Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg “stryke” Chin
Greg “Stryke”, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica to a Chinese father and Jamaican mother, the oldest of 3 siblings. I started studying classical piano, at the age of four. My family moved to the US, amid political strife in our home country, when I was 10. It was around that time that I started composing my own music (my first piece being a classical duet for piano and flute). I got heavily into synth driven 80s electronic music from bands like Depeche Mode, New Order and started collecting records. At age 13, I started DJing, which helped both my social anxiety and love of music.
While in college, I started shopping demos of his own music, a diverse electronic palette of techno, house, and ambient soundscapes. I also started DJing professionally at clubs…first locally in Miami, then traveling as my discography and profile grew. In 2006, after growing my musical profile as an established electronic producer, remixer, and DJ, I joined the company Digisdesign (now Avid) as a specialist for the music software’s premiere product, Pro Tools, a digital audio workstation. I remained active as a producer, remixer, and DJ, while rising the ranks at Avid to become Pro Tools’ head of music creation development. After an almost 18 year run at Digidesign/Avid, I decided to make a career change and moved to Dolby Laboratories, where I currently serves as the company’s Director of Creative Enablement for Dolby Atmos, an audio technology which provides an unparalleled immersive audio experience.
While mostly known as an audio expert, music producer and DJ, I have other passions as well. I first started cooking with my Chinese grandmother and my Dad, around the age of 9. After a trip to Napa Valley, planned by his boss at Digidesign/Avid, I fell in love with wine and have been a passionate student of the grape, since. This led me to partner with my two brothers-in- law, Oscar Gaetan (known to all as global house music pioneer, Oscar G) and Jason Gaetan, a seasoned restauranteur, to put our passion for good wine, good food, and good times, into our restaurant, wine bar, wine shop concept, The Grape Ape, which opened in South Miami in February 2025. With all of this, I still produce music, DJ weekly and do my best to spend quality time with my wife, Amanda, our daughter, Amelia, and our 3 dogs.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No such thing as a smooth road. Struggles along the way, for sure:
– moving to a new country, at a young, but pivotal age was tough. Felt very out of place for a very long time
– The music industry is unforgiving. There were times of amazing tours, music releases, but struggled financially (cars repossessed, moths of back rent due, going hungry). But persistence, effort, and continued hard work, paid off
– Getting into the restaurant business is no small task. Thankfully, my brother/partner, Jason, along with his Dad, my Father-in-law, Oscar Sr. are there to help guide us and help us make the right decisions.
– Time. with all of this going on, at the same time, it’s sometimes difficult to take a step back and focus on just one thing. And family time is a constant and essential thing that I sometimes drop the ball on. But again, persistence and effort helps
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Grape Ape is a new restaurant/wine bar/wine shop concept conceived by brother-in-law, Jason Gaetan, along with my other brother-in-law, Oscar “Oscar G” Gaetan, and myself. We love getting our family and friends together over a good meal, some good wine, and just have a great time. We wanted to bring that idea to a concept for everyone. As we have all taken our own wine journeys (Greg is a big fan of Napa and Bourdeaux, Jason loves Spain, and Oscar is the big cabernet king), we know that people just want to enjoy themselves and not be brought down by what can be perceived as pretentiousness in the wine world. So, the idea of The Grape Ape was born…a place where people can come and eat really great food and discover wines, at a decent price. Additionally, if someone wants to just come in and purchase wine to take home, that’s available. We wanted to feature great wines from all over the globe, and that’s what we’ve done. On the food side, we reached out to our friend, famed local cuisine icon, Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli, for help on how to create a menu and hire for that. He loved the idea and the fact it was a family joint and offered his help. We are really blessed to have him as our Executive Chef. His menu has been a hit since we’ve opened.
We have been also very lucky to collaborate with local artists, who have brought their talents to the vibe and presence of the room. Ed Rojas designed our main logo. Painter Ivette Lopez created a beautiful abstract painting for our main dining area. Ahol Sniffs Glue also blessed our walls with his iconic eyes. Along with our carefully curated music playlist and live music, it all combines into something that is meant to be simply what it is. The restaurant is based in South Miami and hope to be here for a very long time!
What’s next?
For the restaurant, we are solely focused on being consistent in our delivery and making sure to offer great wines and be a welcoming destination for locals and visitors, alike. One step at a time.
On the music career front, plans for a new album are forming and I am working on getting back to a good cadence of releases with a few remixes for other artists currently underway
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @stryke303 @thegrapeapemiami
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/stryke303
- Other: https://www.opentable.com/r/the-grape-ape-south-miami
Image Credits
Skylar Watkins
