Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jacob Andrew . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jacob , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Probably around the ages of 7 and 8. I was always doing creative work. From playing the piano and teaching myself how to play songs to playing with legos and painting all the time. I’m an only child so most of my time was spent with myself doing creative activities. I managed to gravitate towards music. I think the biggest moment for me was getting a MacBook Pro and being introduced early on to Logic Pro X, which I still use to this day. This was around 2010 and I was 13/14 then. I started to teach myself this software just like anything else I picked up. Once I graduated high-School I decided to pursue music because I felt It was what I was meant to do. I actually had to decide whether to go play sports or pursue music full time. It wasn’t a hard decision but it was a scary one. I did feel pretty alone at that moment. Everyone I knew went off to big colleges and I stayed in Houston  to go after my vision. Fast forward to present day 2024 I am now a full-time DJ/Producer signed to one of the biggest producer duos in the world, Play-N-Skillz. Play-N-Skillz linked me with my current publisher CTM Entertainment and Publishing and got me the deal that I’m so thankful for. I’m also a signed producer to the Houston Rockets for in-arena gameplay and digital content. Over the years I’ve been blessed enough to get placements with a few huge artists. I’ve toured most of the US with DJ Tony Styles and I’ve played sets in Europe and Tokyo, Japan. Even though I’ve come this far in my career, sometimes It still feels like I’m just getting started.

Jacob , 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 am a dance artist, which means I produce electronic music. I don’t believe I have a set genre so much anymore but you can expect to hear House, Trap and Global music from me. I got into my industry by having a desire to be a DJ/producer. I saw artists such as Diplo, DJ Snake, RL Grime, Bailo, Dillon Francis, and David Guetta. The list could go on but these guys inspired me to go after that dream. I heard a creative once describe what it means to break into the music industry. He said, that’s exactly what you have to do, BREAK in. I am from Houston,Tx where we are working on our creative industry. It’s definitely growing fast but no matter where you are, nobody will just let you in because you want to do something. In the beginning years of my pursuit I don’t remember a day I didn’t go without producing music. I knew that if I wanted to break in then I had to be really good. I had to be really really good. Getting started also took a lot of cultivating genuine relationships and providing value. Over time you will find yourself where you need to be. Being on this creative journey I have learned that you do need to set yourself apart from others and be the difference otherwise you’re just like everyone else. I think being yourself will set you apart and that’s what does it for me. Something I am most proud of is who I am becoming as an artist. It takes time to develop and even when life happens you can’t lose sight of who you are. For the readers and fans, I’m looking forward to a couple of things at the moment. I have plenty of upcoming releases and original projects as well as remixes that will be coming out this year. I’m excited about my future with the Houston Rockets. I’m looking forward to my journey with Play-N-Skillz and the team and the many opportunities that come our way. I’m also excited to be pushing my brand as Jacob Andrew and taking it to new heights. There’s so much potential here and maximizing it all with my manager Ryan is something we’re both looking forward to.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Developing into what you’re supposed to be will take having to see through storms. Businesses fail all the time. I see restaurants and venues close down all the time in Houston. Things also open up just as much but my point is there is a high percentage of failure. 50 percent of businesses fail in the first 5 years. For me, there was a time during Covid where I really fell into one of my lowest points in my life. I didn’t have a car because I was in an accident right before Covid hit, I couldn’t find a job at the time, and I was living with my mother. All this and I have a daughter to provide for. I felt like a disappointment to people. In that dark moment I still didn’t lose sight of what the bigger picture was. I knew that I had to do something about all those things that were happening in my life. I had traveled the world already and played decent shows at this point but it wasn’t paying the bills at the time. I could’ve quit music then. I thought about it often actually but I also thought about not fulfilling what is for me if I quit. I had to see it through. I ended up getting a job as a music teacher in HISD and recording an album at Wayside Studios that bought me a car. I ended up meeting the right people who were able to put me in position after seeing the potential I had as a DJ/Producer. Two of Houston’s staple Dj’s, The Houston Rockets official in Arena Dj, Dj Palmo and Tony Styles who is known for his time with 104.1 KRBE and plenty more, had given me a place in Houston as a Dj. I started covering for DJ’s who couldn’t make their gigs or needed me to show up because they were going to be behind, and eventually that turned into residencies. I never let that opportunity slip away from me. Being a full time DJ and playing all over the US Is something I take pride in. I truly believe that your network is your net-worth.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Books :

THE ALMANACK OF NAVAL RAVIKANT

Shut Up and Listen!: Hard Business Truths that Will Help You Succeed : Tilman Fertitta

12 Notes: On Life and Creativity : Quincy Jones

The Creative Act: A Way of Being : Rick Rubin

Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness : Book by Shari Lesser Wenk and Tim Grover

The Untethered Soul : Micahel A.Singer

Podcast :

The Diary of a CEO, One of my favorites is the one with WIIl I AM of the Black Eyed Peas

Back to back with Willy Joy (He interview’s a lot of Dance artist in the music industry) (I actually got to meet him in Seattle one night after a show we had together)

Entrepreneur : Alex Hormizi
Entrepreneur : Patrick Bet David

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jacobandrewofficial.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jacobandrew/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacobAndrewOfficial/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-andrew-b14680107/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JacobAndrew_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4-jq7F3S78lF8NwTLA9UHw
• Other: https://audiomack.com/jacobandrew https://linktr.ee/Jacobandrew?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

Image Credits
Christian Chavez : @lastnights.vision