For my research paper I wanted to collect more information behind the gift I received on my eighteenth birthday. My grandfather passed away when I was only six years old so the only source left to interview was my father. My father has an enormous impact on my life and we have had countless conversations about his early years in Beirut and my grandfather’s life. The interview took place after our family dinner on a Friday night. The interview was informal and I obtained a large amount of information after this interview.
Q. When did you leave Lebanon and immigrate to America.
A. My parents saw the danger of the civil war in Lebanon and within a couple of weeks we were ready to leave the country and head to the U.S. I was only 19 at the time.
Q. What were your hobbies in Lebanon?
A. Back in Lebanon my brothers and I had started a small band, we called it Pacifique. We enjoyed playing and making music together, I played the drums. Music was always a big part of my life and I knew that was my strength and gift.
Q. How did you transition from a drummer into a recording engineer?
A. It might seem nice to an onlooker but the life of a band is hard work and late nights. My mom didn’t enjoy waiting up late nights and worrying if I would make it home safely so the answer was to make a career move that would help me earn more money and achievements. For the past 30 years I have enjoyed learning and working with the best musicians and was nominated for a Grammy.
Q. What is the life of an engineer?
A. Naturally just like any other job sometimes great and other times difficult. Sometimes I work fifteen-hour workdays; it can be nights, weekends and holidays. Sessions are usually booked late in the evening. What makes it difficult is sometimes you have to go weeks without work.
Q. What does it feel like to stay up till five in the morning days at a time?
A. When I was younger I was able to stay up for a straight week with ease because I was excited about working and being involved in the process of music making. However, now that I am older my tolerance level has diminished and I can’t handle it anymore.
Q. What does a studio room look like?
A. The rooms vary in size; some are small and others are large to accommodate large groups. The studios I work at are jaw dropping and inspiring to me. There is usually a console used to record and mix like Neve and Solid State Logic. You need time and experience to learn the ins and outs of the cables and buttons on the consoles.
Q. How did grandpa come to receive the Cartier watch from royalty?
A. One-summer day my dad was working inside his body shop when all of a sudden he saw a 1951 Bentley and a prince with his driver. The prince had accidently rear-ended another driver and he wanted your grandfather to fix his car. My father was excellent at what he did so he quickly fixed the car and refused payment from the prince. However, the prince was so happy with his work that he paid double the amount of the bill and gave him his Cartier watch as a gift for his hospitality and kindness.
Q. When did you receive this watch?
A. I received this watch from my father when he was around 40. He gave it to me because he saw that just like him I was hard working, focused and honest. He also said to keep the watch in the family and pass it down to my son when the time was right.
Q. What was the first thing you thought of when your dad gave you the watch?
A. When my father gave me the watch I was in shock because it’s an extraordinary gift. Back in Lebanon it was very rare for people to wear watches because there weren’t many rich people in the Middle East. You were considered high class and respected if you were seen with a watch.
Q. Why was the watch so influential to you?
A. The watch inspired me to work even hard it symbolized maturity and showed me that if you work hard there will most likely be a reward at the end.
A. My parents saw the danger of the civil war in Lebanon and within a couple of weeks we were ready to leave the country and head to the U.S. I was only 19 at the time.
Q. What were your hobbies in Lebanon?
A. Back in Lebanon my brothers and I had started a small band, we called it Pacifique. We enjoyed playing and making music together, I played the drums. Music was always a big part of my life and I knew that was my strength and gift.
Q. How did you transition from a drummer into a recording engineer?
A. It might seem nice to an onlooker but the life of a band is hard work and late nights. My mom didn’t enjoy waiting up late nights and worrying if I would make it home safely so the answer was to make a career move that would help me earn more money and achievements. For the past 30 years I have enjoyed learning and working with the best musicians and was nominated for a Grammy.
Q. What is the life of an engineer?
A. Naturally just like any other job sometimes great and other times difficult. Sometimes I work fifteen-hour workdays; it can be nights, weekends and holidays. Sessions are usually booked late in the evening. What makes it difficult is sometimes you have to go weeks without work.
Q. What does it feel like to stay up till five in the morning days at a time?
A. When I was younger I was able to stay up for a straight week with ease because I was excited about working and being involved in the process of music making. However, now that I am older my tolerance level has diminished and I can’t handle it anymore.
Q. What does a studio room look like?
A. The rooms vary in size; some are small and others are large to accommodate large groups. The studios I work at are jaw dropping and inspiring to me. There is usually a console used to record and mix like Neve and Solid State Logic. You need time and experience to learn the ins and outs of the cables and buttons on the consoles.
Q. How did grandpa come to receive the Cartier watch from royalty?
A. One-summer day my dad was working inside his body shop when all of a sudden he saw a 1951 Bentley and a prince with his driver. The prince had accidently rear-ended another driver and he wanted your grandfather to fix his car. My father was excellent at what he did so he quickly fixed the car and refused payment from the prince. However, the prince was so happy with his work that he paid double the amount of the bill and gave him his Cartier watch as a gift for his hospitality and kindness.
Q. When did you receive this watch?
A. I received this watch from my father when he was around 40. He gave it to me because he saw that just like him I was hard working, focused and honest. He also said to keep the watch in the family and pass it down to my son when the time was right.
Q. What was the first thing you thought of when your dad gave you the watch?
A. When my father gave me the watch I was in shock because it’s an extraordinary gift. Back in Lebanon it was very rare for people to wear watches because there weren’t many rich people in the Middle East. You were considered high class and respected if you were seen with a watch.
Q. Why was the watch so influential to you?
A. The watch inspired me to work even hard it symbolized maturity and showed me that if you work hard there will most likely be a reward at the end.
Vartan Deranteriassian is a freshman at California State University Northridge who plans on graduating with a degree in Computer Information Technology. He loves to play sports and spend time with his family and friends.