Laura Escudé Explained

Laura Escudé
Alias:Alluxe
Birth Place:Pensacola, Florida
Genre:Future classical
Occupation:Controllerist, playback engineer, music technology trainer, entrepreneur
Instrument:Violin, MIDI controllers, Ableton Live

Laura Escudé is an American artist, entrepreneur, and live show performer. She has programmed shows for artists including Kanye West, Jay Z, American Idol, Herbie Hancock and Porter Robinson,[1] as well as composed and performed string arrangements for Kanye West and Jay Z.[2]

In 2008, Escudé became the world's first Ableton Certified Trainer,[3] implementing the software in many high-grossing live shows around the world.[4]

Drawing on her experience as a controllerist and sound designer, Escudé founded Electronic Creatives, a company focused on training music programmers and artists within the industry..[5] As an Ableton Certified Training Center, Electronic Creatives provides professional live show designing services and courses for playback engineering,[6] with alums touring alongside prominent artists such as The Weeknd, Harry Styles, Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, and Logic.[7]

Escudé also creates music as a solo artist under her own name. She has also released music under her former alias Alluxe until 2019. As an artist, Escudé is known for her "future classical" sound, which blends avant-garde and classical music genres with live electronica.[8]

Early life and education

Born in Pensacola, Florida, Escudé was trained as a classical violinist and pianist from the age of 6. She began pursuing the violin more seriously and became the Concertmaster of Rogers High School in Newport, Rhode Island and was awarded the 1997 Governor's Scholar Award to attend the Interlochen Center for the Arts Summer Music Program. She later became the Concertmaster of the Rhode Island Youth Philharmonic .[9]

In addition to her interest in music, Escudé was involved in singing and acting, participating in school musicals like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. She also developed an early interest in fitness and wellness, competing as a runner and serving as the captain of her school's cross-country track and field team.

When she was 18, Escudé received a scholarship to attend Vanderbilt University, but transferred to Florida State University after a year to explore more contemporary music in Violin Performance and to pursue a minor in Business. During this time, Escudé taught herself music production while performing with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and the Florida State University Symphony. As a student, she also booked shows at the campus live-music venue and took part in numerous electronic music festivals..[10]

Career

Upon graduation in 2002, Escudé taught at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa, Florida and began her violin performance career with the Santa Monica Symphony, Torrance Symphony, Multi-Ethnic Star Orchestra (MESTO), and the Observatory Orchestra.[11]

In 2005, she began working in Technical Support at M-Audio, where she went on to do Sales and Artist Relations.[12]

In 2007, Escudé became Ableton’s first West Coast Product Specialist and a few months after, she became the world's first Ableton Live Certified Trainer and became one of the first to implement music software in some of the most prestigious live shows all over the globe.[13]

In 2008, she founded Evotech Audio, a freelance consultancy for musical instruments brands as a product specialist for clients such as Ableton, Dubspot, MacProVideo, FXpansion, Rob Papen, MV Pro Audio, Celemony, X-Tempo Designs, Namba Gear and Toontrack.

In 2009, Escudé formed Electronic Creatives, now an Ableton Certified Training Center, that conducted educational events in the field of music production. One of her first major clients was Kanye West’s engineer, Anthony Kilhoffer, whom she assisted in the programming of the Glow in the Dark tour. At that time, she was also touring with Niyaz as a violinist and a music programmer. A few months later, she moved to Las Vegas and worked on the pre-production for Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis Show as a programmer.[14]

In 2011, Escudé began going on tours with Kanye West as his official music programmer and live vocal effect designer, and has been his primary playback engineer since then.[15] Over the years, she also worked with other prominent artists such as Porter Robinson, Demi Lovato, Iggy Azalea, Charli XCX, Logic, The Weeknd, Miguel, Becky G, Missy Elliott, Rita Ora, Solange, Crystal Method, Camila Cabello, Jay-Z, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Herbie Hancock, Cat Power, Bon Iver, Drake, Silversun Pickups, Garbage, Childish Gambino and M83.[16]

Musical style

Escudé has released music under her own name and under her former moniker "Alluxe". Her music fuses avant-garde and classical with live electronica,[17] which she performs using custom LED controllers, vocals, and live violin playing.

Escudé's production skills have earned her remix commissions from M83, Polica and Mr. Hudson, and her violin playing can be heard on albums by Kanye West, Jay Z, Big Grams, Hit Boy, Sage Francis, Solillaquists of Sound and in EastWest’s Quantum Leap Silk sound library.[18]

As "Alluxe", Escudé opened for the likes of Miguel, Garbage, Machinedrum, Robert Rich and Funkstorung. She has performed with Kiesza, Charli XCX and Iggy Azalea.[19]

Community

Escudé is the creator of the Transmute Retreat, which allows live performers to experience accelerated transformation in a healthy, relaxed atmosphere focused on self realization and care.[20] In recent years, she has expanded her work in the area of wellness for artists after years of professional touring, and advocates for artists to discover the tools to begin their own transformation in shifting towards a healthy and supportive atmosphere.[21]

Escudé is widely regarded as “one of the best in the world” in the live music field.[22] She aims to inspire other women and the next generation through women empowerment conferences and speaking engagements, and has been invited to speak at leading music technology institutions such as the University of Southern California and Berklee College of Music.[23]

Discography and performances

Live Shows

Original Music by Albums

Remixes

Violin Recordings

Filmography

Performances

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: This Producer Works With The Biggest Names In Music—Here's What Keeps Her Creative. www.girlboss.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  2. Web site: Laura Alluxe Escudé. www.ableton.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  3. Web site: Laura Escudé (Los Angeles, CA). www.ableton.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  4. Web site: Laura Escudé. loop.ableton.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  5. News: Industry Focus: DJ, Producer, Controllerist and Instrumentalist Laura Escudé. Magnetic Magazine. 2018-08-28. en-us.
  6. Web site: Electronic Creatives Certified Training Ableton. www.ableton.com. en. 2018-08-28.
  7. Web site: Electronic Creatives. www.ableton.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  8. Web site: Laura Escudé. loop.ableton.com. en. 2018-08-28.
  9. Web site: Meet Alluxe, the "Controllerist" of the Yeezus Tour and, Soon, Your Mind. www.vice.com. 22 April 2014 . en-US. 2018-08-23.
  10. Web site: Laura Escude. 2018-08-27.
  11. Web site: Laura Escude. lynda.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  12. Web site: Meet Alluxe, the "Controllerist" of the Yeezus Tour and, Soon, Your Mind. www.vice.com. 22 April 2014 . en-US. 2018-08-23.
  13. Web site: Laura Escudé. loop.ableton.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  14. Web site: Laura Escudé. www.ableton.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  15. Web site: Meet Laura Alluxe Escudé, Live Show Controllerist and Programmer for Kanye West, The Weeknd & More. hypebae.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  16. Web site: Dubspot Video Interview: Alluxe aka Laura Escudé (Electronic Creatives) on Performance, Working w/ Kanye, M83 +. dubspot.com. 23 December 2013 . en-US. 2018-08-23.
  17. Web site: JUDGE - ELECTRONIC CREATIVES + ALLUXE. launchinstitute.redbull.com. en-US. 2018-08-24.
  18. Web site: Laura Escudé. loop.ableton.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  19. Web site: LIVID STUDIOS PRESENTS : ALLUXE. lividinstruments.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  20. Web site: Transmute. www.lauraescude.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  21. Web site: Five Questions: Laura Escudé. www.emusician.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  22. Web site: Meet Laura Alluxe Escudé, Live Show Controllerist and Programmer for Kanye West, The Weeknd & More. hypebae.com. en-US. 2018-08-23.
  23. Web site: From Violins to Ableton. en.audiofanzine.com. 28 February 2017 . en-US. 2018-08-23.
  24. News: American Idol. abc.go.com. 2018-08-24. en-US.
  25. News: MIGUEL: Wildheart Tour. www.ticketfly.com. 2018-08-24. en-US.
  26. News: Porter Robinson's 'Worlds' Tour: A Stunning Spectacle of Self-Expression. www.medium.com. 2018-08-24. en-US.
  27. News: Past News/Events for Niyaz. www.niyazmusic.com. 2018-08-24. en-US.
  28. Web site: Fervor by Alluxe. soundcloud.com. 2018-08-24. en-US.
  29. Web site: Alluxe Contrast EP by Alluxe. soundcloud.com. 2018-08-24. en-US.
  30. Web site: Stay The Same feat. Mr. MFN eXquire. soundcloud.com. 2018-08-24. en-US.
  31. Web site: Hold U feat Sister Crayon. soundcloud.com. 2018-08-24. en-US.
  32. Web site: Rytmus (NOMAD EP Out Now). soundcloud.com. 2018-08-24. en-US.
  33. Web site: Pororoca. www.allmusic.com. 2018-08-24. en-US.
  34. Web site: Interview: Music Production Guru and Violinist Laura Escude. 23 November 2010 . 2018-08-24. en-US.
  35. Web site: Shazam. Shazam. 2018-08-24.
  36. Web site: Mr. Hudson - Fred Astaire [Alluxe Remix]]. ILLROOTS. 2018-08-24.
  37. Web site: M83 - Steve McQueen. Discogs. 26 November 2012 . en. 2018-08-24.
  38. Web site: Violins on Hit-Boy's HITStory mixtape. SoundCloud. en. 2018-08-24.
  39. News: Dubspot Video Interview: Alluxe aka Laura Escudé (Electronic Creatives) on Performance, Working w/ Kanye, M83 + Dubspot. 2013-12-23. Dubspot Blog. 2018-08-24. en-US.
  40. News: Dubspot Video Interview: Alluxe aka Laura Escudé (Electronic Creatives) on Performance, Working w/ Kanye, M83 + Dubspot. 2013-12-23. Dubspot Blog. 2018-08-24. en-US.
  41. Web site: Violin. Laura Escudé. en-US. 2018-08-24.
  42. Web site: Laura Escudé (Los Angeles, CA). www.ableton.com. 2018-08-24.
  43. Web site: Behance. www.behance.net. 2018-08-24.
  44. Web site: Plateau - Kushbush + Music For Grass Bars Special Edition. Discogs. en. 2018-08-24.
  45. Web site: Human the Death Dance - Sage Francis Credits AllMusic. AllMusic. 2018-08-24.
  46. Web site: Laura Escude — Online Courses, Classes, Training, Tutorials on Lynda. Lynda.com - from LinkedIn. en-US. 2018-08-24.
  47. Web site: Electric Forest 2018 Second Weekend Her Forest Panel. Electric Forest. en. 2018-08-24.
  48. Web site: Solar Flux 5: A Flux Family Music and Arts Festival. www.facebook.com. en. 2018-08-24.
  49. Web site: CV. Laura Escudé. en-US. 2018-08-24.
  50. Web site: CV. Laura Escudé. en-US. 2018-08-24.
  51. Web site: Laura Escude — Online Courses, Classes, Training, Tutorials on Lynda. Lynda.com - from LinkedIn. en-US. 2018-08-24.
  52. Web site: Laura Escude — Online Courses, Classes, Training, Tutorials on Lynda. Lynda.com - from LinkedIn. en-US. 2018-08-24.