[For more information about A Squared Industries, check out their official website at http://asquaredindustries.net/]

Andy and Annie Skinner are not just husband and wife, they are also business partners who make up the foundation of A Squared Industries. They have accomplished many things with the company: they are a concert booking and promotions company, graphic designers, DJs, a record label, hosts to a local radio show, and the list goes on.

(Photo by Rumi Sakuraeda.)

“We are not just a jack of all trades, ruler of nothing,” said Andy, “we have this intense, intellectual curiosity that blends in with a sick obsession and love for music and our city.”

“The only thing we are not are entertainment lawyers, and Andy is toying with the idea of going to law school so he can cross that last one off the list,” added Annie.

You can check out their website (http://asquaredindustries.net/) and browse through their trophy case, as well as see what they have up their sleeve, which is usually an event that is always engaging and full of the true spirit of independent culture.

Whether you see them when they are on hand for the Butler Scion Free Thursdays at Locals Only, or their personalized events like “Let Go” at The Lockerbie, or “Manic Mondays” at the Rock Lobster (again, this is a small sampling of what these two are doing), the city is just as much a part of their lives as they are to the city. Andy chalks it up to good luck.

“Every since I was a kid the next step just plopped down in front of me. It isn’t easy, but it’s charming to have that luck.”

That luck really bloomed when Andy, embedded in the punk and hardcore scene, started up the zine Capped in late 1995. It lasted a few years until Andy joined the Army as a photojournalist and worked in public affairs. The Army took him to Germany. After he finished his time with them, he went back and a chance encounter with a band.

“As soon as I landed, the first thing I saw was this band. They needed help. I really believed in what they were doing, so I helped.”

That band was the punk group Spicolie, a band he eventually managed. You can find a photo of a young Andy Skinner adorned with what looks like a World War II plain-rimmed military helmet and a blanket as a cape on the front cover of their album Suburban Hero.

“I remember seeing the album cover in a budget bin and thought who is this goofball. We definitely laughed a lot,” said Annie.

This was a real chance for Andy to get his hands dirty in the scene and a taste of what was to come later in his life.

Annie was living in Utah at the time, working at a record store called Modified. She worked there for years, immersing herself in music culture. This was a true educational experience for her as she was able to dig into everything that had to do with music.

“I was just obsessed,” she said. “The cool thing about Modified is that they would find out your music obsession and put it on a card. Anytime an album of that style would come in, they would call you to let you know what they had.”

While working for Modified, she would stop in to Rick Zeigler’s Salt Lake City (now owner of Indy CD & Vinyl) store and browse around. The employees got to know Annie and recommended that Rick hire her. He did, and she accepted.

Her mother became a benefit to her experience. Working for Southwest Airlines, Annie reaped the reward and benefit to fly all over. She used that opportunity to see bands. It would be nothing for her to fly to Vegas and see someone like Tricky and then fly back that same night.

“It was that Westward ho drive that we both experienced on different levels,” said Andy. “For me, it was the Midwestern road trip. If there were rules growing up, it did not apply to me. It was not because of any oversight from either of our viewpoints. The passion and experience was with us.”

“I was such an adult at that point, but still the youngest in my family” Annie continued. “I remember walking the San Francisco streets at 3 a.m. Music was like a drug, and I lived for it no matter where it led me. I didn’t need anything else in my life.”

When Zeigler relocated his shop to Indianapolis, Annie came with it. At the time, Andy joined forces with Mark LaFay and Kulture Entertainment while Annie was an Alternative Lifestyle Rep for Sony Music.

“At Kulture, I was doing anything and everything at the time, taking over all aspects of the jobs myself. I was learning from my mistakes and becoming better at what I do that ended up being a 13 year track record of booking successful shows.”

After years of throwing parties together for Sony bands and helping with publicity, Sony dissolved the team, about the same time that Andy was ready to move on from Kulture.

“I was pumped for two days not having to publicize anything,” said Andy. “I was at the record store talking with Rick and he asked me how I felt about starting a venue in the city. It was an opportunity and a challenge I could not pass up.”

They tried for the shut down Irving Theatre as an all ages venue, but they ran into a lot of issues with the building and the community that eventually was the brick wall in their venture.

“Mark and I originally had an idea to open a venue, thinking it would be easier if we just owned the house. When the Irving fell through, I chalked it up to an expensive college course and walked away with a higher level of experience.”

What sounds like a failure, was really an opportunity. Soon after, the economy tanked and the two were left at a crossroad. Both having the experience and the connections, why not just start a business themselves. Thus the birth of A Squared Industries.

“I remember telling Andy that I’m not going to do anything I’m not into,” said Annie. “I don’t want to be responsible for people hating it. As a DJ or promotor it’s important for me.”

What started as word of mouth eventually grew and they ended up booking big name shows like Devotchka at The Vogue or important indie acts like Russian Circles at The Melody, to pluck out a few from a very expansive list.

“We immediately beat the system,” said Andy. “Every show thus far has been awesome, not just with the turnout but by surprising the bands with what the city has to offer them. A Squared has become a luxury because of that.”

Where else can you start up a successful record label or immediately become a credible DJ or put on a show where everyone will come out and support it? Indianapolis has been very kind to these two.

“We are tired of people complaining that there is nothing going on in this city,” he said.

Taking that to heart, Andy’s employer Butler Scion took the initiative to not just sponsor shows in this city, but they all worked together to create the Butler Scion Free Thursday at Local’s Only.

“They need to spend x amount of dollars for marketing. What we did was think outside the box and by pouring money into these shows, the bands, and making them free, it’s not only promotions for Butler Scion, but it’s also putting money back into the community,” Andy said.

“We would not be where we are without them,” Annie continued.

This powerhouse duo has proven that many positive things can happen through willful determination and a genuine love for it all.

“It’s the most fun I have had,” he said. “It brings out the 17-year-old in me. I have been in bands. I have toured. I have been a tour manager and did publicity. Every time I try to pull back, I see someone else’s product and it drives me crazy. I know I can do better, and people deserve better.”

That fun transfers to their live DJ set. When you see them behind the decks, you witness the two getting down to their own staple of tunes they are passionate about, as well as feeding from the excitement of the room.

“You get to see instant reaction,” Annie said. “When we DJ, I get to watch the effects and see them get excited over what we are doing. We will high five and say this is what makes us happy. This is it.

(Photo by Greg "The Mayor" Andrews.)

“We work really hard and believe in everything that we do,” she continued. “The last 10 years of my life, I don’t think I could dream up. I stop occasionally and think, holy crap, I have done this!”

With more and more DJ gigs sprouting up monthly and the radio show on WITT Saturdays at Noon and Sundays at 9 p.m. gaining attention, you would think these two could reach any higher. And maybe this is the apex for the two, but then again, they have never limited themselves and the future most likely means bigger and better things ahead.