David Arend is active as a classical, jazz, hip hop, singer/songwriter and electroacoustic musician.  We cover: what David has done to stand out from the crowd how his studies at Oberlin propelled him into unexpected musical paths his compositional process how he elicits creativity Follow along with all of our jazz content at contrabassconversations.com/jazz! Links to check out: David's website Ego is the Enemy (a book we reference) Thanks to our sponsors! This episode is brought to you by D’Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. Enter our latest string giveaway for Kaplan strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings! Thank you also to the Bass Violin Shop, which  offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome! This episode is also brought to you by Rosin Saver, a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made. Rosin Saver is used by members of the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, and many others. Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!