MY SONIC DIARY
Christopher Yam

During the first winter of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to invest in a Digital Audio Workstation
(a music production software). Since then, I have been teaching myself how to make beats and have
recently released my debut album, “Sometimes,” and single, “Gem,” under the artist name, Yam Beats.
Sometimes is a collection of beats that I produced while working as a COVID-19 Contact Tracer in
Northern Virginia and as a first-year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine. My
approach to producing music places emphasis on the emotions and thoughts I am experiencing in the
moment. In a sense, this album is a musical reflection of my experiences during those phases of my
life. You could say it is my sonic diary.

Listening to each track brings back memories of how I felt at the time of making the beat, what
thoughts I might have been pondering, and any major or minor events that may have occurred at that
time. For example, I produced the track “Sunshine” one week into my first year of medical school. The
upbeat and positive atmosphere of the track reflected how excited I felt, rejuvenated, and motivated
to take the next big step toward becoming a physician. I also included a sample of Dr. Leon McCrea
II’s speech at our White Coat Ceremony from the week prior. This brings us to another dimension I
like to bring into producing beats: embedding live recordings of my experiences. Some examples include recording the waves crashing while I walked along the waterfront in San Francisco on the track
“On My Way” or water dripping off the fountain from the Monastery of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa at the
Philadelphia Museum of Art on the track “Break.” Although these sounds are in the background, it enhances the track with a dynamic atmosphere, while also having special meaning to me.

I knew early on that producing music was more than just a hobby for me, but a means of expression
and decompression. There is a zone that I fall into while developing a chord progression, adding a melody, counter melody, then programming a drum pattern. Each added layer is a eureka moment of its own that eventually concludes with a finished beat. The process removes me from any stresses I may be feeling at the time. Moreover, this is a way for me to express any strong emotions or thoughts I may have in the form of music.

Upon further reflection on music production from the perspective of a future physician, I realize that this helps me practice empathy in different ways, such as thinking about how the listeners may perceive the music. During the mixing and mastering phase, I am constantly adjusting volume levels, filters, and effects to ensure the best mix and sound quality, regardless of the sound system the listener may be using. For example, the speakers on an iPhone emphasize mid to high frequencies while having weaker low frequencies, such as the bass or kick drum. Therefore, one challenge is boosting the low frequencies just the right amount to sound good on an iPhone without being overpowering on sound systems with an adequate expression of low frequencies.

As of right now, I love sharing my beats with my classmates, hoping it brings them joy and possibly even helps them destress. I see myself continuing to produce beats throughout my career for others and aim to become a part-time producer in addition to being a doctor. The incorporation of the humanities in medicine is what inspires me, and I hope that I can inspire fellow future physicians to delve into their own creative avenues.

To listen to Christopher Yam’s work, please visit www.tincturemagazines.com