Interviewer: Deena Jasmine (Chikkmagaluru, Karnataka, India)

Editor: Pooja Vishwanathan (Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India)

From the first beat to the final mix, certain artists just put a stamp on everything they touch. One of them is “Lukas Costas.” His music journey began with humble beginnings and has since involved working with artists in both K-pop and Western music. Known for his skill in producing, composing, and crafting songs that resonate across cultures, Lukas Costas has worked with artists like AH0F, CxM (Scoups and Mingyu), IDNTT, NOWZ, Lngshot, Jonas Blue, NuNew, Devin Kennedy, and many more. Lukas has helped new artists bring their songs to life. And also made a mark with well-known names in the industry.

In this interview, let’s explore his journey, creative process, memorable collaborations, and his experience that shaped his music career. 

Please share some information about yourself with our readers. How did you first get started with music, and what inspired you to write and produce songs? 

I started playing music when I was 3 years old with a toy acoustic guitar while watching Raffi on VHS, and then learned how to read sheet music before I could read English. My older brother started a band in middle school called “Flat Stanley”, which I thought was the coolest thing ever as a 10-year-old. This led me to start my own band called “Sidereal” when I was 15, which my brother ended up joining. We toured the United States and shared the stage with bands like Fall Out Boy, The Wailers, The Flaming Lips, etc.

In 2016, I decided to leave the band life behind and move to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a songwriter & music producer. My entire childhood, all I ever wanted to do was express myself and play music, no matter the format. I remember when I learned that being a songwriter/producer was a career path and knew it was for me. The ability to have incredibly talented people sing and share stories that I helped craft with millions of people around the world gave me a feeling of connection through art that I had always chased.

What was it like working on “Don’t Wake Me Up” with Jonas Blue and Why Don’t We, and what do you admire most about the song-making process? 

I wrote this song with a close friend of mine, Becca Krueger, during the pandemic on Zoom. “Don’t Wake Me Up” was one of those songs that felt like it just fell into our lap, like the idea already existed. It was a privilege to go into the studio and work with the incredible vocal producer, Mitch Allan, and record “Why Don’t We” alongside him. I learned so much during that experience, from how to handle working with an artist at that caliber, efficiencies in recording, and coaching a vocalist through difficult parts of the song. One thing I admire most about the song-making process is that it is a group effort; it takes a team to make songs at the highest level. Additionally, the collective joy that was put into the record, I believe, can be felt and extracted by all the people who have listened to it.

You’ve collaborated with K-pop artists like AH0F, SEVENTEEN’s duo CxM, IDNTT, NOWZ, and LNGSHOT. Looking back, is there any song or experience from those collaborations that left a strong impression on you?

All of those songs were made with close collaborators of mine (Rence, Kwon, Alex Schwoebel, EL CAPITXN), and there is no experience that compares to the moment when a group of friends find magic in the room and pull it out of thin air. That unity and friendship have left a lasting impression on me as a creative and as a friend. 

You worked on the debut albums of “AHOF” and “Lngshot” including tracks like “RENDEZVOUS” and “ARE YOU READY.” When you look back, is there a specific track or memory from those sessions that stays with you?

Kwon, Alex, Rence, and I were all in my studio in Beverly Hills writing “Incompleted” for the AHOF debut album, and I remember this moment where we were working on the chorus melody, and it felt like a game of ping-pong from one person to another. As the idea was passed from person to person, it got better until it became the song that it is today.

You have participated in NuNew’s Korean debut song “Leave Me With Your Love”. What was it like to be a part of this project, and what was most memorable? 

Being able to work with an artist like NuNew on his Korean debut was such an honor. I love being a part of international collaborations because I believe music is the one common language around the world. Seeing people from all over the world, Thailand, Korea, and the U.S., come together to make that song was such a beautiful experience. 

You’ve worked across K-pop and Western music. How does your creative process shift between the two?

I approach both K-pop and Western music with the mindset of “let me make the best song I can make today”. However, the difference for me lies in the nuance of the genre. The style, the cadence, and the thought of considering certain lyrics will be translated to Korean, which is not something I have to consider in Western music. Another big difference is that with K-pop, we must consider all of the different vocalists and ranges of the singers/rappers when creating K-pop, whereas in Western music, I am usually focused on one singer, one voice, one range.

Your songs travel across so many countries and cultures. How does that make you feel as an artist? 

I feel so incredibly grateful to be a small part of songs that have translated across cultures. It is an honor to see artists perform songs I wrote around the world, in different languages, to people of all walks of life. It truly has given me perspective on how, as human beings, if we seek to understand rather than to be understood, we are all more alike than we are different.

Is there a collaboration that really stood out to you or changed your perspective? 

There was a session where a mentor of mine taught me the importance of leaving space for the listener. I did not understand what they meant in that moment, but now it means to me that I must leave space for the listener to resonate and reflect on the lyrics that are being written.

You and your brother founded Florida Fin Fest in 2021 to spread the word on ocean conservation through a blend of education and music. How did you come about choosing to organize the festival, and how has it grown over time? 

My brother and I started this festival in honor of our grandparents, who were Urban Arborists and were responsible for planting over 6 million trees during their lives. They were community leaders who led with action and care for the planet, and my brother and I grew up with the ocean being our backyard, so we chose that as our cause. The festival has grown into activism, panels, conversations with lawmakers at the local and state level, as well as sparked conversations in local communities and inspired the next generation of activists to take action in their communities. 

What challenge have you faced in your music career that has had the biggest impact on your personal work, accordingly, on your development and focus direction what is it?

Rejection. This industry is tough and incredibly competitive, so I had to become best friends with rejection and internalize that it is a part of the process and journey. Through constant rejection and reflection, I have learned resilience that continues to help me refocus my attention and skills to be the best collaborator I can be.

What inspires you the most when making music, a mood, a story, or something? 

Every day it is different. Some days I am inspired by the story a collaborator is telling about their life, sometimes I am inspired by a sound I hear, or a quote I’ve read from a book I’m currently enjoying. 

What would you tell your younger self just getting started in music?

Be kind, work hard, be patient, and enjoy the journey because you never know where it is going to take you. 

What do fans have to look forward to next? Anything you’re working on or new releases that we should know about? 

Yes! ‘Pretty Boy Swag’ by IDNTT was released on January 5th. I worked on one of the songs on ENHYPEN’s new album THE SIN: Vanish, as well as 2 songs on XG’s upcoming debut album ‘THE CORE’. Additionally, I will be rolling out Hugo Basclain’s debut album, ‘Miles From Home.’ He is an Alt-R&B artist from Australia that I executive produce for. His first single, ‘CRAZY BOUT U’, releases January 30th.

India has so many passionate K-pop fans. Do you have a message for the Indian fans who enjoy and support your work? 

Thank you for listening, thank you for sharing, and thank you for being a part of the community that we love!

Once again, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your precious time and for sharing insights about your journey. Thank you so much. On behalf of the entire team at Hallyuism, we wish you all the best for your future and lots of love from India!

We hope you all loved reading this interview as much as we loved conducting it. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!