Meet Lew Salem: Musician/Producer

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

Hi Lew, what matters most to you?
I believe that the most important principle to me is balance. We often find ourselves stuck in negative feedback loops because our lives are out of balance: we’re not receiving enough of “x”, so we go overboard with “y.” Finding balance is crucial to sustainability and getting the most out of this life that we’ve got, and for all we know, this is the only shot we got, so I want to experience as much as I can, for as long as I can.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The best way I can describe my art is that it’s me: it’s patient, it’s meticulous, a little off-center, and most of all it’s from the heart. I have a LOT of musical influences, from Jimi Hendrix to Minus the Bear to Outkast, but I’d have to say my biggest musical influences are Jay-Z, Kanye West, 50 Cent, and Tyler, the Creator. While they all have their own sounds and genres, the common thread is that they all absolutely blazed their own paths and became legends in their own rights. They inspire me to just keep pushing to be the best artist I can with art that inspires and opens up whole new worlds for people that don’t feel like they fit in the current status-quo. When it’s all said and done, I want to be able to look back on my career and rest easy that I lived with positivity, respect, and left the world a better place than I came in.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In San Diego, I’d have to say visiting the different neighborhoods and landmarks would be a must: Downtown, Waterfront Park, Little Italy, ALL of the beaches, etc. I would definitely take them on a food tour to check out some of the local eats. I would also show the nightlife that the city has to offer, especially bars like El Camino that are on the smaller side, but the music makes it feel like a homegrown house party.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I absolutely want to dedicate my success to the my family and friends. They’ve played a huge role in broadening my horizons to what’s possible, and helped in building my confidence up to try and go beyond even that. I’d also very much so like to shout out my Black Xpression family, particularly Kovu and Ronald for everything that they’ve done in creating a space for Black artists to come and share their art in a space that’s understanding and celebratory of our culture. Last but not least, I’m grateful for myself, in that I took chances and risks to learn and grow into a better human being. Life has definitely thrown me my fair share of challenges, and I’m humbled to be here today in good health and positive spirit.

Website: https://www.thunderwav.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lewsalem/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-holloway-267475173/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LewSalem
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LewSalemMusic/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsR7MgipY0kqBRK6tscg1rQ
Other: YouTube Music: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCokIjpDInSloEVZNRhwT0Ng

Image Credits
Rachel Reyes; Adrian Gutierrez