Check Out Luke Stamenkovich’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Luke Stamenkovich.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name’s Luke Stamenkovich — I’m an Australian-born, Los Angeles-based guitarist whose journey with music started when I was just six years old. From the moment I picked up a guitar, I knew I was hooked. By 13, I was already playing backyard parties and local venues, slowly working my way up to festivals, arena shows, and eventually writing and releasing my own music.

In the early years, I cut my teeth playing in cover bands. Those gigs gave me invaluable experience, teaching me how to adapt to different shows, styles, and audiences. Over time, I became deeply involved in the Perth music scene, performing in just about every setting imaginable and learning the craft by being onstage night after night. A short time studying at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles gave me my first real taste of the LA music scene — and sparked the bigger dream of making the move permanent.

During the pandemic in 2020, I kept myself busy by writing and recording an instrumental EP called Chasing Dreams. I was fortunate to have some incredible LA friends and mentors play on the record, which only fueled my determination to get there. Behind the music, I was quietly working toward the hardest part of all: securing a U.S. visa.

It was a long, uphill journey filled with setbacks, but in 2024, I finally got my visa approved and made the move to Los Angeles. Starting over in a new city hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth every challenge. Today, I’m chasing new experiences as a session musician — performing with LA punk/goth band Vesper Rose, playing in local cover bands, and taking on remote recording sessions. My ultimate goal is to continue building toward a career as a full-time touring musician.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course, it hasn’t been a smooth road. Getting to the U.S. alone took years of persistence, endless hours of planning, and a lot of resilience. Even after arriving, there were moments where it felt like I was starting from scratch, which was mentally tough. But I keep reminding myself that I’m living the dream I had as a kid — and that perspective keeps me grateful and motivated.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a full-time session player, both in the studio and onstage, specializing in pop, hard rock, pop punk, R&B, blues, and country guitar.

I’m proud of many moments in my career, but moving to LA and performing here stands out above the rest. It’s something I dreamed about for years, and now that I’m here, I still catch myself thinking, Wow… I really did it.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
For musicians just starting out, my advice would be: diversify your skills, be reliable, and be a good person to work with. Your playing gets you the gig, but your reputation is what keeps you working.

If I could go back, maybe I’d tell my younger self to learn theory earlier so I wouldn’t have had to cram it later in my career — but at the same time, I wouldn’t trade the journey I’ve had or the lessons I’ve learned along the way

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lukestamenkovichmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukestamenkovichmusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/lukestamenkovichmusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/31PvsJYW9108WvfYMfXHOr?si=qQHQNBbeSaalBOZuga4tlg