For music producer Eugene Tsai, the path to the studio wasn't a straight line. Despite playing the piano, drums, and guitar by the age of three, he grew up surrounded by traditional ideals. He was a psychology student who assumed that if he ever monetised his musical talent, it would only be as a background artist.
Little did he know a bowl of pho would change his life.
At the end of 2019, Eugene was struggling with his academic path. He knew music was his calling, but the weight of a full course load was crushing his creative aspirations. While out for Vietnamese food, a close friend gave him the push he needed, telling him bluntly: 'You’d be an idiot if you didn’t try.'
That meal kickstarted a career. Without telling his parents, Eugene took the next semester off. Even when the pandemic hit and the industry halted, he used the time to network online and build a foundation for his sound.
The risk paid off when Eugene traveled to Los Angeles for the first time. In a whirlwind series of events, he met Boi-1da, the legendary producer known for launching Drake’s career. By June 2021, Eugene landed in a studio session with J. Cole and JID.
During that session, Boi-1da asked Eugene if he made music. After playing a few pre-selected tracks, the super-producer asked for a USB to import all twenty of Eugene's melodies. It was the moment Eugene realised he truly had a shot at the big leagues. Since then, he has built massive momentum, recently landing credits on Logic’s College Park.
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The Analogue Process & the Future of Music
From recording clapping noises in a Malibu house with Billy Joel to his thoughts on how TikTok is changing the industry, there is much more to Eugene’s story. To read the full feature, check out LIMINALITY, the 2nd volume of INTERLUNAR’s zine.
