Conversations with Andy Rivera

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Rivera.

Hi Andy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
My name is Andy or also known as music artist “IKU” (eye-ku). Born and raised in Los Angeles and found the love for music as just 10 years old when I started playing the piano. 10 years later, I’m a DJ / Artist making Experimental Trap & Dubstep. 

I currently live in Torrance, CA, where I manage a gym in the South Bay called “Shift South Bay.” I also work in social media marketing, providing content and strategies for a few different businesses. 

I’m currently still in college, pursuing a business degree. With me pursuing all these different things at once it does keep me busy and on track of everything every week! 

I’ve found myself to excelling in life when I’m doing many things at once that are benefitting me for my future! 

The next steps for me are to create my art, which is music, and share with the world and create more opportunities every day for me to perform and release more music, as well as get my real estate license and step into that field, get my business degree, and grow the gym “Shift” each and every day with my brother Brandon Perez as he owns the gym! 

Keep on a look out for me, you’ll hear more of me very soon. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely obtaining my skill in creating music and time management. When creating music that can come with lots of failure, and a lot of that failure can be very discouraging. 

I’ve taught myself to stick through it and create something every day to develop my skills and sound… 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m mostly known as “IKU” (eye-ku) which is my music artist alias. I DJ and produce experimental trap and dubstep. I feel like what sets me apart from others is being skilled in DJing and creating all subgenres of EDM. 

I feel as if that helps me understand all sorts of sounds and thus having me combine them into one track. 

I’m proud of the ecstatic energy I bring to the crowd every time I perform. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin is a book I’ve picked up recently and has most definitely helped me in my creative process. This book taught me that as humans, we are constantly create 24/7, and if we could see things with a more open perspective than close-minded, we would break that creative block and be endlessly full of fun ideas. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/whoisiku?fbclid=PAAabBTswhFAj1wb7n3XHwlxMNXafFl2modR2YIkZTpUSPL05YREz1_mnEh7k_aem_ASvlWr7BBIXUjx_SsO4ALB7zyJTOLjevOqQpu5Uj5yvK6rUrFJQn5aB7Igvp85gB7M8
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weloveiku?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/dG1T33DX5PnNiMXZA
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@weloveiku?_t=8jTtFK6GjFu&_r=1