Goh Nakamura

Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Composer and Actor
https://gohnakamura.com/
@gohnakamura - IG, YouTube, Tiktok

Top 9 Q&As for Prospective AAPI Artists and Their Parents

1. What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you discover your passion for music?
   Goh Nakamura: My mom largely inspired me. She was studying music therapy in college and was an accomplished classical pianist. I have early memories of her playing Chopin while I fell asleep. She introduced me to different instruments, like the piano and guitar, which sparked my passion for music.

2. Was your family supportive of your decision to pursue a music career?
   Nakamura: My mom was supportive and significantly influenced my musical interests, but my dad wasn't. He was a typical Japanese businessman who saw music as a hobby, not a career. However, his resistance made me more determined to pursue music. Eventually, he recognized that I was fortunate to find something I truly loved.

3. What challenges did you face in pursuing a career in music?
   Nakamura: One of the biggest challenges was balancing my passion for music with the need to make a living. I worked various jobs, like bartending, while pursuing music. Another challenge was dealing with my dad's resistance, as he worried about a music career's financial stability.

4. What are some common misconceptions about being a professional artist?
   Nakamura: A common misconception is that success comes quickly or easily. The truth is there's no shortcut; it requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Another misconception is that being an artist isn't a 'real job.' It takes a lot of discipline and sometimes stubbornness to persevere despite setbacks.

5. How do you balance your artistic expression with the need for commercial viability?
   Nakamura: It's a constant recalibration. While staying true to your artistic vision is crucial, you must also consider the commercial aspect to sustain a living. Finding that balance is challenging, but staying flexible and open to various opportunities is essential.

6. How did you overcome obstacles and setbacks in your career?
   Nakamura: Stubbornness and a self-delusional belief in my abilities kept me going. It’s important to persist and keep working on your craft, regardless of the challenges you face.

7. What role do relationships play in an artist's career?
   Nakamura: Relationships are everything. Being involved in artistic communities and building genuine connections can lead to unexpected opportunities. Treating everyone with respect and being fully present in your interactions is crucial.

8. What advice would have been helpful from your parents and industry leaders when you started?
   Nakamura: Hearing more encouragement from my parents, especially my dad, that pursuing my passion was a valid and worthwhile endeavor would have helped, even if it was financially uncertain. Advice from industry leaders on networking, staying adaptable, and understanding the business side of music, like contracts and royalties, would have been invaluable.

9. What advice do you have for aspiring artists regarding skill development?
   Nakamura: Focus is crucial. Dedicating time to your craft is essential in a world filled with constant distractions. For musicians, developing a strong ear-to-hand connection is key. There’s no shortcut; you need to put in the hours to hone your skills.

Full Interview

CATS: We’re here with Goh Nakamura, an award-winning singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and actor. Goh, your work has been featured in films directed by Ridley Scott, you’ve acted and composed music for the Surrogate Valentine film trilogy, and you recently composed for Bao Nguyen’s Netflix documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop.” Can you talk about what inspired you to become an artist and how you discovered your passion for music?

Goh Nakamura: Largely my mom. She was studying music therapy in college and was an accomplished classical pianist. Some of my earliest memories are of falling asleep while she played Chopin. She tried teaching me piano, but I couldn't really accept the discipline. Instead, I used my ear a lot and pecked out melodies because there was a piano in the house. She also introduced me to guitar, which sparked my passion.

CATS: Did your mom have a career as a professional pianist?

Nakamura: No, she wasn't a professional. But when she was in high school, she was the theater accompanist for school musicals.

CATS: It sounds like music was a big part of your upbringing. Did that make a big difference?

Nakamura: Absolutely. She introduced me to a lot of music, from the Beatles to Motown. Her influence was significant in shaping my musical interests.

CATS: Was your dad supportive of your musical journey?

Nakamura: Not really. He was a typical Japanese businessman and saw music as a hobby, not a career. But his resistance made me more determined. Eventually, he acknowledged that I was lucky to have something I loved doing.

CATS: What challenges did you face in pursuing a music career?

Nakamura: Many challenges, especially balancing my passion with the need to make a living. I worked various jobs, including bartending at Gordon Biersch, while pursuing music on the side. There was also resistance from my dad who was worried about the financial stability of a music career.

CATS: What formal education did you pursue to become a musician?

Nakamura: I went to Berklee College of Music, where I studied guitar. They had a program called professional music, where I could mix and match classes. One of those was an intro to film scoring class, which planted the seed for my interest in composing for films.

CATS: What are some common misconceptions about being an artist?

Nakamura: A big misconception is that success comes quickly or easily. The reality is there's no shortcut. You have to put in the hours and be very dedicated. Another misconception is that being an artist isn't a 'real job.' It requires a lot of hard work, discipline, and sometimes even a bit of stubbornness to keep going despite setbacks.

CATS: How do you balance your artistic expression with commercial viability?

Nakamura: It's a constant recalibration. While it's important to stay true to your artistic vision, you also need to consider the commercial aspect to make a living. Finding that balance can be challenging, but it's essential to stay flexible and open to different opportunities.

CATS: How did you overcome obstacles and setbacks?

Nakamura: Stubbornness and a self-delusional belief in my abilities kept me going. It's important to hang in there and continue working on your craft, no matter the challenges.

CATS: What role do relationships play in an artist's career?

Nakamura: Relationships are everything. Being involved in artistic communities and building connections can open unexpected opportunities. Treat everyone with respect and be present in your interactions.

CATS: What advice would have helped you to hear from your parents and industry leaders?

Nakamura: From my parents, especially my dad, it would have helped to hear more encouragement and reassurance that pursuing my passion was a valid and worthwhile endeavor, even if it was financially uncertain. From industry leaders, advice on the importance of networking, staying adaptable, and understanding the business side of music would have been invaluable. Knowing the practical aspects, like contracts and royalties, early on would have made a big difference.

CATS: What advice would you give to aspiring artists in terms of developing their skills?

Nakamura: Focus is crucial. In today's world with constant distractions, it's important to dedicate time to your craft. For musicians, developing a strong ear-to-hand connection is key. There's no shortcut; you need to put in the hours.