Dru Castro

Andrew Luis "Dru" Castro is a 5x Grammy Award-winning recording engineer, producer and songwriter in Atlanta, Georgia. He has produced or engineered songs for artists such as Childish Gambino, Usher, Nelly, Anitta, Pentatonix, Ciara, Keyshia Cole, T-Pain, Trina, Jamie Foxx, Nelly, Lecrae and India.Arie. In 2009 Castro produced, engineered and wrote all the songs with India.Arie on her with the 3X Grammy (1X winning) nominated album Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics. In 2018 Castro won a Grammy as Engineer for Record of the Year on the song "This is America". To date Dru Castro has worked on 19 Grammy nominated projects (5 have won the award) See Below.

Biography

Early years Castro was born in Manhattan, New York and was raised in the West Palm Beach, Florida. His father and mother, who are both of Puerto Rican descent, were also born in Manhattan. From an early age Castro grew up in a musical home, where his father played piano and was the musical director of a local church. This musical influence lead Castro to start playing piano at age 5. Castro was sent to study at Suncoast Community High School, a magnet school in Riviera Beach, Florida. While there, he was active in the Jazz, Concert and Marching bands.

Recording and Mixing Castro moved to Atlanta in 1999, where he began engineering full-time in the booming Atlanta R&B and Hip-Hop music scene. Tricky Stewart, Bryan Michael Cox, Anthony Dent, Polow Da Don, and Sean Garrett were among the first to offer Castro a break into the recording business. Castro has recorded, amongst others, Usher, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, T-Pain, Jamie Foxx, India.Arie, Trina, Raven-Symoné, Joe, Kelly Rowland, Stacie Orrico, and Keri Hilson. Castro has also worked on 19 Grammy nominated albums (5 have won the award) See Below.

Music House Studios From 2006-2013, Castro owned and operated Music House Studios with fellow engineer and friend Alec Newell. The opening of "The Music House" was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Many artists including Usher, Ciara, Brandi, India.Arie, Keyshia cole, Yo Gotti, Lacrea, Rico Love, New Kids on the Block and Nelly had worked at the state of the art recording facility in North Atlanta.

Production Beginning production work in 2003, his first major release as a producer came in June 2006 on the US #1 Debut Album Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship for India.Arie. He produced and co-wrote the upbeat "I Choose" and a more reflective "This Too Shall Pass". This was followed in July 2008 with the production of the single entitled "Radio" on Musiq Soulchild's fifth album release "On my Radio". In February 2009 India.Arie's Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics was released. Castro produced and recorded 12 songs with India.Arie, including the singles "Chocolate High" and "Therapy". Castro continues to produce and record in Atlanta.

Selected discography Artist Album Credit 2003 Loon Loon Engineer Stacie Orrico Stacie Orrico Engineer 702 Star Engineer 2004 Allure Chapter III Mixing Young Buck Cashville: G-Unit Edition Engineer Young Buck Straight Outta Cashville Engineer Raven-Symoné This Is My Time Engineer Shawnna Worth tha Weight Mixing 2005 T-Pain Rappa Ternt Sanga Engineer Maceo Straight Out da Pot Engineer, Mixing Original Soundtrack Diary of a Mad Black Woman Engineer Jamie Foxx Unpredictable Engineer Jamie Foxx Unpredictable [DualDisc] Engineer 2006 Paulina Rubio Ananda Engineer Young Buck Buck the World Engineer Avant Director Engineer Fergie The Dutchess Engineer Eminem Eminem Presents: The Re-Up Engineer Ciara Ciara: The Evolution Engineer Jagged Edge The Hits Piano Engineer Jagged Edge Jagged Edge Piano Engineer Lloyd Banks Rotten Apple Engineer Sammie Sammie Engineer Stacie Orrico Stacie Orrico [Korean Tour] Engineer India.Arie Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship Producer, Engineer, Vocal Engineer 2007 Joe Ain't Nothin' Like Me Engineer Various Artists Def Jam Sessions, Vol. 1 Engineer R. Kelly Double Up Engineer Mary J. Blige Growing Pains Engineer Keyshia Cole Just Like You Engineer Kelly Rowland Ms. Kelly Engineer Rich Boy Rich Boy Engineer 2008 Stacie Orrico Best of Stacie Orrico Engineer Raheem DeVaughn Love Behind the Melody Engineer Algebra Purpose Bass Trina Still da Baddest Engineer Musiq Soulchild OnMyRadio Producer, Engineer 2009 India.Arie Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Album Producer, Album Engineer Keri Hilson In a Perfect World... Engineer K Jon On The Ocean Mixing 2010 Usher Raymond v. Raymond Musician Usher Versus Musician Various Artist Pure Urban Essentials 2010Composer 2012 Lecrae Gravity Producer (with Uforo Ebong) Keyshia Cole Woman to Woman Producer, Musician Mario Brown The Mario Brown Project Mixer 2013 India.Arie Songversation Producer, Musician, Engineer 2014 R. Kelly The Essential R. KellyEngineer 2015 Pentatonix Pentatonix Engineer

Singles Recorded/Mixed by Dru Castro Artist Song Album 2005 India.Arie "Purify Me" Diary of a Mad Black Woman 2006 R. Kelly, Usher "Same Girl" Double Up Eminem "Smack Dat" Eminem Presents: The Re-Up Fergie "London Bridge" The Dutchess Lloyd Banks "Help" Rotten Apple 2007 Keyshia Cole "Shoulda Let You Go" Just Like You Kelly Rowland, Eve "Like This" Ms. Kelly Young Buck "Get Buck" Buck The World 2008 India.Arie "Heart of the Matter" Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Keyshia Cole "Heaven Sent" Just Like You Keri Hilson "My Energy" In a Perfect World... Musiq Soulchild "Radio" OnMyRadio India.Arie, Musiq Soulchild "Chocolate High" Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics

Singles Produced by Dru Castro Artist Song Album Notes 2008 Musiq Soulchild "Radio" On My Radio India.Arie, Music Soulchild "Chocolate High" Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics 2009 India.Arie "Therapy" Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics K'Jon "On The Ocean" On The Ocean Producer /Mixer

Grammys Artist Song Album Category Result Credit 2006 India.Arie Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship Best R&B Album Engineer India.Arie "I Am Not My Hair" Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship Best R&B Song Engineer 2007 Keyshia Cole Just Like You Best Contemporary R&B Album Engineer R. Kelly, Usher "Same Girl" Double Up Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals Engineer 2008 Mary J. Blige Growing Pains Best R&B Album Engineer Keyshia Cole "Heaven Sent" Just Like You Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Engineer Keyshia Cole "Heaven Sent" Just Like You Best R&B Song Engineer 2009 India.Arie "Pearls" Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Best Urban/Alternative Performance Producer/Engineer India.Arie Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Best Contemporary R&B Album Producer/Engineer India.Arie, Musiq Souldchild "Chocolate High" Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics Best R&B Duo or Group with vocals Producer/Engineer 2012UsherRaymond V RaymondBest Contemporary R&B AlbumMusician Lecrae "Gravity" Best Gospel Album Producer/Engineer/Songwriter 2018Childish GambinoThis is AmericaThis is AmericaRecord of the Year Engineer