If an artist is just passionate about their music and they’re unapologetically themselves, that’s who I want on my label. Six months ago, Luh took to Soundcloud to express his frustration towards an indie record label gone haywire and how it halted Luh’s career for a year. At the end of his Soon series, Luh made the most of the chaos by starting his very own label and signing himself. When I asked him about Low Sodium Records, Luh explained “I built the foundation, I built the fan base, so I have something that no label can give me. Because it doesn’t matter what amount of money that you put into an artist – if the fans and the people and the culture aren’t messing with you, that doesn’t matter.” Derek has a vision for a label that celebrates passion over genre, and hopes for a variety. “Nine-Inch Nails to Dr. Dre to a Taylor Swift-type of artist… If an artist is just passionate about their music and they’re unapologetically themselves, that’s who I want on my label.” While taking on this new project, Derek added new layers and levels to his music. “Hoodie, I feel like is one of my most vulnerable songs,” Derek told me. He reflected on the nontraditional aspect of this breakup song. “I’m not going to text you, I’m not going to call you and say I miss you, but guess what, I still have your hoodie in my car.” And, in a way, the image of Luh riding around with his ex’s sweatshirt in his car says more than I miss you ever could. Derek has yet to run out of dreams to chase. While establishing himself in musical hubs and maintaining his relationship with his fanbase, he strives to be challenging, powerful, and sincere in his art. Last year, Luh attended Coachella as a part of a campaign for a company. “I’m sitting there watching on stage and I was just like, I’m not coming back until I’m performing. I made a promise to myself.” Again and again, he has proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the music industry and beyond. Derek Luh is ready. Are you?
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