Daily Inspiration: Meet Shaun Chapman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaun Chapman. 

Hi Shaun, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I’ve always been very interested in music. Mostly, I was always interested in albums and live shows. Something about the art and the craft of audio engineering has always been fascinating to me. I started playing in bands in high school and created a scene in Charleston, WV that didn’t really exist at the time. I started recording in my early 20s with a crappy four-track and made a folk album. It was bad, but I learned a lot. I really started on my current engineering journey running sound and recording for my band (now defunct) Tom Waits For No Man. After that, I started recording friends’ bands. 

My first live sound gig was at Black Shirt Brewing in Denver. At this time, I was also operating a DIY music venue/rehearsal space called Ursa Minor, which was in a warehouse in Englewood. With this space, I was able to start a business recording local bands. At this time, I also started booking a lot of shows, which I still do sometimes. 

At the start of the pandemic, I lost my job, so I had the time to pursue my audio interests full time. I started to think about how I could use my skills and equipment to make money. My primary revenue stream now is podcast editing with analog to digital conversion (tapes to digital) at a close second. During the pandemic, I also started Denver Music Community with my partner. DMC is a free promotional platform for Colorado musicians. We make money from ad sales (not much, though). We have a podcast, we make Spotify playlists, we sport Denver music videos on our YouTube page, and much more. 

So, that is where I am now. I work full-time as a freelance audio engineer, and I never take it for granted. It’s never guaranteed that I can keep going with it, but I work hard to ensure that I can, at t least for the time being. I have had a lot of help and support from friends and family, which is vital. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Before the pandemic, I was extremely busy trying to record bands, play in bands, book shows, and run sound while holding down a job and attending classes. I was very burned out, and I don’t think I could return to that lifestyle. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like to make experimental music. I’ve been in local bands through the years, such as Prayer Hands, Tom Waits For No Man, Lunites, and now Aneki. I’ve played in rock bands, but my favorite types of music to make are noise, post-rock, ambient, and generally the avant-garde. My first instrument is guitar, but I also love to play bass. 

We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I offer a lot of services that you might not expect, such as tape duplication. Check out my website to explore what I have to offer: shaunchapmanaudio.com 

Contact Info:

• Email: chapmanshaunm@gmail.com
• Website: www.shaunchapmanaudio.com and www.denvermusiccommunity.com
• Instagram: @shaunchapmanaudio
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/shaunchapmanaudio
• Other: shaunchapman.bandcamp.com

Image Credits
Bootz