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Tim Chen

@timthechen

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✏️ In love with the art of making stuff
🎧 Currently making music @thisisroulette @tim.tasso
💭 Chase the dream, not the competition

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What compels you to explore? ⛰
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As content creators, COVID put us to a complete halt. And for a long while there, creating with others just seemed impossible.
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But this summer, the elopement of a wonderful pair of strangers compelled us to explore during the strangest of times. While the rest of the world was missing connection, we got the urge to celebrate it. It was a type of story that we had yet to explore and tell in our craft, and in many ways, it pushed both our creative and physical limits.
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But what else is exploring, if it’s not to see and do something new? And what is more compelling than a story that is yet to be told. With a summit we’ve never climbed and a beautiful celebration to capture, we only had one answer.
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She might have been the first to say yes. But that day, so did we. #justsayyes
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Big shout outs to the amazing @amy_scullion @cscullion for compelling us to explore 🥂
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@thestraitandnarrow @srndpty.co #exploreourworld #nature_perfection #choosemountains #folkscenery #hikingbangers #visualsofearth #stayandwander #wowplanet #earthscope #myalberta #minimal #hellofrom #worldprime #beautifuldestinations #amazing_shots #discoverglobe #wanderfolk #canadanice #canada #folkmagazine #kings_shots #earthfocus #renegade_rural #nature_brilliance #mountainstones #letsgosomewhere #livefolk #compelledtoexplore by @timthechen

Happiest place in the world eh... eat your heart out Disney World 😏
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I was in the middle of editing the My Year 2022 wrap up video and got stuck… I got stuck on the footage from a weekend in Europe last year that was a bucket list experience for me for over a decade—a place called Tomorrowland. I ended up getting distracted and so I decided to make a little after-movie-reel instead since I was caught up in the feels 🤷🏻‍♂️ more experiences and feels like this in 2023 is a must.
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7 friends. 4 days. Unlimited memories. A weekend adventure of a lifetime. We’ll be back @tomorrowland ✌🏻 live today, love tomorrow, and unite forever.
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#visit #voyaged #boom #belgium #iamatraveller #wowplanet #europe #roamtheworld #tuscanygram #stayandwander #eurotrip #discoverglobe #earthscope #travelawesome #winelover #travelgram #wanderfolk #allaboutadventures #worlderlust #theoutbound #ourplanetdaily #yyccreatives #letsgoeverywhere #createexplore #tuscany #wondermore #exploreourearth #hellofrom #tomorrowland by @timthechen

“Big things will come and go. Some so beautiful it breaks your heart to see it pass. It reconnects me to my gratitude. To know that every moment is both a celebration and a graceful goodbye.”—Chelsea Y.
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Back in September phamwoaw and I thought of the idea of just simply capturing someone skating over a frozen lake in the Alberta Rockies, then it became an idea to vlog it, and by the time we got out to the lake and back home it evolved a hundred more times after seeing @kategiibson perform her magic out on that ice. This took over a month of editing for me because there was just so much awesome we got from that entire experience. This feeling of gratitude pushed me to make more than just my usual video, reel or hype compilation. I am grateful for having been able to witness such a marvel on ice, up close and personal, and wanted to share a piece of that experience with you all.
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The talks we had that day also made me realize the impacts of the pandemic on all those athletes out in the world who performed for the masses, were training for the Japan Summer Olympics, and who were regularly competing at the top level on our world stages. Those events may have been put to a halt, but those who pursue these sports as a passion never stopped. And the smile on Kate’s face as she flowed across the ice that day showed us that, and so much more.
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This video, to me, is about celebrating a beautiful homecoming in the midst of a global scare. And the resiliency of the human spirit to keep pursuing what we love when confronted with a challenge. The world hasn’t slowed down or stopped moving because of how things are. And if you’re passionate about something, or if you have a love for something, neither should you. We just have to adapt and do things a bit differently. As we've always done. And as I’ve learned from Kate, skaters gonna skate.. and makers gonna make. by @timthechen

I think there was one very prominent question that came up at every Christmas / holiday gathering I went to this year—friends and family alike.. and it was, “so, how’s the whole DJ thing going?” 👀

And tbh this year was one of the busiest and hardest years yet for me workload wise. Trying to find myself as an artist in this space has been both challenging and rewarding at the same time. On the one hand, reflecting on all the shows I’ve been able to play at, the people I’ve met along the way, and the music I’m starting to make has been just a tremendous amount of positive energy, progress and momentum. The support and love has been absolutely unreal ❤️‍🔥

However, on the other hand, starting something completely new and diving head first into the music industry has been VERY humbling—to build something from the ground up all over again. It’s like starting your first job after graduating from your undergrad and trying to prove to yourself and to others that you can do this. It’s like starting a relationship all over again and falling in love, building trust in something that you’re extremely passionate about and following your heart while being vulnerable to the process. It’s like moving to a new city and establishing new roots, relationships and a life where you know you have to put yourself out there and put the time in to make it work. And having to balance that feeling with an already established life and career, it ain’t easy.. But it’s worth doing. Because somewhere in my mind, with my own free will, I chose to do this. And that choice, my choice, to do this… is something that I don’t take lightly. It means a lot to me.

So.. how is the whole DJing thing going? I guess all I can really say from my end is that it’s going alright. And I’m enjoying this alright. And that I’m excited to see how this alright continues to grow. I hope that’s an alright answer 😎

So thank you to all those who have been here for the journey thus far. This has been nothing without you all and the community here in the city and beyond. Here’s a bit of an overdue happy new year dear friends!

Photos by @luke_elliot_acheson by @timthechen

Exactly what to expect for our upcoming DIYFridays event with @commonundrgrd on May 2nd 2025.

Come spend the night with us for 3 sets from dje, t!m. And Stach before the classic “Roulette style” trio B2B. First set kicks off at 10pm.

📸: @joshtyyc

Tickets available now! $10 for early bird and $15 at the door. Scan the QR code, tap the link in bio or visit www.showpass.com/roulette-undrgrnd by @timthechen

We’re only given today and never promised tomorrow.

In the recent year, I’ve come to acknowledge that there are things in life that if left un-pursued would simply lead to feelings of regret. Things that I knew in my gut that if I was knocking on deaths door, would one day think and ask to myself.. Why? Why didn’t I even try? Why didn’t I give even an ounce of effort and energy to find out the answer for myself what it meant to just “DO the thing”.

After losing a loved one a few years ago to cancer, each year that’s passed has really solidified this thought. And with each moment that passes, there’s this itch in my mind that makes me reflect on what the concepts of self-actualization and self-fulfillment means to me. Growing up it was simply about “attaining” things such as reaching certain career goals, achieving a certain amount of financial stability, seeing the world, getting more and more of this and that etc.

What I’ve come to realize as an important piece, for myself at least, to feel a sense of self-actualization and self-fulfillment is that there an important component of DOING something and giving back to the world that is needed for this internal work. It’s about giving back to the communities that I’m a part of. It’s about giving something back to the loved ones that have supported me through the years. And to provide smiles to those strangers around the world that simply make the world a better place. by @timthechen

Hello dance music lovers! So.. who and what is Roulette? Well, we wanted to take the time to introduce ourselves today. We’re three DJ friends (Danielle, Matt and Tim) who’re passionate about sharing the music they love.

Imagine 3 friends who took one too many road trips together who shared music with one another during long drives from sunrises to sunsets. Well, one day we decided to take it to the next level by becoming a DJ trio—each with our own unique style and taste in music, especially electronic dance music. Through this love for both music and sharing music, we’ve come together to become a DJ trio to bring this type of music (and our favorite tunes) to a broader community that is hopefully much the same—those who don’t mind dancing the night away to a few bops.

We all have a deep connection to music, and we’re excited to share this passion with the world. We’re not just spinning tracks; we’re sharing the music that has shaped our lives, the songs that have brought us joy, and the tunes that have helped us through tough times.

In this sense, we’re not just DJs; we’re curators, storytellers, and music lovers. We’re not just sharing our favorite tracks; we’re sharing a piece of ourselves, our lives and our friendship with you through the medium of music and a dancefloor experience.

Thanks so much for listening. If you’re a lover of dance and music, don’t forget to follow for more exciting updates like our next event on August 30th 👀

We can’t wait to kick off the September long weekend! Cheers! by @timthechen

Been a hot minute since I posted on Instagram 🫣 Just wanted to say hello, I miss you, and ps I love you.

Wishing you all a happy stampede here in the YYC 🤠
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In frame: @_olessia_
Shot on: Canon r6
Shutter: 1/250
Aperture: F1.2
ISO: 12800 + 😂 by @timthechen

It’s quite the profound feeling that this time of year can bring—the holiday season tends to mean so many things to so many people. Some memories during this time are extremely good. Some memories.. not so good. But as life goes on, as we grow older and older, I’ve come to realize it’s a little bit of both the good and the bad that makes time together during this season so precious.

Growing up, I think most of our childhood memories are filled with the thought of holiday cheer. Friends and family gathered to feast, exchange gifts, and bask in each others company. Then as the years go by, maybe you experience your very first winter romance, or your first winter heartbreak.. Maybe you see your friend circles grow and your friend circles change.. maybe even shrink. Maybe one year you got a huge Christmas bonus or landed a new gig/client, and maybe another winter you got laid off. As I type this now, I’m thinking maybe it’s not about what we gained, but rather it’s more about what we’ve lost that makes this time of year so profound and precious.

Maybe that’s just me, but at this time of year, all the good and the bad memories seem to meld into one. At this time, the holiday spirit brings forth a sense of gratitude, humility, love, and deep reflection. And it’s at this time, I feel like sitting around a warm crackling wood fire.. surrounded by good company.. with a mug of hot cocoa in hand.. and I want to share all the laughs, all the tears, and everything in between. And in doing so maybe it’s the exchange of these stories, pouring our hearts out, or just sitting each others company that makes this season so precious… yeah.. maybe it’s that.

Happy holidays dear friends 🎄 by @timthechen

When I was a little tiny Tim graduating high school, I had really no clue what I wanted to chase as a career path.. I only knew that my best grades were from art class.. so somehow I thought architecture would obviously be the right career choice since I did good in art.. right? Well no, somewhere in my gut I really knew… I really knew what I wanted to do—or at least I knew what I enjoyed doing the most. Little tiny Tim wanted to make a living off being creative—that was the true joy that art class gave me. The power and joy of creative freedom.
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However, fast forward, what tiny Tim didn’t know was that being creative would mean so much more.. and that, in fact, it is being creative that has brought me so much life, more than I could ever imagine. Tiny Tim didn’t know that being creative could mean everything. It means more than creating art. It means sharing thoughts. It means sharing stories both personal and for others. It means helping foster a spirit of innovation. It means helping others grow their creative confidence. It means doing things a bit differently. It means having a unique and different perspective. It means not giving up when things get tough.
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It never really was about just art at all or making a living. When following the creative path.. well, you realize it’s in everything. You do it when you’re eating.. you do it when you’re sleeping.. it never really stops. It just manifests in different forms. It’s just a way of being.
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Here’s to another year of being creative tiny Tim.
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#creative #life #thoughtoftheday #birthday #photography #videography by @timthechen

Some days a miss photography.. 📸
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A few edits I never got to touch from a little experimental shoot back in Vancity. A little smoke and mirrors.. lights and lasers.. a few good friends.. sprinkle of tongue and cheek… and a side of creative sauce. Always bring that sauce.
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I miss doing photo and video regularly, but I’m also chasing some other creative and professional endeavors currently. We only have so much time and effort to give out to the world but prioritizing energy to what peaks your curiosities most is better than juggling too much at once.
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#socality #photography #smoke #portraitsig #moodygrams #mood #portrait #tonekillers #portsinspired #symmetricalmonsters #portraitphotography #depthobsessed #creativeoptic #agameofportraits
#lights #visualshotz by @timthechen