Multi-instrumentalist and music producer Andrew Balogh is positioning himself to be a household name with his killer work ethic and impressive knowledge about the ins and outs of the music industry.
Andrew has been playing saxophone and piano since the young age of 6 years old, playing in musical groups both in and outside of school. After majoring in music performance in college, he entered the professional music industry, and has since created a self-sustaining and successful business. His accomplishments include performing with legacy artists such as Lady Gaga, John Mayer and Macy Gray, and earning himself 2 multi-Platinum records.
Celeb Secrets caught up with Andrew to learn more about how he started in music, what it was like performing with touring artists, and his favorite project he’s been a part of. Scroll down for the full Q&A and don’t forget to let us know if you’ve listened to and loved some of the music Andrew has worked on by leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a DM on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
You can connect with Andrew by giving him a follow on Instagram at @baloghmusic.
Celeb Secrets: Hi Andrew! Thank you for chatting with us. You have a ton of experience in the music industry as a touring musician, producer, mentor and overall entrepreneur. Can you share a little bit about your background and how you first got into the music industry?
Andrew Balogh: “It’s so great to sit down and chat with YOU guys! Music found me at the age of 6 when I started playing the saxophone and piano. I immediately fell in love with it and knew I wanted to pursue music. Being an only child and a relatively shy kid, I spent the majority of my youth practicing instruments and playing in musical groups, both in school and outside of school. In college, I majored in music performance with a minor in composition and from there started entering the world of the music industry one performance at a time. My first ‘big’ introduction to the music industry was when the opportunity to sub for John Mayer’s saxophonist came up. I toured with John for 3 weeks of his ‘Battle Studies’ tour in 2010. Performing with John Mayer really motivated me and provided me with the confidence and reassurance I needed to ensure I would have success in the music industry.”
CS: That’s incredible! Tell us about touring with Sublime with Rome. What is the first memory that comes to mind from that experience and do you have a favorite show that you performed at?
AB: “That was an incredibly fun and eye opening experience! Both my first memory and my favorite show was the very first show I ever played with the band, at Chula Vista Amphitheater. The show was sold out (20,500 people). The opening bands at that show (and for a good chunk of our tour) were the rock band Pepper, and the reggae band Rebelution. The bands were on fire and the audience was enthusiastic and wild! Half way through the set, I had a sax solo; afterwards the lead singer got on the mic and said ‘Give it up for Andrew Balogh, the newest member of the band! Everyone get out your cell phones right now and show him some love.’ He then proceeded to shout my personal cell phone number at the audience. At first, I didn’t think too much about it. But when the show was over and we went back to the tour bus, I checked my phone and the phone was virtually inoperable from all the calls and text messages that came in. I had to change my number and do a whole iPhone data reset. That will always be a memory that sticks out to me.”
CS: Instant fame! That’s pretty iconic. You are also an accomplished producer and songwriter. Can you tell us about some of the records you’ve worked on? What record stands out the most to you and why?
AB: “Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman album is definitely the record that stands out the most for me. I had the pleasure of working with her for several days; she is a true musician and out of this world talented. Her vocals are insane, and being that I was one of the vocal producers on this album made my experience working with her an absolute dream. There are no limits with what she can do with her voice which opens up a realm of endless possibilities of what can be musically created. Not only that, but she is a very kind and genuine person.”
CS: Ok, we are fan-girling. Total Ariana stans! Who is an artist you would love to work with on the production side of things? Why do you think it would be a good fit?
AB: “I would love to work with Harry Styles. All of the albums that he has released throughout his career showcase phenomenal music growth and creativity. His albums are always progressing and he’s a great guitar player and singer. I like the fact that he takes risks with his music (especially when performing live). For example, you won’t hear him play the same song exactly the same way every time it’s performed, which I think is awesome. I’d love to do an all-acoustic album with him and really push the limit with chord progressions and melodies, and showcase the beauty of his voice.”
CS: We can’t wait to hear it when that inevitably happens! Something a lot of people may not know about you is that you have played an integral part in developing some of the internet’s newest stars. Can you share a little bit about how you got into that? Who are some of the artists you’ve worked with?
AB: “I first became motivated to work on the artist development / management side of the music business when I first met Shawn Mendes, Jack & Jack, Cameron Dallas and Brent Rivera in 2013. At that time, none of them were represented by any management or record label. However, the music that I worked on with them (that was released in 2014) trended all over the internet, accrued tens of millions of streams on Spotify, and received millions of YouTube views. This experience really showed me the value of how digital content creators were able to utilize their fan base and influence to launch and sustain a growing career within music and entertainment overall. Later on I began to produce music for and develop Johnny Orlando, Mackenzie Ziegler, Lev Cameron, Gavin Magnus and Coco Quinn.”
CS: You’ve literally helped develop some of the artists that we hear on the radio! What advice would you give to someone who wants to begin working in the music industry as a producer? How about as a talent manager?
AB: “I would advise any aspiring producer to make sure they are proficient in playing piano, and ideally guitar as well. Having a strong musical foundation is critical in being able to structure chord progressions and ultimately produce music. Furthermore, I would encourage aspiring producers to become multifaceted and versed in multiple genres and styles of music. This will open up to doors to work with a diverse roster of artists and provide the ability to maintain career longevity. Someone who is interested in being a talent manager should focus on learning to build a brand, and how to create something that is likable and something that people will gravitate towards. In this case, the ‘brand’ is the artist, and knowing how to build and develop an artist (just like growing a brand) requires being able to draw people to the artist. Once people have generated an overall interest in the artist this will generally lead to them listening to the artist’s music, buying tickets to their concerts, purchasing merchandise, etc.”
CS: That is very good advice. Lastly, we are Celeb Secrets. Can you share a secret about yourself, or the music industry that people would be shocked to find out?
AB: “The one secret about myself that most people find interesting is that I don’t listen to music in the car while I drive and usually not so much at home either. I love quiet time and prefer to have my time in the studio be reserved for focused listening.”
