SHAWN “CHEWY” CHUA – AN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW

I moved from New York to Connecticut 16 years ago. For most of those 16 years I’ve known Shawn “Chewy” Chua. I first met him as a member of Funhouse and again as a guitar instructor to my daughter. I have always found Shawn to be one of the best guitarists around. His precision and expertise on the guitar is amazing. His feel and touch is a solid A+. More importantly Shawn is a wonderful and peaceful person. His easy going demeanor brings out the best in everyone he associates with. That’s why so many people truly respect Shawn. Like the other musicians I have recently focused in AMP (Jimi Bell, Ray Wheaton, Heather Joseph), Shawn draws only the best to him. I can go on and on about his accolades but anyone that already knows Shawn appreciates the man and the musician. I am proud to call him friend.

Shawn has graciously agreed to an extensive interview. Hope you enjoy.

AMP: You are one of the finest guitarists in the New England area. When did you realize your calling?

SHAWN: Wow! Thank you. Never considered myself to be that. I’m still learning everyday to achieve that level. I never realized that it was also a “calling”. Just knew that music made me feel good. It made me listen and it gave me a voice. A loud one at that. It gave me something to focus on and it helped me to read and speak confidently. It also made me socialize more by playing out. Before I ramble any further, I would like to thank my parents, my grandparents, my family and the communities I grew up in. Without their sacrifices, hard work and strong positive ethics, I would not be as fortunate as many others. You should always give thanks and count blessings. The guitar became my outlet during middle school. I started playing talents show and in garage bands. By the time I hit high school I was completely into music. I played in the Band, Marching Band, Choir, Ensemble and practically anything related to music. Afterwards I went to College to study music and then pursued courses on recording. The guitar was always there. It gave me confidence and an identity. Being an American of Chinese ancestry it was difficult during the 70’s and 80’s. But within my community I had great teachers, neighbors and friends that helped me find myself. I was told that I could figure out melodies on the piano when I was really young. I guess that is when I found my “calling”. When I play or sing, you can’t tell my ethnicity. That was a major factor in choosing music as my major at UConn. I failed many times and got back up. With all the adversity and with humility, I try to learn as much as I can in order to further myself with knowledge. Learning different instruments while continuing to investigate how music, art and culture relates to our mind, body and soul.

AMP: Who influenced your style of playing?

SHAWN: That’s a tough question I get asked all the time. There are so many guitarists that have affected me. Everybody knows the big names like Eddie Van Halen, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Jimi Hendrex, Clapton, Santana and so on. Locally, during my middle school and high school days, there were many influences. Tom Gorski, Rob Arpino, Scott Murawski of Max Creek and again many more. I still say that Scott Murawski is the one person who tied it all together for me as a guitarist. He always had the tastiest solos. Without my teachers I would have no clue as to whom I should listen to. They were also my guides. So huge thank yous to Dr. Bill Macchia, Richard Milgram, Joe Tinari, Ralph D’Amato, Nicky Nasko, CathyAnn Roding, Roger Reale, Thomas Greig, Mark Davis, Uncle Eddie and Uncle Bobby Buster, Uncle George Baker, Uncle Rohn Lawrence, Uncle Charles Neville and Barry Marshal. Thank you to all. Most of all are my students. They are my biggest inspirations. I learn so much from them and not just musically. Their accomplishments and struggles drives me to learn more about myself.

AMP: Speaking of students. You once taught guitar to my daughter, Bella. I see you’ve joined the Rock House School of Music in Wallingford as an instructor. Do you find teaching satisfying?

SHAWN: Yes! Yes I do. It was an honor to have taught Bella and all my past and present students. I never thought I would be a teacher of any sort. One of my teachers at the Recording Workshop offered me an intern gig. He told me that if I was able to recap everything to my classmates during our lunch break, I should be teaching. When I went to work in NYC as a recording engineer intern I made no money. A friend of mine suggested that I tag along on my day off to the music school he had opened up with friends on 48th Street. I started subbing for a bit before I made a living engineering. A few of the students really got to me. I realized that I could help them. It took awhile to understand that I like teaching. I joined Rock House after taking a brief hiatus from teaching privately. I was running sound for Connoisseur Media. It was right before the Chaz and A.J. annual toy drive. Rock House was supplying the back line to the event. John (the owner of Rock House) and I spoke about the possibility of teaching due to their expansion. Soon after I received a call asking if i wanted to teach violin and doing a few subs. Now I try to be there as much as i can. Cathy and John run a great music school. The kids that come in are great. The teaching faculty is exceptional. Most of them I already knew. Very honored to be a part of the Rock House crew.

AMP: Like Heather Joseph, you play in multiple projects spanning many styles. How do you juggle your time and handle the different genres?

SHAWN: Well….You find time to be with amazing friends and musicians. From grade school, college, to now, I’ve been blessed to have played with some of the best musicians. In many ways the different styles are connected. I approach the songs with an alternate view in order to create something new and fresh. Playing with as many musicians as I do can either make you or break you. I can easily get over confident and sometimes too comfortable. So whenever I get the chance I like to mix it up. Recently, I played some big band standards. It felt great to play different arrangements of stuff I heard as a kid. It brought me back to times with my grandma listening to the transistor radio. There wasn’t any electricity. We listened to Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, the Andrew Sisters and Lawrence Welk. All the way to the Beatles until the batteries ran out. We had no money but we were rich. That’s what music can do. Music is the universal language! Musicians from all over the world can jam in harmony without uttering one word. That’s beautiful, man. That’s true power! Until it stops, music will always beat my heart.

AMP: You’re a big proponent of the Open Mic. How does the Open Mic format bolster the local scene?

SHAWN: Open Mic was what got me to start learning about myself as a musician. Playing with a set of songs that you have rehearsed and prepared for is one thing. At Open Mic, band leaders or singers call out the keys and away you go. No prep. Nobody cares that you never heard that song before. Not very different from when I learned to jam. Bill Macchia would throw out the keys at me and go. I’ve seen so many players. I played with his son, John. Open Mic is where I learned to play bass with Rob Arpino. Wow! Talk about musical styles. He can play anything while doing a leg split. Open Mics is where I learned to listen. After college I started to head over to Open Mics just to see if I was really into music. I became very intimidated by some of the players. A friend of mine, Lou Ianello, started asking me to go and jam with his friends. Every jam had a blues theme. Man! I fell flat on my face. Hated it! But the next jam I went to I met Uncle George Baker. Soon after that Uncle Bobby and Eddie Buster at Cafe 9. I was very blessed to see them play and they were my inspiration to continue jamming. Also Open Mics gave me a second, third, fourth and fifth wind. Open Mics give musicians that aren’t in bands or gigging a platform. It’s a way for them to get out and share their talents. I am very lucking for the opportunity to co-host and host Open Mics. The best reward is when all the musicians and fans smile.

AMP: How has Covid effected your musical outlook?

SHAWN: It has been really tough. All of my gigs and potential gigs were deleted just like that. All possible Connoisseur shows for Star 99.9 and WPLR were erased. I didn’t qualify for state or federal aid because I have been a caretaker for all these years. So my part time job teaching at Rock House became my only source of income. As tough as it is, many others still have it worse. Some lost love ones and couldn’t be there to say goodbye. So, I can’t complain. I still have my mom, dad, dog and roof over my head. I think for the rest of this year performing will still be rough. Some acts already have calendars filled and others like me can barely get a show. It’s frustrating. It’s going to get tougher once the weather turns cold. I can’t play ioutside in the snow with my instruments and gear. Again, it’s very frustrating to know winters around the corner.

AMP: You’re an animal lover. Cats or dogs?

SHAWN: Both..but I have a dog. Been around pets all my life. Love them. Sometimes I trust them more than humans.

SHAWN: Hey Ralph, thanks for having me. It’s been a pleasure and an honor.

AMP is appreciative of Shawn for his thoughtful and in depth answers. He is a truly a phenomenal musician and person.

Also Scott Steinberg and myself would like to thank all the readers of AMP. This is our 150th post and over 125,000 hits. Rock On!!!!!

Shawn‘s Solo Acoustic Shows

3/5—-Milford Brewing 6-9pm

3/6 —Pa’s Place 4-7pm

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