Daily Inspiration: Meet Andrew Lux

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Lux.

Hi Andrew, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started off my love for music when I was a kid, playing the piano, trumpet, sax, guitar and even steel drums in middle school. Although I loved it, it never occurred to me I could make this passion a career as I grew up thinking “get a degree, land a good salary job, have a family” was my only option. Well…. the problem with this is you got to be good in school…. and I was not. In Elementary, Middle, and High school, I was suspended so many times that me and the principals and staff were almost kinda friends. In High School, I almost had to drop out my senior year from terrible grades, then I decided to go to Colombia College and get into the Fire Fighting Academy as I thought this was something I wanted to pursue. Well who would’ve thought I dropped out of this too! So now I’m at a point where I’m thinking maybe school isn’t for me, but what do I do now? So I did the one thing any sane person would do in a position like mine… I joined the military!

Although it seemed insane to ditch this civilian life for a Navy one, it was probably the best decision I ever made. It was actually in the Navy I experienced my first EDM music festival called “Love Fest” when I was stationed in Pearl Harbor Hawaii. I saw three artists perform by the name of Tritonal, DJ CRAZE, and Flosstradamus which at the time I had no idea who they were, but It blew my mind and I had this insane feeling that I needed to pursue. We had one DJ onboard who happened to be my roommate and from him, I started to learn. Then by the stroke of luck another friend was going to throw away his mixer but instead let me have it (still do!). Around that time, I started working out a lot but was tired of hearing the songs intros, bridges, or just the slow parts, I wanted to hear drops after drops to workout to! So I started making my own mixes and then listening and critiquing myself while at the gym. I started producing on a music producing software called FL Studio a little but gave up many times as It was hard to find time to really dig into it. It came time to leave the Hawaii for my next duty station in Florida but before I left, I wanted to play live just once, so I had some friends at University of Hawaii who threw a yearly full moon beach party and asked if I could bring a tent, some Christmas lights, a generator, and of course a mixer and speakers for live music.

Obviously, this guy was ecstatic and agreed so I rented everything, got a full set ready, and even got some local talent who wanted to play as well. The night was a huge success with over 100 people showing up and for the first time ever, I got to play in front of an audience. I still remember that feeling of adrenaline, shaking, anxiety, and most of all excitement. It was at that moment I knew I had to do this 100%. Now stationed in Florida for training, I had a lot of free time, and in this free time, I continued to DJ in my room with a little Bluetooth speaker and but started diving into music production again this time with intensity. Now I get orders to Fort Meade Maryland and from there continued to produce on my off time, skipping out on a lot of fun weekends but actually enjoying staying in making music more. So one weekend I get invited out to go to some bars in Baltimore and I’m like screw it, I gotta make friends sometime!

As I’m out meeting people one girl comes up to me and we start talking about hobbies, and at this point I really just have two, DJing and music production. She tells me she knows the DJ and will introduce me, and I almost piss myself cause now I’m excited but terrified as I had no idea id be meeting a DJ tonight. I meet the guy and nervously tell him I’m new in the area but I love DJing and wanted to help get involved in any way I can. We exchange numbers and I can’t stop smiling. Next day comes and I text him and that it was great meeting him and again would love to help in anyway I can. He says he’d like me to work for him, and so I said great! What do you need me to do? Carry your equipment or load things into trucks? He tells me no and then he wants me to perform… and this was the start of how I began making a name for myself in the Baltimore/D.C. area.

After playing almost every bar in Federal Hill Baltimore, I started setting goals for myself to expand and I reached all of the way quicker than I planned. I started playing in D.C. after winning a DJ competition for Soundcheck Nightclub, then Power Plant Live and their club Mosaic, then the world and country’s numerous won #1 nightclub Echostage, and the music festival Big Dubs Music Fest. There was still goals I never succeeded in like playing at Moonrise Music Festival but one day ill be back for it! So it’s been about four years on the East Coast and I now have a choice to stay in the Navy or dive headfirst into the music world. Well, I looked back all the feats and goals I’ve accomplished and for once in my life, I said to myself “Damn I’m actually good at this”, and ditched everything and moved to LA where I’m now currently attending a music production school called ICON Collective and I’ve never been more broke and happy!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like most, except for the damn lucky few, it’s had its good and bad days. One of the biggest struggles was when I was stationed in Pearl Harbor. In this time, I was stationed on a fast attack submarine, and unless you don’t like sunlight, knowing what time of day it is, or breathing fresh air, this job might not be the most appealing! Well, I was mentally and physically not well for numerous reasons, mainly outside of the navy. So one day were about to pull out to sea and I decided I was quitting (which you just can’t do on a whim). With the help of some superiors, they told me what I could do if I wanted to “try” to get off the sub without being punished and it wasn’t easy. Submariners have this kinda code where you’re seen as loser, quitter, and an outcast from the family because of all of us being so close and I lost a lot of respect and friends. Turns out though, it was the best decision I ever made. I was given a new job and a second chance and I knew this was going to be the moment where I change up my life.

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 music producer, DJ, songwriter, instrumentalist, and I guess I’m kind of a singer now too thanks to ICON Collective breaking that shell out me. I mainly make house music that’s really just my personality being energetic, humorous and lively. I also love old school hip hop and disco so I find ways to include those sounds and vocals in my music. As for performance, I like to make it a party! You chose to come out tonight to get pumped up and hear live music and sometimes life’s hard dude and we need an escape. So I expect everyone to leave with a sense of joy, a smile, and maybe even a blowup doll I threw out into the crowd.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
When it comes to collaborating with others, I’m usually down as long as we both agree in the beginning this is just for fun and we should not expect to make a “banger” or the next big hit, but more just enjoying the creative process and learning from each other. That being said, anything I collab on will most likely be a banger! But I do truly believe that success comes from helping others. If I can help a fellow producer/musician by sharing a song, teach how to remix something, tips in sound design, or even some feedback on a demo they’re working on then I’m golden. Honestly, I wouldn’t have made it this far it weren’t for some of my mentors, friends and family pushing me to do better and learn more too so I’m paying it forward. Feel free to annoy me on my socials and I’ll help the best I can!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewluxmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewluxmusic/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewluxmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4L-grhlUM9hyCt6REXPUjg
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/andrewlux

Image Credits
Mark Moody Geyson Alvarenga