing in life.

Derick sits down with his old friend and fellow photographer/creator, Brandon Davis. They discuss the experience and reward of being an educator, some features of Job Corps - the free residential education and job training program for young adults ages 16–24 via the U.S. Department of Labor, Brandon's slogan & brand "btoopositive," and the larger meaning of that slogan before talking about the current state of the east-bay in comparison to the "pre-warriors-championships-era" of the bay area, Brandon's media work at the NBA Finals, and lastly, we break-down some quick thoughts regarding how to prevent comparison.

Derick breaks down the aftermath of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor at UFC 229, discusses people who bring out the best in you, and the ability and capacity to change your own situation before talking about gravity and the mind-blowing nature of it, and lastly, some "Hidden Trax of the Week."

Derick sits down with Portland State University student and certified nursing assistant (CNA), Kayla Pham. They discuss the experience of working in a retirement facility, some tips Kayla wished she had known when she started school for future university students/CNAs, and talk their favorite streetwear brands and shoes before breaking down some "Hidden Trax of the Week," and some quick thoughts regarding the resilience that is developed upon taking care of a child.

Derick talks about when things don't go as planned and what steps to take when confronted with that situation, the everlasting debate over whether college is for everyone or not, and seeking occupations with high-rates of demand.