SodaCan is back (again)!

It all started in 2006 from a basement apartment in Jersey City, NJ. The concept was sparked by my interest in experimental music, hip hop, sound collage, cut-up technique, and spoken word.

I began with lo-fi drum beats captured on a hand held cassette player, then looped through a Boss SP-202. The grooves became a foundation for samples gathered from my CD and DVD collection, accompanied by a Casio keyboard. The songs were composed on a Windows 98 Dell desktop computer with Sound Forge editing software, ReBirth 808, and Sonar multitrack recording program.

The second SodaCan album Remember Forget Repeat was originally released in 2009, and you can listen HERE. Check out the videos HERE!!

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Flags are flying.

I know there's a lot to deal with these days; especially considering the protests, and of course the events that led to them. However, community efforts are not in vain, as illustrated by the Supreme Court's decision earlier this week. Federal law now protects LGBTQ workers from discrimination. Also, today is Juneteenth. Let's celebrate it every day. Last but not least, summer officially starts tomorrow. If your planning any trips or enjoying a staycation, please be careful because C19 numbers are rising. Remember, we're in this together. 

Pride

Pride

Juneteenth

Juneteenth

On my mind...

I don't know have any answers or solutions, but just a few thoughts and suggestions. Righteous personal agendas and equal opportunity initiatives should be consistently and diligently upheld longer than the current media cycle, i.e. in perpetuity. Leadership on all levels needs a paradigm shift. Avoid social amnesia. Apathy kills. Act louder than your words. Wear a mask.

SodaCan is back!

It all started in 2006 from a basement apartment in Jersey City, NJ. The concept was sparked by my interest in experimental music, hip hop, sound collage, cut-up technique, and spoken word. 

I began with drum beats captured on a hand held cassette player, then looped through a Boss SP-202. The grooves became a foundation for samples gathered from my CD and DVD collection, accompanied by a Casio keyboard. The songs were composed on a Windows 98 Dell desktop computer with Sound Forge editing software, ReBirth 808, and Sonar multitrack recording program. 

The first SodaCan album Sweet & Savory was originally released in 2008, and you can listen HERE. Videos coming soon!!

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Discussions in Percussion

Excited to announce that I’m the featured guest on the Discussions in Percussion podcast episode 174! It was a pleasure to meet Damon Grant and Marcos Torres; and so much fun to speak with them about drumming, songwriting, gig life, touring, studying with Billy Martin, mentoring with Leon Parker, growing up in New Jersey, moving to Memphis, and more!! Check it out…
discussionsinpercussion.com/home/2020/4/29/174-stephen-chopek-drummer-for-charlie-hunter-john-mayer-jesse-malin-mike-doughty-amp-more

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Fireworks Collage Project

20+ years ago a bunch of likeminded friends and I started a musical ruckus called The Fireworks Collage Project. Birthed from a conversation under the fireworks on a hot 4th of July evening in 1999 at a rooftop party in New York City’s lower east side, FCP got together for the first time the next day with hopes to rage noise and explore the subtleties of untamed musical ideas and expression. The ensemble lasted for a little over a year before we all moved on, but we recorded (almost) everything. Stephen Connolly recently uploaded everything to Bandcamp for free streaming!

Fireworks Collage Project is Mustafa Bhagat (guitar), Stephen Chopek (drums / percussion), Stephen Connolly (electronics / engineer), and Brian Wilson (keyboards / percussion). Featuring special guests Daniel Carter (saxophone), Marcos Garcia (guitar), Karel Ruzicka (saxophone), Jamie Zillitto (bass), and Scott Zillitto (saxophone). Listen here…

fireworkscollageproject.bandcamp.com

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