“Big Bang”, a mature song, technically studied down to the smallest details and convincing. The girl originally from Vibo Valentia but Milanese by adoption who we had learned to appreciate with the song sung a cappella “Un giorno all’Improvviso” (2016) which immediately went viral, has veered (sorry for the play on assonances) decidedly towards a Made sound in the USA, without however ever neglecting the content of the container in his lyrics, substance over form, as he sang in 2018 in “Superstar”, when he linked his narrative to the iconic figure of the Olympic champion Francesca Lollobrigida, special guest on that occasion; it is no coincidence that this new chapter of his artistic life has a prestigious name and surname Andrew Luis “Dru” Castro: 5 Grammy Awards, producer of songs for artists of the caliber of Childish Gambino, Usher, Nelly, Anitta, Pentatonix, Ciara, Keyshia Cole, T-Pain, Trina, Jamie Foxx, Nelly, Lecrae and India.Arie.
Andrew Luis “Dru” Castro is a name synonymous with excellence in the music world. As a sound engineer, producer, and songwriter who has won 5 Grammy Awards, Castro has made an indelible mark on the music industry by collaborating with renowned artists such as Childish Gambino, Usher, Nelly, Anitta, Pentatonix, Ciara, Keyshia Cole, T-Pain, Trina, Jamie Foxx, Lecrae, and India.Arie. His career is a fascinating journey through the evolution of R&B and Hip-Hop music, and his influence is palpable in numerous hit records.
Born in Manhattan, New York, and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, Dru Castro is the son of Puerto Rican parents who were also born in Manhattan. Immersed in a musical environment from an early age, thanks to his father who played the piano and was the music director of a local church, Castro began playing the piano at the age of 5. He attended Suncoast Community High School, a magnet school in Riviera Beach, Florida, where he actively participated in jazz, concert, and marching bands.
In 1999, Castro moved to Atlanta, where he began working full-time as a sound engineer. At the time, Atlanta was booming in the R&B and Hip-Hop music scene, and Castro soon found his first opportunities collaborating with prominent figures such as Tricky Stewart, Bryan Michael Cox, Anthony Dent, Polow Da Don, and Sean Garrett. His skill in mixing and recording led him to work with top-tier artists including Usher, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, T-Pain, Jamie Foxx, India.Arie, Trina, Raven-Symoné, Joe, Kelly Rowland, Stacie Orrico, and Keri Hilson.
