How DJ & Producer Cara Chen got Started in the Music Industry

Born in Wenzhou, China, and later growing up in Shanghai, Cara Chen started learning classical guitar and was exposed to a wide variety of music at a young age. Chen learned to DJ at the age of 17 in Shanghai, and moved to LA to attend college at 18. There, she learned music production and how to spin on vinyl, and began performing as a DJ in various nightclubs and warehouses.

As a young independent female DJ, she has experienced many roadblocks and hardships throughout her come-up, including judgements about her appearance. Often dealing with an overflow of work, Chen has suffered through bouts of depression throughout her life and career. So, meeting Tommy Pinkham while at Icon Collective College of Music was serendipitous for her.

Chen and Pinkham immediately fell in love with the music that they created together and Chen was surprised to find someone who had the exact same music taste as her. As the two grew closer, they realized the similarities in their upbringings, their finance backgrounds, and strong passion for music and mental health.

They eventually formed the duo group NOT4LONG, with the meaning that depressed moments in peoples’ lives will not last for long, which produces music across various genres including EDM, Hip Hop, Future Bass and Dubstep. NOT4LONG focuses their music on mental health awareness, and Chen and Pinkham both see the positive value that they can bring to their audiences through their unique style of music.

On the entrepreneurial side, Chen founded a joint venture event company three years ago, and has hosted many successful events with renowned EDM artists such as W&W, Hardwell, and Dyro. Using her leadership skills and business savvy, Chen has been able to make important deals with large venues and collaborate with organizations. Still running to this day, her company has hosted nightclub events at venues including Globe Theatre and Time Nightclub, among others.

Chen shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, and you can hear more from her and stay up-to-date on her latest projects by following her on Instagram.

instagram.com/cara.chen_

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