We were lucky to catch up with Andrew Pickens recently and have shared our conversation below.

Andrew, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

Before being a successful full-time international musician, Dru worked a 9-5 corporate job in the hospitality and healthcare fields. While joggling his corporate jobs he was also a Worship Leader/ Worship Director at Lifegate Church (Kansas City, Mo.) A few valuable lesson Dru learned was how to communicate effectively, hire, fire, coordinate meetings, plan daily objectives, and empower those around him.

These experiences were easily translated in the music industry in becoming an effective Music Director and why it is so easy to work alongside Dru. Those around him feel empowered, loves the atmosphere he creates and most of all, provide great experiences for concert-goers around the world.

Andrew, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Andrew Pickens is from Kansas City, MO., Born on July 27, 1992 Married to Telese and Father to Nova Jade and Haven Reign, Pickens; the son of Tony and Karen Pickens. Dru spent most of his childhood in church because of his parents loyalty to ministry. Church is where he learned how to sing and lead contemporary worship under the mentorship of his uncle, J. Cortez Vaughn. Soon after, his passion for music grew further and Dru sought to learn how to play the piano! He was taught by (world renown stage-producer) Femi Sarah Heggie which also happens to be his Auntie. Under her mentorship she introduced him to the environment of Broadway where he discovered his love for Jazz, Funk and Pop which has inspired his sound . He studied vocal music and piano at Paseo Academy of the Fine Arts, (Kansas City, MO). Dru has composed jingles for commercials, written, composed and played the piano for many artists across the country. Now he’s living out his dream as a full-time musician and Grammy- Considered Songwriter!

Dru’s longterm goal is to continue to provide unforgettable moments in all of his pieces that he creates, whether that through film, church, concerts, award shows and whatever opportunities come knocking. Dru wants to create music that allows many emotions to be felt in efforts to connect people across the globe .

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lessons that Dru had to learn was that what was inside of him was already enough. That no one really knows what they are doing, but we are all just taking risk! Dru battled the comparison game for many years and dealt with a great deal of embarrassment due to him having a hair disease his whole childhood called (alopecia). Being able to overcome the emotions behind that long season of his life he has built up courage to stand in front of hundreds, thousands of people and proclaim the message of Jesus Christ and hope.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Some of Dru’s favorite books, courses and videos.
Dream Big- Bob Goff
Social Psychology- Nathan Dewall
The Bible Explained- Wan Wong
Michael Witaker- Film Scoring Course

Contact Info:

• Instagram: dru.pickens
• Facebook: Andrew Pickens Music
• Other: https://www.thehypemagazine.com/2020/02/download-my-rock-by-andrew-e-pickens-now-available-on-all-digital-platforms/

Image Credits

Steven Green Photography
Tyler Libby
Maddox Fowler