| Josh Andres | |
| Birth Name: | Joshua Andres |
| Birth Date: | 3 January 1987 |
| Birth Place: | Zanesville, Ohio, United States |
| Occupation: | DJ, Producer, multi-instrumentalist, Songwriter |
| Years Active: | 2011 – Present |
Josh Andres, formally known by his stage name STATIK LNK, is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, and songwriter. His music has been classified as a combination of jazz, hip-hop, soul music, and orchestral sounds. Josh lists his primary influences as the music of Dr. Dre, Alchemist (musician), Robert Glasper, John Coltrane, J Dilla, Madlib, Miles Davis, and BadBadNotGood.
Joshua Andres was born in Zanesville, Ohio on January 3, 1987. He is the eldest of three children, including a sister, Kalee, and a brother, Matt. His parents, Tim and Kris, had no musical backgrounds. From the age of 3 until 18, Josh would live in the small city of Sandusky, Ohio. He attended Sandusky City Schools where he would learn to read and write music.
At the age of 5, Josh's dad, Tim, enrolled him in guitar lessons at Musician's Alley music store. He would then learn to read and write music. He attended guitar lessons until the age of 12, where he then switched to Trumpet. It is during his studying of the Trumpet, while at Sandusky City Schools, that he would learn Jazz Music. After his graduation in 2005, STATIK LNK would move to Toledo, Ohio, and attend the University of Toledo. At the University of Toledo, Josh would study Music Theory and Music Technology. During his studies, he was introduced to recording software, Pro Tools, which allowed him to arrange and compose music.
After his graduation from the University of Toledo in 2009, Josh, pursued a career in hip-hop. While in Toledo, he met and began to produce records for Big J Tha White Wonder. While working with Big J, he placed his first major release with notable artists Emilio Rojas, and D-Black. During this time he began to travel to New York City frequently. During one of his trips to New York, Josh met EDM DJ/Producer MING (DIM MAK/Mau5trap/Hood Famous) through a mutual producer while working on a project at New York City recording studio Stadium Red. Following their meeting, Josh developed a business partnership with Ming (DJ), which involved shopping musical works to commercial television companies. It was during a meeting in 2011 that MING introduced Josh to EDM Bass Music. In an interview with Urban Hit Promotions, Magazine Josh is quoted "I thought Electronic Music was only Techno and House, which I respected, but was never a big fan of." [2] Josh goes on to say that MING's introduction to Dubstep was the moment that Josh made the switch from hip-hop production to EDM resulting in the creation of STATIK LNK.
In 2012 during a tour stop in Chicago promoting "STATIK LNK The EP," Josh was introduced to trap music. Trap music, primarily known for its hip-hop roots, consists of Electro sounding instruments, vocal samples, and hip-hop drums. Fascinated with the sound of trap music, Josh began work on STATIK LNK's new project concentrating primarily on the growing EDM trend of trap music. Using the hip-hop sound that he was well respected for during his hip-hop days, Josh would string together a hit of trap music remixes leading up to his debut release. While working on STATIK LNK's debut Trap EP, Josh released tracks that experienced major success. His first trap remix of Zomboy’s "Here To Stay" was critically acclaimed. The remix resulted in a top Trap Remix title being awarded to STATIK LNK for May 2013 by DJCity.com, the most popular DJ Pool in the USA [4]. The remix of "Here To Stay" was followed up with the success of STATIK LNK's remix of Kaskade's single "Atmosphere" which went viral over the internet resulting in a top hit among Kaskade Trap Remixes across the Internet. Josh continued to work on STATIK LNK's debut Trap EP while touring the US. While working on his debut EP, Josh stayed in contact with MING. Upon completion of the EP, Josh submitted the work to Hood Famous Music, MING's label imprint. During this time, MING had been experiencing major success with his debut release on DIM MAK, King Kong The EP. MING had also begun production in trap music. His work resulted in two Top 10 Beatport charting singles ("Rock", by Paul Mendez at #2 and "Colossal" by Fortune Cookie at #5 on the Beatport Hip Hop charts). Impressed by one of the productions on the album Josh had submitted, MING partnered with STATIK LNK to produce the anthem "Block Party" ft Moxiie. The critically acclaimed single experienced much success resulting in a Top 100 post on iTunes and a top 10 post on Beatport. Following the success of "Block Party",STATIK LNK released their 1st major label remix of Australian recording artist Bonny Anderson for Sony Music in 2014 [8]. The remix was featured on Australian artist Bonnie Anderson (singer)'s EP "Blackout."
In August 2014, STATIK LNK signed with Bass Music label "Dirty Duck Audio." Dirty Duck Audio, known for its work with UK Trap artist Gold Top, released STATIK LNK's 3 track EP on September 8, 2014, via Beatport exclusive. The EP contains 3 new original works titled "Clap When She Walkin," "Get Down (Dat Azz)," and "Xposed Ft Big J Tha White Wonder." The EP featured Big J Tha White Wonder who also frequents STATIK LNK's original productions. The EP was critically acclaimed and received support from EDM.com (9). The EP debuted at number 22 on the Beatport hip-hop charts (10).
On January 12, 2015, STATIK LNK and Dirty Duck Audio partnered to release the "100HRTZ (The Remixes)" EP on Beatport (11). The EP featured remixes from Grammy-nominated producer Ming (DJ), Haterade (DJ), Instant Party! (DJ), Trentino (DJ), Jelo (DJ), Stuart Software (DJ), and a special VIP Mix from STATIK LNK. The EP was critically acclaimed and received support from EDM.com, Trapsounds, YourEDM, and many other prominent EDM sites and blogs.
After a 5-year career in dance music, STATIK LNK announced Dan Dwyer was leaving the group. In a Facebook post made by STATIK LNK (14), the group explains that Dan was leaving for personal reasons, and Josh was taking control of STATIK LNK. In the same announcement, Josh explained that he was returning to live instrumentation and changing the direction of the music to focus more on funk, soul, and jazz sounds.
Josh's current career focuses on the release of compositions, arrangements, library, and sample music.
This began in January 2019 when he released a full-length album titled "Into The Inferno, Vol.1". The project featured eight short jazz, ambient, and electronic-infused tracks. Following the release of "Into The Inferno, Vol 1", he would release the "Shapes Of Music, Vol 1" in February 2019, pulling from a pallet of Jazz, funk, and soul instrumentation with hip-hop-inspired percussion. The project, known for its unique sound, blending the genres of Soul, Funk, and Jazz, was well received. The project was featured on the website Tracklib,[1] marking Josh's introduction to the sample creation industry.
In late 2018, STATIK LNK formed the boutique label, "Onza Records", to concentrate on the release of music that he describes as "forward-thinking music." The label releases music that is created using live instrumentation within the Hip-Hop, Soul, and Jazz genres. Onza Records projects are primarily instrumental. After their release, the records are made available to sample on Tracklib.[2]
1. "Beatport DJs." Beatport. 22 Nov 2013. Beatport LLC.
2. Skilling, David. "Urban Hit Promotions." Interview With Statik Link. 22 Nov 2013.Urban Hit Promotions.
3.Torres, Carla. "MusikBeats." Statik Link. 29 Apr 2013. MusikBeats LLC.
4. DjCity DJs. "DjCity.com." Music Trends. 30 Jan 2013. DJCity, INC.
5. Albano, Aaron. "Hood Famous Music." MING, Statik Link, Moxiie – Block Party (Original Mix) . 30 Sep 2013. Mings Music Enterprises, LLC. .
6. Dj Gigahurtz. "Soundcloud.com." Gigahurtz - Power 106 Jump Off Mix September 2013. 27 Oct 2013.
7. Eat Sleep EDM. "EatSleepEDM.com." Statik Link-Ounce Of Dat. 30 Aug 2013. Eat Sleep EDM.
8. Sony Music Australia SoundCloud. "Sony Music Australia." Blackout Remixes. 27 Jun 2014. Sony Music.
9. EDM.com. "Statik Link." "EDM.com." 8 Sept 2014.
10. Beatport. "100 HRTZ." Beatport.com. 8 Sept 2014.
11. Beatport. "100 HRTZ (The Remixes)." Beatport.com. 12 Jan 2015.
12. Beatport. "Primitive." Beatport.com. 30 Jun 2015.
13. Vibe Magazine. "A$AP Ferg And Marty Baller Find The Jungle Energy On Jungle (Remix)" Vibe.com. 18 Sept 2015.
14. Facebook. "Verified Page Post" facebook.com. 15 July 2016.
14. The Music Ninja. ThemusicNinja.com. 24 May 2017.
15. Instagram. "Verified Page Post" Instagram.com. 27 June 2019.
15. Facebook. "Verified Page Post" Instagram.com. 6 Jan 2020.