21 Tales of Tastemakers: Andrew Phan

The long hair, unkempt facial hair, flowery patterned button-down shirt and long fur coat had him standing out amongst the crowd on the Cambridge sidewalk. To him, I was a familiar face in a sea of strangers. To me, it was a moment when I realized that this whole extracurricular music journalism thing could actually be legitimate.

I had only met Zach Carothers once before- two months earlier during an interview in the not-so-quiet green room of Allston’s Harper’s Ferry while his band Portugal. The Man was preparing to take the stage. Somehow, in the course of my ignorantly uninhibited conversation with the band, I had separated myself from the leagues of teenage enthusiasts the band encountered on a daily basis during their rigorous touring schedule. I had become part of a friendship, an inner circle. The bassist not only recognized me on the street, but informed me that the band was in town recording their next album. Soon enough I had the opportunity to visit the studio and get a sneak peek at their new tunes and creative album packaging. Later that Spring, I found myself again in a green room with the band. This time they were on my school’s campus, playing a show Tastemakers sponsored. I couldn’t figure out how a pharmacy student with absolutely no industry experience could get so familiar with a band he regarded so highly. But the opportunity was there and I ran with it. I have Tastemakers Magazine to thank for countless more opportunities and experiences getting close to the music that inspires me and the individuals who produce it.

Editor’s Note: Andrew Phan is the current Marketing Director and host of the Short Round Sound podcast.