Meet Andee Liu | Drummer, Arranger, Producer & Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andee Liu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andee, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Something that’s changed a lot for me is my view on the concept of what “hard work” is and “putting in the hours.” In my first year of Berklee I wasn’t a hermit but I was spending perhaps too much time in the practise rooms, maybe up to 6 hours a day at one point, and the scary thing was that I wasn’t getting that much better.

I had to accept that the way I absorb information is not conducive to long practise sessions; instead, with 15-60 minutes at a time and being very honest about what I need to work on, I’ve made greater improvements to my playing in 1 year than I have in my last 3. I’m able to really focus and pay attention to the details in that short amount of time and as a bonus, I have way more time to socialise, exercise and eat healthy.

Here in LA, the “work” does involve a lot of socialising and staying out late so, ironically, having a work-life balance has involved carving out more “me time.”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am primarily a drummer but also do some arranging, composing and producing. I pride myself on my versatility and attention to detail, while being able to bring a lot of character to musical situations when needed. I am experienced in playing jazz, neo-soul, hip-hop, pop, RnB and rock, and I have been heavily influenced by my time in the UK jazz scene. I’ve been able to play at some prestigious venues such as Ronnie Scotts and Royal Albert Hall.

I did a lot of gigging in the UK while living in the city of Bristol, mostly in wedding band with friends from university, but ultimately I realised the opportunities were too limited for me. To be honest it was down to my own abilities at the time, but also because of the limited upward mobility in the local music scene. I began studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, which was a difficult shift for me since I had never lived abroad before and I’d be leaving all of my friends behind, but I felt it was a necessary step.

The biggest benefit for me was having a space where I could really experiment with all kinds of music, under the tutelage of legendary musicians and educators. It was difficult sometimes to not feel lesser than some of my peers but through honest communication with them I realised I had a voice worth hearing. Everything I enjoyed, I was able to incorporate into my voice while being “myself” at the core. It really opened my mind to new possibilities.

After graduating I moved to LA, where I am currently based. Truthfully it was tough and would have been unimaginably tougher without my family’s support and my teaching job at School of Rock. It’s only recently that I’ve been able to start gigging frequently, but the first 3-4 months of not having any opportunities was disheartening. I’ve definitely learnt the value of having a network but also, the value of showing up consistently. If your face isn’t popping up, it’s easy to forget you’re a hireable option, so the time I started getting work coincided with the 2 weeks I decided to hit up a jam session every night.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d say that I would absolutely take them to get Mexican food, and since I live near Koreatown, we’d also hit up restaurants around there too. We’d have to go the beach as well; Venice and Malibu are both cool but I feel Santa Monica is a little overrated.

For nightlife stuff, it depends on if they’re a musician or not; if they are then we’d definitely be visiting jam sessions. Otherwise, rooftop bars like Bar Clara would be great options. Also, I’ve not been to any yet but LA has very legit stand-up comedy shows which I’d love to see sometime.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I definitely want to thank my parents and sister for being so supportive of me for the last 4 years; I try to be very frank about my privilege in having financial support from my family, as that has enabled me to take huge risks, such as moving to LA. that would be out of the question for a lot of people. Their belief in me is also a daily encouragement that helps to keep me going.

I was never a part of this group but I am proud to be friends with current and past members; the UK charity organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors, which is almost single-handedly responsible for the shape of the UK jazz scene today. They provide opportunities for youths of all backgrounds to come together in learning how to play jazz, which in turn enables them to find their voice as artists.

Instagram: andee_liu_drums

Image Credits
Travail Joe Hill