About Derek
As a self-taught musician, born and raised in Singapore, Derek has worked as a music arranger for over a decade. Music offers him space, as a music-lover first and foremost, to explore and co-create with fellow music enthusiasts all over the world. His interests are ecclectic and range from folk music to heavy metal bands, orchestral to electronic, bubble gum pop to more obscure indie groups. Some of his favourite artists include Sting, John Mayer, Tears for Fears, Megadeth, Ennio Morricone, The Tallest Man on Earth, Imogen Heap, Jon Hopkins, Kings of Convenience and Mother Falcon to name a few. He is also a fan of the sound design master, Diego Stocco. An equally versatile musician, Derek plays the mandolin and piano, but excels in the acoustic guitar. Though inspired by many guitarists, one of his favourites is Italian guitarist and composer, Pino Forastiere.
Philosophy and Work
The quote by Claude Debussy also exemplifies Derek's work philosophy as he believes that music brings communities together by providing space for creator and audience to enjoy and co-create meaning. This vision is grounded in his approach, where he serves clients by creating the space necessary for creative expression to flow and synergistic partnerships to flourish. He possesses a rare ability to facilitate an open, purposeful and professional creative space that empowers those he works with. Given the unparallelled commitment he dedicates to his craft, he has become a respected and much sought-after arranger in the industry.
His work as a music arranger gives him the opportunity to get into just about any genre of music, something that Derek keenly relishes. He finds fulfillment in exploring fresh, innovative ways to break rules and in introducing new dimensions to sound scapes whilst honouring the space of simplicity. In arranging music for some of Asia’s biggest pop artistes, he has consistently displayed adaptability and resourcefulness, qualities integral to Derek's work.
Derek has recently relocated to Taipei and looks forward to many new musical adventures in this exciting and vibrant city. He also intends to focus more time on his other musical interests; in particular, film scoring and composing.
關於蔡明耀 (Derek Chua)
擁有十數年編曲經驗的蔡明耀是土生土長的新加坡人,青少年時期開始自學音符的奧妙。對熱愛音樂的他而言,五線譜的世界不僅是一個自由空間,更允許他與全球各地的音樂愛好者共同探索、創造新作品。
蔡明耀的音樂品味極為廣泛:從民謠到重金屬,管弦樂到電音,流行歌曲到鮮為人知的獨立樂團,皆有涉獵。他欣賞的音樂人包括:史汀 (Sting)、約翰梅爾 (John Mayer)、驚懼之淚 (Tears for Fears)、麥加帝斯 (Megadeth)、顏尼歐莫利柯奈 (Ennio Morricone)、Imogen Heap、強霍普金斯 (Jon Hopkins)、好自在樂團 (Kings of Convenience)、Mother Falcon等等;音效設計大師Diego Stocco也是他頸仰的音樂人。蔡明耀精通的樂器與其音樂品味同樣廣泛,他不止彈奏曼陀鈴與鋼琴,吉他演奏技巧更是高超。儘管深受多位吉他手影響,他最推崇的是意大利吉他演奏家與作曲人,Pino Forastiere。
音樂哲學與作品
前所列之德布希名言亦是蔡明耀個人的音樂哲學。他深信音樂能團結各個群體,並提供聽眾與創作人一個聆聽音樂,共創新意的空間。秉持此一理念,他在為客戶創作新作品的同時,亦打造這樣的空間,不僅讓創新思維得以發揮,互惠互利的合作關係亦取得最大效益。
憑藉獨一無二的協調能力,蔡明耀讓所有合作對象於開放、有效的創作空間,發揮所長;加上其對音樂專業的投入與專注,蔡明耀於音樂圈成為受人敬重,炙手可熱的編曲人,不無道理。
從事編曲工作多年,蔡明耀的作品橫跨各種音樂類型,風格多變,他也樂在其中。他注重簡約風格,同時也熱衷探索有趣味的革新方式,引入新局面。從他為亞洲頂尖歌手編曲的作品可見,蔡明耀時刻展現其彈性適應力與足智多謀,皆為其不可或缺的特色。
蔡明耀目前定居台北,期待在這個活力煥發,創意蓬勃的城市開拓嶄新的音樂歷程。他也有意投注更多心思於其它音樂領域,尤其是電影配樂與作曲。
As a self-taught musician, born and raised in Singapore, Derek has worked as a music arranger for over a decade. Music offers him space, as a music-lover first and foremost, to explore and co-create with fellow music enthusiasts all over the world. His interests are ecclectic and range from folk music to heavy metal bands, orchestral to electronic, bubble gum pop to more obscure indie groups. Some of his favourite artists include Sting, John Mayer, Tears for Fears, Megadeth, Ennio Morricone, The Tallest Man on Earth, Imogen Heap, Jon Hopkins, Kings of Convenience and Mother Falcon to name a few. He is also a fan of the sound design master, Diego Stocco. An equally versatile musician, Derek plays the mandolin and piano, but excels in the acoustic guitar. Though inspired by many guitarists, one of his favourites is Italian guitarist and composer, Pino Forastiere.
Philosophy and Work
The quote by Claude Debussy also exemplifies Derek's work philosophy as he believes that music brings communities together by providing space for creator and audience to enjoy and co-create meaning. This vision is grounded in his approach, where he serves clients by creating the space necessary for creative expression to flow and synergistic partnerships to flourish. He possesses a rare ability to facilitate an open, purposeful and professional creative space that empowers those he works with. Given the unparallelled commitment he dedicates to his craft, he has become a respected and much sought-after arranger in the industry.
His work as a music arranger gives him the opportunity to get into just about any genre of music, something that Derek keenly relishes. He finds fulfillment in exploring fresh, innovative ways to break rules and in introducing new dimensions to sound scapes whilst honouring the space of simplicity. In arranging music for some of Asia’s biggest pop artistes, he has consistently displayed adaptability and resourcefulness, qualities integral to Derek's work.
Derek has recently relocated to Taipei and looks forward to many new musical adventures in this exciting and vibrant city. He also intends to focus more time on his other musical interests; in particular, film scoring and composing.
關於蔡明耀 (Derek Chua)
擁有十數年編曲經驗的蔡明耀是土生土長的新加坡人,青少年時期開始自學音符的奧妙。對熱愛音樂的他而言,五線譜的世界不僅是一個自由空間,更允許他與全球各地的音樂愛好者共同探索、創造新作品。
蔡明耀的音樂品味極為廣泛:從民謠到重金屬,管弦樂到電音,流行歌曲到鮮為人知的獨立樂團,皆有涉獵。他欣賞的音樂人包括:史汀 (Sting)、約翰梅爾 (John Mayer)、驚懼之淚 (Tears for Fears)、麥加帝斯 (Megadeth)、顏尼歐莫利柯奈 (Ennio Morricone)、Imogen Heap、強霍普金斯 (Jon Hopkins)、好自在樂團 (Kings of Convenience)、Mother Falcon等等;音效設計大師Diego Stocco也是他頸仰的音樂人。蔡明耀精通的樂器與其音樂品味同樣廣泛,他不止彈奏曼陀鈴與鋼琴,吉他演奏技巧更是高超。儘管深受多位吉他手影響,他最推崇的是意大利吉他演奏家與作曲人,Pino Forastiere。
音樂哲學與作品
前所列之德布希名言亦是蔡明耀個人的音樂哲學。他深信音樂能團結各個群體,並提供聽眾與創作人一個聆聽音樂,共創新意的空間。秉持此一理念,他在為客戶創作新作品的同時,亦打造這樣的空間,不僅讓創新思維得以發揮,互惠互利的合作關係亦取得最大效益。
憑藉獨一無二的協調能力,蔡明耀讓所有合作對象於開放、有效的創作空間,發揮所長;加上其對音樂專業的投入與專注,蔡明耀於音樂圈成為受人敬重,炙手可熱的編曲人,不無道理。
從事編曲工作多年,蔡明耀的作品橫跨各種音樂類型,風格多變,他也樂在其中。他注重簡約風格,同時也熱衷探索有趣味的革新方式,引入新局面。從他為亞洲頂尖歌手編曲的作品可見,蔡明耀時刻展現其彈性適應力與足智多謀,皆為其不可或缺的特色。
蔡明耀目前定居台北,期待在這個活力煥發,創意蓬勃的城市開拓嶄新的音樂歷程。他也有意投注更多心思於其它音樂領域,尤其是電影配樂與作曲。