Dru Castro

Andrew Castro

Dru Castro in Atlanta
Background information
Birth name Andrew Luis Castro
Also known as "Dru" Castro
Born Manhattan, New York
Genres Pop/R&B/Hip Hop Soul
Occupation(s) Music Engineer/Producer
Instruments Piano/Bass/Tuba
Years active 2003-present
Associated acts India.Arie, Keyshia Cole, Jamie Foxx, Young Buck
Website www.musichousestudios.com

Andrew Luis "Dru" Castro is a Grammy Award Winning recording engineer, producer and songwriter in Atlanta, Georgia. He has produced or engineered songs for artists such as Ciara, Keyshia Cole, Usher, R. Kelly, T-Pain, Trina, Jamie Foxx and India.Arie. Recently, Castro produced and wrote songs with the Grammy award winning singer/songwriter India.Arie on her recently released album Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics.[1] Her 2006 album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship, for which Castro recorded and/or produced seven songs, debuted and peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including "Best R&B Album". To date Castro has worked on 12 Grammy nominated projects (4 have won the award) See Below. In 2010 Castro won a Grammy with India.Arie as a Producer/Engineer for Best Urban Alternative Performance on the song "Pearls".

Biography

Early years

Castro was born in Manhattan, New York and was raised in the Lower East Side. His father and mother, who are both of Puerto Rican descent, were also born in Manhattan. From an early age Castro grew up in a musical home, where his father played piano and was the musical director of a local church. This musical influence lead Castro to start playing piano at age 5. Castro was sent to study at Suncoast Community High School, a magnet school in Riviera Beach, Florida. While there, he was active in the Jazz, Concert and Marching bands, where he played bass and French horn respectively.

Recording and mixing

Castro moved to Atlanta in 1999, where he began engineering full-time in the booming Atlanta R&B and Hip-Hop music scene. Tricky Stewart, Bryan Michael Cox, Anthony Dent, Polow Da Don, and Sean Garrett were among the first to offer Castro a break into the recording business. Castro has recorded, amongst others, Usher, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, T-Pain, Jamie Foxx, India.Arie, Trina, Raven-Symoné, Joe, Kelly Rowland, Stacie Orrico, and Keri Hilson. Castro has also worked on 12 Grammy nominated albums (4 have won the award) See Below.

Music House Studios

From 2006-2013, Castro owned and operated Music House Studios with fellow engineer and friend Alec Newell. The opening of "The Music House" was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Many artists including Usher, Ciara, Brandi, India.Arie, Keyshia cole, Yo Gotti, Lacrea, Rico Love, New Kids on the Block and Nelly had worked at the state of the art recording facility in North Atlanta.

Production

Beginning production work in 2003, his first major release as a producer came in June 2006 on the US #1 Debut Album Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship for India.Arie. He produced and co-wrote the upbeat "I Choose" and a more reflective "This Too Shall Pass". This was followed in July 2008 with the production of the single entitled "Radio" on Musiq Soulchild's fifth album release "On my Radio". In February 2009 India.Arie's Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics was released. Castro produced and recorded 12 songs with .Arie, including the singles "Chocolate High" and "Therapy". Castro continues to produce and record in Atlanta.

Discography

Artist Album Credit
2003
Loon Loon Engineer
Stacie Orrico Stacie Orrico Engineer
702 Star Engineer
2004
Allure Chapter III Mixing
Young Buck Cashville: G-Unit Edition Engineer
Young Buck Straight Outta Cashville Engineer
Raven-Symoné This Is My Time Engineer
Shawnna Worth tha Weight Mixing
2005
T-Pain Rappa Ternt Sanga Engineer
Maceo Straight Out da Pot Engineer, Mixing
Original Soundtrack Diary of a Mad Black Woman Engineer
Jamie Foxx Unpredictable Engineer
Jamie Foxx Unpredictable [DualDisc] Engineer
2006
Paulina Rubio Ananda Engineer
Young Buck Buck the World Engineer
Avant Director Engineer
Fergie The Dutchess Engineer
Eminem Eminem Presents: The Re-Up Engineer
Ciara Ciara: The Evolution Engineer
Jagged Edge The Hits Piano Engineer
Jagged Edge Jagged Edge Piano Engineer
Lloyd Banks Rotten Apple Engineer
Sammie Sammie Engineer
Stacie Orrico Stacie Orrico [Korean Tour] Engineer
India.Arie Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship Producer, Engineer, Vocal Engineer
2007
Joe Ain't Nothin' Like Me Engineer
Various Artists Def Jam Sessions, Vol. 1 Engineer
R. Kelly Double Up Engineer
Mary J. Blige Growing Pains Engineer
Keyshia Cole Just Like You Engineer
Kelly Rowland Ms. Kelly Engineer
Rich Boy Rich Boy Engineer
2008
Stacie Orrico Best of Stacie Orrico Engineer
Raheem DeVaughn Love Behind the Melody Engineer
Algebra Purpose Bass
Trina Still da Baddest Engineer
Musiq Soulchild OnMyRadio Producer, Engineer
2009
India.Arie Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Album Producer, Album Engineer
Keri Hilson In a Perfect World... Engineer
K Jon On The Ocean Mixing
2012
Lecrae Gravity Producer (with Uforo Ebong)

Singles Recorded/Mixed by Dru Castro

Artist Song Album
2005
India.Arie "Purify Me" Diary of a Mad Black Woman
2006
R. Kelly, Usher "Same Girl" Double Up
Eminem "Smack Dat" Eminem Presents: The Re-Up
Fergie "London Bridge" The Dutchess
Lloyd Banks "Help" Rotten Apple
2007
Keyshia Cole "Shoulda Let You Go" Just Like You
Kelly Rowland, Eve "Like This" Ms. Kelly
Young Buck "Get Buck" Buck The World
2008
India.Arie "Heart of the Matter" Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
Keyshia Cole "Heaven Sent" Just Like You
Keri Hilson "My Energy" In a Perfect World...
Musiq Soulchild "Radio" OnMyRadio
India.Arie, Musiq Soulchild "Chocolate High" Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics

Singles Produced by Dru Castro

Artist Song Album Notes
2008
Musiq Soulchild "Radio" On My Radio
India.Arie, Music Soulchild "Chocolate High" Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
2009
India.Arie "Therapy" Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
K'Jon "On The Ocean" On The Ocean Mixing/Additional production[2]

Grammys

Artist Song Album Category Result Credit
2006
India.Arie Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship Best R&B Album Nominated Engineer
India.Arie "I Am Not My Hair" Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship Best R&B Song Nominated Engineer
2007
Keyshia Cole Just Like You Best Contemporary R&B Album Nominated Engineer
R. Kelly, Usher "Same Girl" Double Up Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals Nominated Engineer
2008
Mary J. Blige Growing Pains Best R&B Album Won Engineer
Keyshia Cole "Heaven Sent" Just Like You Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Nominated Engineer
Keyshia Cole "Heaven Sent" Just Like You Best R&B Song Nominated Engineer
2009
India.Arie "Pearls" Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Best Urban/Alternative Performance Won Producer/Engineer
India.Arie Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Best Contemporary R&B Album Nominated Producer/Engineer
India.Arie, Musiq Souldchild "Chocolate High" Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Best R&B Duo or Group with vocals Nominated Producer/Engineer
2012
Usher Raymond V Raymond Best Contemporary R&B Album Won Musician
Lecrae "Gravity" Best Gospel Album Won Producer/Engineer/Songwriter

References

  1. Mitchell, Gail (Jan 24, 2009). "India.Arie aims for hearts and minds on new album". Reuters UK. Retrieved Dec 21, 2010.
  2. "Joe D'Ambrosio Management Have Producers And Engineers In Studios All Over The World". Music Industry News Network.