Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dru Cutler. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Dru thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
When I moved to New York, I stumbled into a Bushwick warehouse-loft—a concrete box with six strangers fighting for the single shower. It was unruly, scattered, and occasionally charming. We started hosting parties that evolved into organized concerts. We built a stage for shows, hoisted a screen for film nights, and painted the bathroom bright red for no good reason.
For over a decade, we invited thousands of strangers into our home for intimate musical experiences. We called it “Unit J”.
Turning our apartment into a venue seemed nuts, but it was deeply rewarding. I expected the late nights, sweaty summers, hallway puke, and people making out in the bathroom. But I didn’t expect to be moved by a sense of community. People kept coming back, saying, “I really needed this tonight,” and “I’ve never been to anything like this.”
I loved having old friends and new faces visit our world for years. Unit J has accidentally become a big chapter in many lives, and for that, I’m deeply grateful—and a little amused.
Dru , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a Songwriter and Music Director living in New York City.
I got into music by playing my own senior prom at 18 (we sucked, by the way), and I never stopped. Working in the arts is a slog, but I’ve found an exciting little niche I’m uniquely qualified for.
I help bring musical experiences to life, whether it’s my own songs or projects for other artists, venues, or corporate clients. I’ve worked with tech companies, pharma companies, venues, hotels, and clubs across the States.
Corporate events can often fall flat, so my role is help set the right sonic tone. That could mean finding a DJ who performs in drag, creating ambient drone for a meditation retreat, writing a silly song about a CEO, or hiring a string quartet to play Nirvana tunes.
At its core, my job is to create meaningful musical experiences, and I know how to do that.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
I work with people, so I try to treat them like people. Making art should be fun, and the best creativity comes from a place of joy and discovery. I do everything I can to keep the creative process inspiring—whether that’s organizing a team outing, scheduling a summer Friday, providing a free lunch, sharing a round of coffees, or just offering a genuine “thank you” at the bar after the shoot wraps.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with designers, fabricators, writers, painters, dancers, actors, musicians, and all sorts of creative folks.
Leading creative teams takes empathy and understanding. There’s a bit of ego in making things, so it’s natural for people to feel disappointed when the project doesn’t go as planned.
I’ve found a lot of support in other creative directors and artists. Specifically, I’m a member of The One Club for Creativity here in NYC.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.DruCutler.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/DruCutler
- Linkedin: https://Linkedin.com/in/DruCutler
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/drucutler
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/drucutler
Image Credits
Photos by:
Vladimir Weinstien
Julia Fox
Dru Cutler