Tell us a little bit about what you do professionally, and who you are as a person.

I’m Drew de Leon, Filipino born but Queens raised. I’m grateful to have been in music over the past 15 years. I’m very family oriented but I’m also passionate about the Knicks and Liverpool FC. Outside of working in music, I enjoy live music as a fan, building my vinyl collection, collecting art from upcoming artists, reading, traveling, and interior design.

What’s a non-conventional phrasing to explain what you do? 

I’d describe myself as an artist translator.

Is there something that you read, watched, or listened to that changed your approach to your career?

Recently, I’ve enjoyed reading “The Pivot Year”, a book full of daily inspirational passages.

What’s your advice for building community?

I would say just start. Whether it’s a community of two or a community of twenty. Once you start to organize meet-ups or gatherings, be consistent. Keep people updated and get feedback on what’s keeping them involved. Find out what’s important to your community and what value you want to offer.

What’s your philosophy around artist discovery?

Artist discovery is different for everyone. It can be passive and just putting on an editorial playlist or station on Pandora. Or it can be intentional where you cater content to specific types of genres. However, I don’t think anything defeats live music. Live music is where you connect with the artists the most. Socials is where you discover and maintain your relationship with the artist as a fan.

What’s something happening in the music industry at large that makes you feel hopeful or inspired? 

I believe we’re at the intersection of autonomy and community. For 95% of the independent artists, we prescribe the concept of independence and entrepreneurship. But it’s also important to be part of a community of music creatives so you can collaborate and grow together. The peer-to-peer support is more important than ever.

Who’s someone you admire? 

My Mother. She’s always been the rock of the family.

Who’s an artist you’re excited about right now?

I’m excited about a Filipino / German artist named Ray Lozano. I’m a big RnB head so it’s dope to see an international Filipino RnB artist.

Can you describe a project that was a big learning experience for you?

I’ve had different pivotal moments in my career. The first one was my pivot from Finance to Music. That was super scary because I went from a job that was super secure to an industry I didn’t know much about. You have to be brave when it comes to the unknown. Second was when I started The Digilogue. I honestly didn’t envision what the community has become. Originally, I just wanted to bring people together.

Keep up with Drew:

https://www.instagram.com/drewcurator/

https://www.instagram.com/thedigilogue/