ExpatWoman interviews calvin./CHANCE | ExpatWoman.com
 

ExpatWoman interviews calvin./CHANCE

Posted on

19 February 2014

Last updated on 31 March 2019

Raised in Dubai and making it in the world: ExpatWoman interviews calvin./CHANCE 

calvin./CHANCE

We caught up with the super busy calvin./CHANCE A.K.A Max Richardson-Davis to discuss his new book and all the other artistic ventures he has taken on. calvin./CHANCE is an artist and a visionary who has his fingers in so many pies, we're surprised he has time to sleep. Not only has he written the book, WE ARE DREAMERS: What It Means To Be a Creative Today, he is also a musician, poet, artist and editor in his own right. Growing up in Dubai has had a great impact on him and given him an insightful perspective on art as a whole. He has now taken his brand across the Atlantic and is collaborating with artists from across the globe in order to see his vision come into fruition. He discusses growing up in Dubai and gives some valuable, first hand advice to expat kids. He gives us his take on being a third world culture kid and he lets us take a peek at the incredible world of calvin./CHANCE.

Hi calvin./CHANCE, you partially grew up in Dubai. Can you tell us a little bit about that? How was the school system here?

calvin./CHANCE: Hey Nela, thanks for having me. This is terrific; my mom has been a fan of your site for a long time. Hopefully this gives my career a little more merit in her eyes! Haha, and yes, of course I can tell you a little bit about my schooling.

I went to Dubai American Academy, though I was a basketball player, and subsequently played ball at basically every school around town. I had a lot of friends in the American School of Dubai, the British School and the French School. My mother is a professor (currently with Middlesex University in Dubai), and subsequently, I was living on campus at the American University of Sharjah, where I later attended school for a year (as one of very, very few white dude's). As such, I've developed a pretty interesting take on education in the Middle East.

My school was fantastic; it was a small campus with some amazing teachers. Did I enjoy it at the time? Did I give it credit for what it was at the time? No, of course not, I was a high-schooler who thought that Hip-Hop music was everything. Looking back now, I know it was a great education. I went to a public alternative school in the Northwest United States when I was young, I also attended 8th grade of Middle School back in the Northwest United States. DAA was safer, more educational, happier and generally more inspiring than any of its public American counterparts. That being said, it's changed a lot since I went there under Tony Mock's control. I can't necessarily still vouch for it, but I remember it being a great education and a place that really instilled the idea that anything is possible. I'm not quite sure that's the case for every high-school in the city, but this was my experience. My time at the American University of Sharjah was nowhere near as challenging or fulfilling. I'm a musician, so it's cool to know Dubai has an SAE campus, too. In my personal opinion, I wish there were more non-profit schools being made available and offered. My private school system was outrageously expensive, should it not have been a benefit of my mother's job (and some additional income on top of that), my experience at that high-school would not have been possible.

calvin./CHANCE poetry
What kind of impact does growing up in such a multi-cultural place with so many stringent laws have on young adults once they leave the UAE?

Oh man, the third world culture kid question! It changes a person drastically. This is a huge aspect of my life, my music and my writing. Visiting my father back in Oregon every summer for months at a time, I often saw dramatic differences between my own perspective, and that of my American peers. Luckily, I found a couple great friends in Oregon who accepted me regardless. In fact, most of my American friends simply called me 'Dubai'. That left a huge impact on me. The city changed my entire life, my entire belief system, my entire reality.

I mean, when I started Middle School at Dubai American Academy, it was in the middle of a random desert area known as Barsha. By the time I graduated, I could see the world's tallest building from my Psychology class. The Mall of the Emirates, and the famous indoor Ski-slope, was made in a matter of months five minutes away from the school. It was fantastical. As an Oregonian kid living off of a single-mother's salary, I had never experienced 5, 6, 7-star hotels. I had never ridden in a limousine or a Ferrari. I got to do all that and much more in Dubai, almost on the regular. Dubai is the Wild, Wild East. It represents man's possible achievements, a true city of dreams. Money is to be made there; it is the epicenter of the Middle East. It's seems artificial and manufactured in many regards, but it has definitely made for an eye-opening, adventure-filled youth that will forever be a part of me. Dubai is my home, the city I was raised, a city I will always love


calvin./CHANCE in DJ Bliss studio
 
You are an artist; tell us a little bit about the evolution of your art in Dubai and if you faced any difficulties here that you may not have faced had you grown up in your hometown?

Living in Dubai as a freelance artist was incredibly different than being a freelance artist in Eugene. For one, the projects were a lot bigger and more easily funded. However, at such a young age, being exposed to high-life of society that only Dubai knows lead to much confusion. I always felt lost as a Third World Culture Kid. Who was I? Where was I from? What did I represent? These were all much broader subjects for me than they were for my American counterparts.

In music, a sound is based off of the artist and what they aim to represent. When the artist themselves is undefined, the sound is often missing. I learned that the hard way in Dubai, but I was also a part of a lot of amazing projects. Recording at DJ Bliss and Prince Q's studio was an amazing experience, as was being a featured songwriter and performer on D.D. Foxx's Had to Be Me album.

I've met just about every great sound audio engineer there is in the city, and it was a blessing to be so young and making so many connections. Only in a city where everyone is following their passions -- Dubai, Los Angeles -- can such connections be made so quickly. This really taught me a lot about the entertainment industry as a whole. I was forced to head meetings, to create business plans, to make connections. Now, more experienced, older and more defined, I am pursuing my artistic goals like never before. While I wish I would have done more work in Dubai, I'm sure I'll be back in my home city making art sooner than I can imagine. It's a city full of possibilities. Projects like Skate Biladi, studios like In-The-Mix, PR-companies like Magnet Media, they really highlight that the city is full of talented artists, athletes, CEO's and creators.

Why did you decide to leave the UAE?

Well, I went home! I came back to Oregon and easily fell into the lifestyle. After a couple months of figuring things out, I linked up with Telos Studios to continue working on the album I started in Dubai. Now, that double-album is just about finished. It's called free. WORLD. For me, I felt like I was trapped in Dubai. It had been my home for so long; I needed to experience a new side of the world, a new side of myself. I had to venture out on my own and spend more time with my family; I needed to define myself artistically. Now, I plan to move to Los Angeles for at least two years in July to continue much of the same goal in a larger city like Dubai. In Oregon, the relaxed lifestyle has also helped me finish my first three books, the first of which is entitled WE ARE DREAMERS, and is set to be up on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and in-print off of my website here in a few weeks. I will also be releasing the book for free for the artist's that cannot afford it, but need the information. I miss Dubai very much. As I said, it's my home. All my friends are there, so is my mother. It's hard living without them, but this is simply what my artistic path has called for. In a few years, as my photography and photography retouching portfolios come to a close, I finish my Associate's Degree and a Music Program, I continually manage my blog and my website, I continue to publish and produce high-quality projects, good things will start to happen. From there, I bet I'll be back in Dubai making a killing through positive, sustainable ways. Part of my freelance career is to be a world-traveler.

What do you miss most about Dubai?

Everything, man! The great weather, the night-clubs, the lounges, the restaurants, the entrepreneurial endeavors, the connections, the international culture, the buildings; it's all amazing. It's a truly luxurious lifestyle. As a kid working non-stop on projects, working to be educated, well-rehearsed and as creative as possible, I miss the laid-back vibe of the city. Regardless, at this point in my life, things are just starting to get professional and interesting. I need to be 100% focused on my projects and working as hard as possible as consistently as I possibly can. Dubai is too much of a social capital for me to personally flourish, develop and grow as both an artist and a person.

Tell us what you have been up to these last couple of years?

 

calvin./CHANCE artwork

So, so, so much. It doesn't even feel like I've been gone that long. I'm just on my artsy world journey, but I'll be back in Dubai soon! I have written two books, the first of which is going to be published rather shortly. Again, it's called WEAREDREAMERS, and you can check it out on my website: www.calvinchance.com very soon. Follow me on my social media sites for more updates. I have recorded an EP, and more importantly, a double-album, earning myself hundreds of studio hours. I also started working with three great fashion companies: Ovali Gear, PHAROintl & Relentless Hustle Clothing. I have co-founded a label with local Oregonian musician Braden Smith, and also am a full-time writer for the website www.effurstilo.com.

In the meantime, I've finished a business plan for a future business, and read all the classics of literature. I've attended classes online, I've gotten to know the town I was born in, the town where I was first raised and I have been a part of countless artistic projects, from running a venue, to filming a music video in 24 hours. Now, my portfolio is ready to roll, I am generating content for these three clothing companies as a designer, photographer, model, editor and manager, and my own artistic projects are finally being made available for release. Recently, I had my poetry featured in a great yoga book by Mary Jane Kasliner entitled Mother Nature: A Bridge To Consciousness which is already available on Amazon both in-print and as an eBOOK. I also edited a behavioral hacking program for Rick Richardson, entitled the Salary Step-Up Series, being made available this Friday athttp://www.salarystepupseries.com/. Beyond all that, I do social media work for brewing companies and artists. I am always looking to be a part of larger artistic projects any regards; songwriting, music creation, writing, social media management, photography and design. 

Tell us about the book that you are putting together.

As I've mentioned, it's called WE ARE DREAMERS: What It Means To Be a Creative Today. The book is a collection of 35 interviews I did with artists all over the world, of all backgrounds and ethnicities. Together, the interviews can be used as case studies into the realms of the freelance artistic world today. The book acts as a guide into the realm of creativity, it answers the questions like, "How can I be artist today?" It was a fantastic project, putting it together was probably the most accomplishing experience in my life to date. Meeting all these fantastic artists, including my friends, students, rappers I grew up listening to, X-Games Gold Medalists, and picking their brain in the process has been fantastically informative and revealing to me as an artist. I can't wait to share this project with the world; people will really start to understand the artistic industries today. By reading this book, you can get a good feel on whether or not you are personally ready to take on the entertainment industry, if you are truly willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your dreams and follow your heart. The book tells us everything is possible, and shows us artists of all types and levels of success who seem to have a grasp on the industries as they exist today. We interviewed models, rappers, photographers, sound audio engineers, CEO's, PR-agents, writers, cooks, filmmakers, guitarists and just about every type of artist that I could think of. We did loads of interviews with women and men all over the Middle East, most notably in Dubai. Hopefully, artists all over the world will be able to read it and learn from it, regardless of background or lifestyle. By learning what successful artists do, they can make a feasible plan of how to follow their own passions and desires regardless of situation. I was so confused when I was young, I didn't know how to jump into the world of writing or music. If I read this book, I would have.

When will this book be released?

The book is set to be released the first of March, though I might get antsy and throw it up a little early on my website: www.calvinchance.com!

Would you like to return to live in Dubai, or will it be a holiday spot from now on?

I would like to continue my career both in Dubai, and in Europe and the West Coast of the United States congruently. The perfect freelance life would either involve frequent trips or offices in numerous cities. I hope to have projects going on in multiple cities at the same time.

Can you give any advice to the parents of children who are living in Dubai, who don’t necessarily want to study, but want to gain experience?

Definitely! This is a great question for me, because I was that child and now I'm actually working, and my mother and I have never been on better terms. If you are out in Dubai, like anywhere, you have to practice as much as possible. For musicians, that means looking up the studios and planning meetings about possible internships or collaborations after developing a portfolio. Developing a portfolio means recording yourself from home, possibly recording other artists and generally performing in as many shows as possible. You have to stay busy! Just because you aren't in school doesn't mean you can't learn. If you want to be a writer, start reading all the classics for God's sake! Dedication and self-determination is the key for the individual who chooses not to go to school. You have to stay busy; you have to be doing everything you can to discover who you are and what you want to be. If you want to gain experience, go out and do it! If you are a photographer, you need to be taking photographs every single day.

Parents out there, here me now! Some kids aren't cut out for university, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. As opposed to arguing with them over and over again to go, why not help them develop a different plan for success? What are they interested in, how can one pursue such a subject professionally or as a freelancer? There is so much information made available on the internet these days, so many ways to connect, develop and share your own portfolio. Anything is possible in the growing new age. Maybe a kid could sign up for class of interest online through sites like Coursera while pursuing their hobbies, getting a job and possibly part-time work? There are numerous ways to burst into the industry, but it's all about dedication. You need to be unique and set yourself apart. You find that through experience, by going out and following your heart. Whatever it is your child loves to do, they need a success plan in order achieve it. Parents know their children better than anyone, if they develop an open-mind they can partner up with their children to help them follow and actively develop their goals.

Can you give some advice to expat children who grew up in Dubai and are planning to move away for the first time, what are some of the things that they can expect from life outside the UAE? What are the challenges that you faced that you did not expect?

Life outside of Dubai is very different. The United Arab Emirates is a mysterious bubble city in the Middle East from the perspective of the outside world. Life there is very different on the day-to-day life; many other cultures do not operate in such ways. For me, adjustment was definitely strange. It's very possible and it seems scarier than it really is. Traveling is always fun, insightful and exciting. To travel is to explore, discover, and learn. I never expected to struggle with health as much as I did when I moved, to struggle with the weather conditions and to learn how to be a true American in their twenties. The West Coast of the United States is a fantastic place in my opinion, but it might not be for everyone. The world is much more dangerous than Dubai life shows. I was lucky to travel, to have a diverse background, so it was easy for me to leave and adapt. Now, whenever I go back, Dubai seems like a vacation. The outside world is a harsher lifestyle. For anyone that's exclusively been raised in Dubai, leave with an open-mind; remember not to be stuck in your ways. Adjustment is a challenge, but it's a necessary step forward in regards to personal development and success.

calvin./CHANCE please can you elaborate on some of your other creative projects?

calvin./CHANCE

Definitely! The double-album free.WORLD. that was recorded all over the world from Flicker Show in Dubai to Telos Studios in Eugene, OR is set to be released within the next three months. My first project as an editor, for the aforementioned Salary Step-Up Series, is being made available on Friday. As I also said, my poetry is available for numerous outlets - I hope to have completed my own poetry book by July. I've just finished my photography portfolio and now I'm working with the three clothing companies, doing social media work, developing my design portfolio. I'm just working my freelance life, doing projects I find interesting. I'm a speaker, I have a lot to talk about and express to the world. I will continue to follow my music, my writing, my photography and my education by any and all means. Currently, my portfolio and resume are being built to show I can handle any and all types of projects. I'm even releasing a cook-book with my cousin Tara Raun later this summer. I'm just involved in all sorts of projects and loving all the different roles and positions. I'm a rapper, so be sure to stay tune for music videos, the album release, covers and some exciting features. As a writer, expect to see some more books and some interesting articles, expect to see some poetry. As a photographer and model, expect to see a lot of photographs. I'm a part of all sorts of projects! Just stay up-to-date with my career and check out all the interesting stuff!
calvin./CHANCE
 
 
 

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