Patrick Lew Band

Friday, January 30, 2026

The Life and Times of Patrick Lew

Patrick Lew Hayashi

(also known as Lewnatic)
Musician, guitarist, songwriter, producer, digital artist
San Francisco, California

Early Life and Background

Patrick Lew Hayashi was born in November 1985 in San Francisco, California, to a Chinese father, Winson, and a Sino-Japanese mother, Winnie. Raised in a multicultural household deeply rooted in Asian-American identity, Patrick’s upbringing reflected both traditional values and modern urban life in San Francisco.

One of the earliest and most formative events of his childhood was the death of his grandfather when Patrick was only four years old. The two had shared a close bond during Patrick’s pre-kindergarten years, and the loss left a lasting emotional imprint that would later influence his introspective nature and creative expression.

Throughout his school years, Patrick often felt like an outsider. He struggled socially, did not fit easily into peer groups, and faced repeated experiences of rejection and alienation, including unrequited crushes and difficulty forming early romantic connections. These challenges were compounded by an undiagnosed disability and autism spectrum condition, which would not be properly identified until much later in his life, during his 30s.

To cope, Patrick immersed himself in video games, rock music, and television, particularly the cable programming of the 1990s such as MTV and Nickelodeon, which became cultural lifelines. Family vacations to destinations including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Canada, Hawaii, and Hong Kong also offered moments of escape and exposure to broader worlds beyond his immediate environment.

Patrick attended Raoul Wallenberg Traditional High School in San Francisco—an institution also attended by notable figures such as Wisp and Coco Lee—and supplemented his education by attending Saturday classes at Soko Gakuen Japanese School, reinforcing his cultural and linguistic ties to Japan.

He later enrolled at California State University, East Bay, where he studied philosophy. Patrick graduated in mid-2011 at age 25 with a Bachelor of Arts, an experience that sharpened his analytical thinking and further shaped the thematic depth of his later songwriting.

Musical Awakening and Influences

Patrick’s true calling revealed itself in the summer of 1999, when his maternal cousin Andy, an international exchange student from abroad, came to live with the family while studying at City College of San Francisco. During downtime at home, Andy would play Patrick’s brother’s Fender guitar and amplifier, performing spontaneous riffs inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple.

Witnessing these moments proved transformative. For Patrick, it was the instant when music stopped being something he listened to and became something he needed to do.

Though he took a handful of formal guitar lessons at a mall in Daly City, Patrick was largely self-taught, learning through guitar tabs, online cheat sheets, and relentless experimentation. His musical tastes were broad and eclectic: ’90s grunge (especially Nirvana), classic rock, blues, chiptune music, K-Pop, J-Rock, Visual Kei, and elements of hip-hop and rap all fed into his evolving sound.

At age 15, while attending Wallenberg High School, Patrick formed his first band around 2001–2002, rehearsing sporadically in his family garage. This moment marked the official beginning of his artistic journey—and the birth of what would later become the Patrick Lew Band.

The Patrick Lew Band (2001–2025)

The Patrick Lew Band (PLB) was active on and off from 2001 until July 2025, with Patrick as its sole constant member across a long series of evolving lineups and creative phases.

The band began in high school with Patrick alongside Eddie Blackburn (lead guitar) and Tommy Loi (drums). Over the years, numerous collaborators joined and departed, reflecting both the fluid nature of the project and Patrick’s restless creative drive.

One of the most significant long-term contributors was David Arceo, who joined as drummer in 2006 and remained active with PLB until 2016, anchoring the band through a decade of growth and experimentation.

In 2015, during a turbulent personal period marked by heartbreak, social-media backlash, and emotional burnout, Patrick introduced his male-to-female cross-dressing alter ego, Madeline Lew, into the band’s narrative and performances. Initially controversial, Madeline ultimately became transformative—revitalizing the Patrick Lew Band, reshaping its public image, and bringing the project its first major wave of recognition and momentum.

Madeline later evolved into a virtual avatar and fully digital band member, becoming one of the most distinctive and widely recognized aspects of PLB. This era coincided with increased media attention and critical writing about the band, particularly during the late 2010s and early 2020s.

Between 2018 and 2022, Patrick also played lead guitar in the Silicon Valley-based post-rock band Crazy Loser in a Box, alongside then-partner Madoku Raye, who also occasionally contributed vocals to the Patrick Lew Band.

Loss, Transition, and the Birth of Lewnatic

In 2017, Patrick’s mother passed away—a profound personal loss that led him to place the Patrick Lew Band on hold for nearly three years. During this period, he worked a full-time day job at Pier 39 in San Francisco while continuing to perform guitar for other local bands within the Bay Area live music circuit.

In July 2019, seeking a creative reset, Patrick co-founded a new project called Lewnatic with his friend Ahmed. Lewnatic quickly found footing, playing monthly shows at DNA Lounge in San Francisco and even making appearances in Japan in August 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic soon disrupted these plans, but it also forced a reimagining of Patrick’s artistic direction. By mid-2020, he brought the Patrick Lew Band back full-time with Madeline fully integrated, ushering in a period of long-awaited validation, press coverage, and creative stability.

Lewnatic, Bentley Records, and Digital Reinvention

In 2022, Patrick formally rebranded Lewnatic as a touring, live-streaming, and digital offshoot related to—but distinct from—the Patrick Lew Band. On July 17, 2022, he signed with Bentley Records after being invited to join their roster.

Under the Lewnatic name, Patrick released multiple EPs and singles, as well as the full-length album Starrcade. He embraced the identity of a bedroom producer, guitarist, and online content creator, consciously distancing himself from the traditional rock-band model of relentless touring.

Lewnatic became Patrick’s way of stripping away the emotional and historical weight of the Patrick Lew Band’s long legacy—allowing him to create freely, privately, and on his own terms. This approach better aligned with his introverted nature, shy personality, and desire for autonomy.

In 2023, the Patrick Lew Band was inducted into the Akademia Music Awards Hall of Fame, a milestone that brought Patrick a deep sense of closure and contentment at age 37.

Personal Life and Interests

Patrick’s personal life has undergone significant changes over the years. His relationship with Amanda Lew (Manda Kay) was formally annulled on June 27, 2025, and the two are no longer together. They have since ceased all joint creative projects, including YouTube collaborations, and her digital presence related to Patrick’s career has largely receded.

Patrick is currently dating Karina Ramos, a former Christian rock musician, born in 1979 in New York.

Outside of music, Patrick is an avid video game enthusiast who collects gaming consoles, computer hardware, and accessories. He enjoys building a home-theater experience centered around his Xbox Series S and 4K television, frequently watching anime, professional wrestling, sports, and a wide range of nostalgic programming—including ’90s Nickelodeon, Lifetime movies, Cheaters, Unsolved Mysteries, and content discovered through the Pluto TV app.

He is deeply interested in Asian-American and Japanese culture, enjoys reading magazines related to music, cats, and East Asian topics, and laments the decline of physical magazine shops in San Francisco. Socially, he spends time at malls, bars, live music venues, and sporting events with friends.

Patrick is a devoted cat lover and an unapologetic food enthusiast, with favorites including sushi, Mexican food, Korean BBQ, and pizza.

Legacy

With more than two decades of artistic output, Patrick Lew Hayashi stands as a uniquely modern musician—one whose career bridges garage-band beginnings, digital avatars, internet-based rock projects, and deeply personal reinvention. Through Patrick Lew Band and Lewnatic, he has carved out a niche defined not by mainstream trends, but by persistence, vulnerability, and self-determination.

His story—well-documented across the internet and searchable through the enduring digital footprint of the Patrick Lew Band—remains a testament to survival, adaptation, and the power of creating art on one’s own terms.

The Comprehensive Biography of Patrick Lew Hayashi (Lewnatic & Patrick Lew Band)

Patrick Lew Hayashi (Lewnatic): A Narrative Biography

Early Life and Background

Patrick Allan Lew Hayashi was born on November 15, 1985 in San Francisco, California, to Winson Lew (born 1948) and Winnie Hayashi (1951–2017) 1 . The bay-area milieu of immigrant cultures shaped him early: his father is Chinese and his mother is of mixed Japanese–Chinese descent 1 2 . Patrick and his family maintained a close-knit bond – he often speaks fondly of spending time with his grandfather until the grandparent passed away when Patrick was four (a memory that left an early impression on him). As a child he was studious and curious, navigating dual identities. He attended Raoul Wallenberg High School in San Francisco and simultaneously studied Japanese at Soko Gakuen Japanese School 3 4 . He graduated from these schools around 2004 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at California State University, East Bay in 2011 3 5 .

Growing up in the Bay Area, Lew was something of a quiet, “uncool” kid who often felt on the fringes. He coped by immersing himself in family trips and pop culture: he recalls family vacations (to places like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Hong Kong, and Canada) as highlights of his youth 6 . He also loved video games, watching MTV music videos and 1990s Nickelodeon shows, and attending pro-wrestling events (WWE) – all passions that helped him escape loneliness 6 . During his teenage years, Lew struggled socially and found solace in creative outlets. In interviews he has described being bullied and feeling depressed, yet discovering that rock music, anime, and consoles could give him a sense of belonging and purpose 6 .

Musical Origins and Influences

Patrick’s musical journey began around age 13, in the summer of 1999. That year his college-student cousin Andy (an avid guitarist) moved in with the family and would often play classic rock songs (e.g. Hendrix, Deep Purple) on a Fender guitar in Patrick’s bedroom. Watching Andy inspired Patrick to pick up the guitar himself – he remembers thinking “that’s when I found my true calling!” and promptly began teaching himself to play, initially using tabs and cheat sheets from magazines 7 .

Lew’s early influences were broad but grounded in 1990s rock. He fell in love with the grunge and punk giants – Nirvana and Pearl Jam, for example, became musical role models 8 9 . He also absorbed the classic-rock favorites of his parents (The Beatles, Rolling Stones) and devoured the heavy guitars of Metallica and Guns N’ Roses 8 9 . Japanese rock and pop heavily influenced him too: bands like X Japan and visual-kei groups stirred his imagination, as did the electronic energy of chiptune game music. Over time he incorporated styles from Asian pop (J-pop, K-pop), rap, blues, and old-school rock into a DIY punk- rock blend 8 9 .

By age 15, still a student at Wallenberg High School, Lew channeled this passion into forming a garage band with friends. As he later recounted, he and high-school classmates (including Eddie Blackburn and

Tommy Loi) jammed at house parties and school events as a punk/garage group. This early “samurai sorcerers” project (named for Lew’s interest in anime and Japanese heritage) would eventually evolve into the Patrick Lew Band 10 11 . Lew continued to hone his craft through high school and college, playing guitar in local punk bands and posting his home-recorded demos online, even as he studied philosophy at Cal State East Bay 12 5 .

The Patrick Lew Band (PLB)

In the mid-2000s, Patrick Lew turned his personal project into an enduring internet-era rock band. After the early garage-band days, he formed a hardcore/rock group called Band of Asians in 2005 with college friend Zack Huang and drummer David Arceo 13 . When Band of Asians wound down around 2008, Lew and Arceo kept collaborating under various names until officially renaming the group Patrick Lew Band (PLB) in late 2008 14 . The original PLB lineup was fluid, but key early contributors included high-school friends Eddie Blackburn (lead guitar) and Tommy Loi (drums), both of whom had jamming with Patrick since their teen years 11 15 . David Arceo (drums) joined by about 2005 as well, solidifying the core group. Over time the band’s roster expanded and rotated, but Patrick remained the songwriter, singer and creative heart of PLB

From its inception, PLB embraced a do-it-yourself, internet-based approach. The band released home- recorded albums and EPs directly online and on platforms like SoundClick and MySpace, often favoring a lo- fi, raw energy. Reviewers noted that PLB’s sound was a bold blend of genres – grunge punk guitars meeting J-pop hooks and glitchy chiptune beats – reflecting Lew’s own eclectic tastes 16 15 . Over the years (2006– 2025), PLB amassed a prolific catalog (well over a dozen albums, many EPs, and even a live DVD), steadily building an underground following across the web 16 17 . The band’s themes often fused personal struggle with cultural identity; Lew later said he aimed for PLB’s music to become “a voice of the Asian- Americancommunity”andtochallengestereotypes 18 .

A distinctive chapter in PLB’s story was the creation of Madeline Lew, a cross-dressing male-to-female alter ego that Patrick debuted in 2015. In this theatrical performance art stunt, Patrick himself appeared in drag as “Madeline,” marketed as his fictional cousin/girlfriend and portrayed through digital avatars and smartphone photo apps 19 . Madeline became a virtual bassist and occasional singer for PLB, using VOCALOID/AI-generated vocals alongside Patrick’s real instrumentation 19 . This bold stunt resonated with fans: Madeline’s arrival coincided with renewed attention to the band and helped thrust PLB into wider indie visibility 20 . Madeline’s storyline (challenging gender norms in rock) became as much a part of PLB’s identity as its music, symbolizing Patrick’s commitment to creative freedom. (Onstage and online, Madeline performed humorous skits and appeared in music videos, deepening the band’s internet cult.)

PLB remained primarily an online “virtual” band, rarely touring in the traditional sense. Instead, Patrick coordinated remote contributions – band members would record parts from home studios and send them in for mixing – making PLB an early example of a globally-collaborative indie project 21 . Nonetheless, the band did play occasional local shows in Northern California. In September 2023, the Patrick Lew Band’s long-running indie achievements were acknowledged when PLB was inducted into the Akademia Music Awards Hall of Fame 22 . By then, Patrick had officially added his mother’s maiden name into his own, becomingPatrickLewHayashi,thoughhecontinuedtoheadPLBasbefore 22 .

Over the years PLB’s inner circle included other collaborators. Notably, Patrick often worked with Madoku Raye (born Sigyn Wisch), a singer originally from Vietnamese descent who had her own band Crazy Loser in

a Box. In fact, Madoku Raye provided guest vocals on PLB tracks and in 2018 even joined Crazy Loser in a Box as Patrick’s sister/collaborator 23 . This crossover underscores how PLB’s scene was tightly knit: multiple band members and projects overlapped, linked by their DIY ethos.

The Lewnatic Project

In 2019 Patrick Lew launched a new musical persona: Lewnatic. During a hiatus that year (partly prompted by the death of his mother in 2017), Patrick teamed up with his longtime friend Ahmed (a Filipino-American rapper) to form a rap-rock duo under the name “Lewnatic” 24 . (The name fuses Patrick’s surname “Lew” with “lunatic,” reflecting his love of duality.) The pair performed monthly residencies at San Francisco’s storiedDNALoungeclub,turningitintoa“laboratoryofheavyriffs,cascadingsynthsandspoken-word” 25

24 . They even made a short tour to Japan: in August 2019 Lewnatic played intimate shows in Tokyo and Osaka,markingPatrick’sfirstperformancesinJapan 26 .

However, the Lewnatic duo was short-lived. Their final show together was on March 8, 2020 at DNA Lounge, right before the COVID-19 lockdowns – after which Patrick and Ahmed parted creative ways 27 . Patrick then quietly retooled Lewnatic as a solo project. By early 2022 he relaunched Lewnatic as a “stripped-down” personal experiment combining guitar-driven rock with electronic production and occasional rapping. Embracing streaming over traditional gigs, he even hosted monthly live shows from his home studio and online.

In mid-2022 the Lewnatic project took a new turn: Patrick signed a one-year artist-development deal with Bentley Records (a New York City label) on July 19, 2022 28 . Under Bentley’s banner Lewnatic quickly released a series of recordings: three mini-albums (EPs) – Rapid Fire! (Aug 2022), Getcha Mood On Right (2023), and The Lost Souls (2023) – all on streaming platforms 29 . Lewnatic’s first full-length album, STARCADE, arrived July 26, 2024, blending 90s grunge guitars with pop-metal hooks and retro-game aesthetics 30 . Throughout this period Patrick emphasized that his deal with the label was for creative mentorship only: he retained total independence and no touring obligations. As he told a music press, before signing he had enjoyed using Lewnatic as “a touring and live-streaming experiment,” but with Bentleyhewasfreetomakemusiconhisownterms 31 .

Alongside the studio releases, Lewnatic did perform occasionally. During 2022–23 he hosted several monthly Lewnatic nights at DNA Lounge and played San Francisco events like “Flores De Mayo” at the YMCA 32 . He also collaborated with remote venues (including in Japan) to stream performances overseas. In 2023 Patrick taped an impromptu jam for Luke Sauer’s podcast (for global online broadcast), and even launched a guerrilla promo tour in Los Angeles (leaving CDs and QR codes for curious passersby) 32 . By

late 2024 he had renewed his Bentley contract and continued working on more Lewnatic material.

Artistic Philosophy and Recognition

Throughout both his PLB and Lewnatic eras, Patrick Lew has championed a fiercely DIY and digital-first creative philosophy. He deliberately shunned conventional rock-star touring, instead building an “internet- only” identity that allows him to merge genres and identities freely. As one profile puts it, in an era of algorithm-driven music few artists are as “bold enough to build a career on authenticity and cultural pride” as Lew 33 . He has often said that giving himself complete control (from songwriting to production to online marketing) helps him stay true to his vision.

Patrick’s music and persona deeply reflect his personal journey. He has built his bands around themes of self-acceptance and outsider pride. The use of the Madeline Lew alter ego is a prime example: it was not just a gimmick but “part of my truth,” as Patrick remarked, and a way to express facets of himself that couldn’t come out as “Patrick” 34 . His lyrics and imagery frequently touch on resilience, alienation, and empowerment – ideas born from his own struggles with being an “underdog” in life. Musically, he refuses easy genre labels: PLB blends punk, hard rock, pop and even electropop, while Lewnatic is described as “genre-blurring...anthemic,drivenbygrittyguitarsandcyberpunkswagger” 35 .

Patrick’s underground success has drawn positive attention from niche media and industry peers, especially since 2020. The Patrick Lew Band and Lewnatic have been featured in dozens of online publications (as cataloged on his Linktree), and Lee himself has given interviews to music blogs and podcasts. Notable supporters have included NBA champion-turned-MMA fighter Ken Shamrock (via a shout-out) and WWE legend Bret Hart (who recorded an encouraging Cameo message in 2022). In 2022 Simon Tam (of The Slants) publicly lauded PLB for challenging Asian-American rock stereotypes. Patrick has also been recognized academically and culturally: he was the first Japanese-American male to win CSU East Bay’s “40 Under 40” Award and was featured on the cover of Ascendant Magazine (an Atlanta-based arts journal) as an Asian-American artist 36 . These milestones underscore Patrick’s role as a trailblazer for Asian-American representation in punk and rock.

Personal Life and Interests

Offstage, Patrick Lew (Hayashi) is a self-proclaimed pop-culture nerd and community person. He lives in the Bay Area and works outside music in retail (as a Costco employee), but music and media hobbies dominate hisfreetime 37 .Heisanavidvideogamerandhardwarecollector–heenjoysclassicconsoles,PCgaming, and even tinkering with music tech (his studio gear list includes vintage MacBooks, a Fender Telecaster, and AI music tools) 38 . He also loves anime (especially classic 90s J-animation) and spends hours watching wrestling, sci-fi movies, retro TV channels (like Pluto TV), or gaming streams. He frequently hangs out with friends at local malls, dive bars, and gaming lounges around San Francisco. Food is another passion – Patrick often jokes that he lives on sushi, Korean barbecue, Mexican tacos, and pizza (favorites he credits to both his Asian heritage and Californian upbringing). He also has a fondness for cats and animals in general, often posting about rescued kittens and dogs he helps at shelters.

Finally, Patrick remains active in the Asian-American and Japanese-American communities. He often attends cultural festivals, Japanese school alumni events, and supports local pan-Asian organizations in the Bay Area. His dual heritage (Chinese-Taiwanese-Japanese background) is a point of pride: in music and life he strives to “break walls down,” as he puts it, and inspire others who share his background. Through his journey – from a shy, “uncool” SF kid to an internet-fueled rock icon – Patrick Lew Hayashi has continually reinvented himself with authenticity, resilience, and that same punk-rock spirit that captured his teenage imagination 33 35 .

Sources: Reputable music press and artist profiles, including Breaking Tunes, SoundClick, Mixposure (artist blog), BuzzSlayers, and interviews with Patrick Lew/BuzzSlayers 33 39 35 40 1 , among others. All biographical details above are drawn from these sources and the artist’s published statements.

1 3 4 5 17 19 20 22 29 Mixposure : Home of Indie Musicians https://mixposure.com/lewnatic415/blog/10116/lewnatic-band-bio

2 8 21 25 26 27 28 30 35 LEWNATIC – Alternative & Grunge Music | Free MP3 Downloads (MP3/WAV) – New Songs
https://www.soundclick.com/lewnatic

6 7 9 40 Interview with Punk Rock Artist Lewnatic on New EP and More https://muzicnotez.com/magazine/2024/06/interview-with-punk-rock-artist-lewnatic-on-latest-ep-the-lost-souls/? srsltid=AfmBOopNuBgOyQqTl_rruqOoYpA8Sy346l8UUjrCJ84GLpemMwhoUEaC

10 11 12 13 14 : Biography - Spirit of Rock https://www.spirit-of-rock.com/en/biography/Patrick_Lew_Band/6263

15 18 Patrick Lew Band (PLB) - N1M https://www.n1m.com/patricklewband

16 33 34 Patrick Lew Band (PLB) – Breaking Tunes https://www.breakingtunes.com/patricklewband

23 36 An underdog who is making it big in the Punk Rock and Electronic world, acclaimed artist Patrick... | by ArtistPR | Music Press Release | Medium https://medium.com/music-press-release/an-underdog-who-is-making-it-big-in-the-punk-rock-and-electronic-world-acclaimed- artist-patrick-fe6b7d0a425

24 32 37 38 39 LEWNATIC – Breaking Tunes https://www.breakingtunes.com/lewnatic

31 An Interview With Patrick Lew of Lewnatic https://www.buzzslayers.com/post/an-interview-with-patrick-lew-of-lewnatic

Thursday, November 27, 2025

All About Madeline Lew

Name: Madeline Lew

Nicknames: Maddie, The Duff

Born: November 16, 1985 (fictional), October 31, 2015 (as a digital avatar)

Ethnicity: Half-Japanese (HAFU)

Hometown: Osaka, Japan

Current Residence: Oakland, CA, United States (fictional)

Relatives: Patrick Lew Hayashi (sibling & alter-ego)

Occupation: Musician, Social-Media Influencer, Retail Assistant Manager (via Grocery Outlet)

Genres: Alternative, Rock, Punk, Electronic, AI & Virtual

Instruments Played: Lead Vocals (via AI & VOCALOID 6), Bass, Rhythm Guitar, CDJ, Electronics

Website: https://linktr.ee/madelinelew

Meet Madeline Lew, The Virtual Member of the Internet-based San Francisco Rock band, PLB

As the bassist, virtual mascot, and occasional singer/songwriter of the Patrick Lew Band (PLB) since Halloween 2015, Madeline made a quick rise to the top regionally and on the Internet with her older brother's band.

Madeline's tenure with the Patrick Lew Band was met with critical acclaim upon her arrival, and her presence in the musical project brought the band back to prominence in the indie music circuit and locally in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her first appearance with the band in the studio was their 2017 release OAKLAND. Aside from playing bass on numerous tracks and recordings with the Patrick Lew Band, she has also lent her lead vocals to a few PLB songs, such as "BE YOURSELF!", "Burning Desire" and "Nothing Stands Our Way" on their 2021 album Rolling Thunder.

During PLB's second hiatus between 2017 and 2020, Madeline kept busy through digital print modeling, photography and also joined Patrick and his then-girlfriend Madoku Raye's band Crazy Loser in a Box! in the Silicon Valley. And also did a few side-gigs as an EDM DJ at rave music parties. Madeline was inducted as a member of the Patrick Lew Band (PLB) in the 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame alongside Patrick at his alma mater California State University - East Bay in 2019.

Created from digital special effects, CGI and Photoshop, Madeline Lew is the ingenious alter-ego of Patrick Lew Hayashi, the talented musician behind the Patrick Lew Band. This virtual member joined the band in 2015, helping to bring its music back to prominence and achieving moderate indie-level success. In this article, we'll explore the story of Madeline Lew and her impact on the band's career, as well as get a glimpse into the daily life of Patrick Lew and Madeline.

Madeline Lew is the brainchild of Patrick Lew Hayashi, the frontman of PLB, who created the fictitious character as his alter-ego in 2015. The band had just decided to function exclusively as an internet-based virtual rock band when Madeline Lew joined them as a virtual band member.

Created through digital special effects, Madeline Lew is an integral part of the band's marketing storyline. In this storyline, Madeline Lew's role is described as the younger sister of Patrick Lew Hayashi, who saves the band from failure and brings their music back to prominence. Despite being a virtual member, Madeline Lew's presence is felt in the band's music, videos, and live performances. She is also an important character in Patrick Lew's solo project, Lewnatic.

Madeline Lew's introduction as a virtual band member and mascot helped PLB achieve the moderate indie-level success that they had not accomplished prior to 2015. It brought Patrick Lew's profitability back to prominence in the music scene and garnered the band publicity.

Daily Life for Patrick and Madeline

As for Patrick Lew and Madeline Lew's daily life, they love playing video games, immersing themselves in the Asian-American and Japanese community and culture, watching and streaming reruns on their Sony Smart TV, grabbing food outside, attending sporting and wrestling events, hanging out with friends at the mall, and checking out live music and concerts.

These days, PLB is a self-sufficient internet-based virtual rock band from San Francisco, sustained by their indie music career and social media. Madeline Lew does not travel and tour as much, so Patrick Lew plays shows and makes music under the LEWNATIC banner. The future of PLB and LEWNATIC may be uncertain, but one thing is for sure - they are not going anywhere anytime soon.

The Future of Patrick and Madeline Lew

Madeline Lew took a step back from PLB in August 2022, as Patrick Lew semi-retired her character in the project.

However, Madeline Lew will still make occasional part-time appearances with the band. Patrick Lew and Madeline Lew are looking forward to potential greatness that might come from PLB.

In conclusion, Patrick Lew and Madeline Lew want to thank their fans for staying true to their band and supporting them all these years. They believe that if you work hard enough and want it bad enough, dreams can come true.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Lewnatic: The Definitive Band Biography of Patrick Lew’s Genre-Blurring Solo Project

Introduction

Lewnatic is the electrifying, genre-defying solo project of San Francisco’s Patrick Lew Hayashi, a musician whose career has spanned over two decades of relentless reinvention, cultural storytelling, and digital innovation. Emerging from the ashes of the Patrick Lew Band (PLB), Lewnatic stands as both a personal and artistic rebirth—a post-PLB reinvention that fuses grunge, pop-metal, J-pop, and electronic music into a singular, cinematic sound. This biography explores Lewnatic’s origins, musical style, influences, discography, live performances, collaborators, and the project’s impact on Patrick Lew’s artistic legacy, offering a comprehensive narrative suitable for press kits, websites, and streaming platforms.

Origins: The Early Life of Patrick Lew and the Genesis of Lewnatic

Multicultural Roots and Musical Awakening

Patrick Lew Hayashi was born on November 15, 1985, in San Francisco, California, to a Chinese father and a Sino-Japanese mother. Growing up in the Excelsior District, Patrick was immersed in a household where The Beatles and The Rolling Stones played alongside Motown and J-pop, reflecting the city’s vibrant multicultural tapestry. This early exposure to both Western rock and East Asian pop would later become a defining feature of his music.

At age 13, Patrick’s musical journey began when his cousin Andy, a blues-loving guitarist, played Jimi Hendrix and Deep Purple riffs on a forgotten Fender guitar in the family home. Inspired, Patrick taught himself guitar through online tabs and cheat sheets, developing a fiercely independent, DIY approach to music-making that would underpin his entire career.

The Patrick Lew Band: Foundation and Evolution

Patrick’s first formal band, Samurai Sorcerers, formed during his high school years at Raoul Wallenberg High School and Soko Gakuen Japanese School. The group, which included classmates Eddie Blackburn and Tommy Loi, rehearsed in garages and posted demos online, foreshadowing Patrick’s later embrace of digital-first music distribution.

By 2001, Patrick had founded the Patrick Lew Band (PLB), which would become his flagship project for over two decades. PLB’s sound was rooted in garage punk and grunge, but quickly expanded to incorporate alternative rock, J-pop, and electronic elements. The band’s operational model was ahead of its time: members recorded their parts remotely and sent them to Patrick for final mixing—a precursor to the virtual collaboration that would later define Lewnatic.

PLB’s prolific output included albums such as Jump! Rattle! And Roll!!! (2006), Curb Your Wild Life (2009), Let It Rise and Against (2009), and Murder Bay (2011), each marked by a blend of punk rawness, melodic hooks, and layered guitar work. The band’s lyrics often explored themes of alienation, resilience, and cultural identity, reflecting Patrick’s own experiences as a mixed-race Asian-American navigating the complexities of American society.

Reinvention Through Adversity: The Madeline Lew Era

In 2015, during a period of personal turmoil, Patrick introduced Madeline Lew—his cross-dressing, male-to-female alter ego—into the PLB narrative. Created through a combination of cosplay, CGI, and VOCALOID technology, Madeline became both a virtual band member and a symbol of reinvention, challenging gender norms and rebooting the band’s image. This move catalyzed a renaissance for PLB, earning blog features, radio mentions, and a surge of online recognition.

Madeline’s presence brought theatrical flair and a new layer of storytelling to PLB, paving the way for the genre-blurring experiments that would later define Lewnatic. The virtual band concept—melding music, visual art, and digital personas—became central to Patrick’s creative identity.

The Birth of Lewnatic: From Duo to Solo Project

Lewnatic was officially formed on July 1, 2019, as a rap-metal duo with Patrick’s longtime friend Ahmed (A.K.AYE). The name “Lewnatic” is a portmanteau of Patrick’s surname and “lunatic,” signaling his fearless approach to genre fusion and sonic unpredictability. The duo quickly established a monthly residency at San Francisco’s historic DNA Lounge, transforming the venue into a laboratory of heavy riffs, cascading synths, and spoken-word interludes.

In August 2019, Lewnatic made its first forays into Japan, playing intimate venues in Tokyo and Osaka—a testament to Patrick’s affinity for Japanese pop culture and his ambition to bridge East and West through music.

The COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 marked a turning point. With live venues shuttered, Ahmed amicably departed, and Patrick transformed Lewnatic into a solo project. This shift allowed him to harness digital tools, live streaming, and AI-driven production, reaching fans worldwide and setting the stage for Lewnatic’s evolution as a one-person, genre-blurring act.

Musical Style: Genre Blending and Sonic Identity

Core Sound and Influences

At its heart, Lewnatic is a hybrid of 90s grunge grit, pop-metal theatrics, J-pop sweetness, and electronic experimentation. Patrick’s songs often pivot mid-track, juxtaposing sludgy guitar riffs with crystalline synth arpeggios, anthemic choruses, and digital beats. This genre-blending approach is both a reflection of his multicultural upbringing and a deliberate challenge to musical boundaries.

Key influences include:

Grunge and Alternative Rock: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Silverchair, Soundgarden
Pop-Metal and Classic Rock: Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Oasis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin
J-Rock and J-Pop: X Japan, Miyavi, B’z, Yutaka Ozaki, City Pop, Chiptune
Contemporary Hybrids: BTS, Babymetal, Gorillaz (virtual band model)
Electronic and Experimental: AI-generated beats, VOCALOID, digital production tools

Patrick’s guitar work is marked by fiery solos, punk exuberance, and melodic sensibility, while his production style embraces both analog and digital techniques. Vocals are often layered with VOCALOID software, especially when resurrecting Madeline Lew’s AI-generated timbre, adding a futuristic edge to the music.

Thematic Content and Lyrical Motifs

Lewnatic’s lyrics and instrumental narratives explore themes of:

Alienation and Outsider Identity: Reflecting Patrick’s experiences with bullying, cultural duality, and underrepresentation as an Asian-American in rock
Resilience and Self-Empowerment: Songs often serve as anthems of perseverance, channeling personal and societal struggles into cathartic expression
Digital Life and Technology: The Internet as both stage and refuge, with frequent references to virtual collaboration, AI, and the digital age
Cultural Storytelling: Blending Eastern and Western motifs, Lewnatic’s music often serves as a bridge between traditions, celebrating diversity and hybrid identity.

Instrumental tracks are common, with Patrick noting, “A great piece of rock and roll music doesn’t always need lead vocals.” When lyrics are present, they are direct, introspective, and often peppered with Japanese phrases, underscoring the project’s cross-cultural ethos.

Genre Fusion in Context: Kawaii Metal and J-Pop

Lewnatic’s sound is part of a broader movement of genre fusion in contemporary music, particularly the blending of heavy metal with J-pop—a style known as “kawaii metal.” Pioneered by Japanese acts like Babymetal, kawaii metal combines aggressive guitar work, electronic elements, and pop melodies, often accompanied by theatrical visuals and choreography. While Lewnatic’s approach is distinct, the project shares this spirit of innovation, drawing on both the intensity of metal and the melodic sensibility of J-pop to create a sound that is both nostalgic and futuristic.

Discography: Albums, EPs, and Notable Releases

Lewnatic’s discography is a testament to Patrick’s prolific creativity and willingness to experiment. Since its solo rebirth in 2022, the catalog has grown steadily, encompassing albums, EPs, singles, and live recordings.

Major Releases

Release Title	Type	Release Date	Label/Distribution	Notable Tracks / Features
Rapid Fire!	EP	Aug 17, 2022	Bentley Records	“We The People,” “My Only Fan”
Getcha Mood On Right	EP	2023	Bentley Records	“Shakermaker”
The Lost Souls	EP	Mar 15, 2023	Bentley Records	“Victory!” (feat. Madeline Lew)
STARRCADE	Album	Jul 26, 2024	Bentley Records	“Stronger Than Before,” “No Man’s World,” “Victory!” (feat. Madeline Lew)
Defy All Odds	EP	Jul 4, 2025	Lewnatic	“Defy All Odds”
Persona//Overflow	Album	Aug 15, 2025	Lewnatic	“Xenophobe (Against the Hate),” “Find Myself” (feat. Madeline Lew), “What Went Wrong” (Blink 182 cover)
OVERTURE	EP	Sep 15, 2025	Lewnatic	“Codebreaker,” “Baptized in Rock & Roll”

Each release is available on major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and Top Music Japan.

STARRCADE (2024): The Debut Album

STARRCADE represents a milestone in Lewnatic’s evolution. Released worldwide on July 26, 2024, the album curates the best songs from the preceding EP trilogy—Rapid Fire!, Getcha Mood On Right, and The Lost Souls—and weaves them into a cohesive, theatrical experience. The album blends pop-metal anthems with J-pop–inflected choruses, showcasing Patrick’s knack for crafting earworms that hit as hard as his gritty guitar solos.

Notable tracks include “Stronger Than Before,” “No Man’s World,” “My Only Fan,” and “Victory!” (featuring Madeline Lew). The album’s themes center on resilience, digital identity, and the search for belonging in a fragmented world.

The Lost Souls (2023): Personal and Experimental

The Lost Souls EP, released in March 2023, is a deeply personal record, written during a period of mental health struggles and social-media adversity. The EP channels the sounds of early 90s hard rock and grunge, with tracks like “Together We Rise” and “Victory!” (featuring Madeline Lew) blending youthful energy, camaraderie, and experimental production. The record’s lo-fi aesthetic adds intimacy, making it both relatable and emotionally resonant.

Persona//Overflow (2025): Conceptual Ambition

Persona//Overflow, released August 15, 2025, marks Lewnatic’s most ambitious project to date. The album explores themes of homecoming, collective memory, and digital identity, featuring guest appearances by Madeline Lew and covers of iconic tracks like Nirvana’s “Jesus Don’t Want Me For A Sunbeam” and Blink 182’s “What Went Wrong.” The album’s narrative structure and orchestral swells reflect Patrick’s growing interest in cinematic storytelling and collaborative creativity.

Instrumental Beat Tapes and Remix Stems

Beyond official releases, Patrick periodically drops instrumental beat tapes and remix stems on his Discord server, inviting fans to reinterpret his work and collaborate across borders. This interactive approach has fostered a vibrant online community, blurring the lines between artist and audience.

Collaborators and Contributors

Ahmed: The Duo Era

Ahmed (A.K.AYE), a Filipino-American rapper and multi-instrumentalist, co-founded Lewnatic as a rap-metal duo in 2019. His verses and stage presence complemented Patrick’s guitar-driven riffs, resulting in energetic live shows that resonated with San Francisco’s underground scene. The duo’s monthly residencies at DNA Lounge established Lewnatic’s local credibility before Ahmed’s amicable departure in early 2020.

Madeline Lew: Virtual Alter Ego and Creative Muse

Madeline Lew, Patrick’s cross-dressing, male-to-female virtual avatar, was introduced in 2015 during the PLB era. Created through VOCALOID and AI vocals, Madeline served as a fictitious cousin, band mascot, and occasional featured vocalist. Her presence catalyzed PLB’s resurgence and continues to influence Lewnatic’s visual and sonic identity, especially on tracks like “Victory!” and “Find Myself”.

Madoku Raye: Occasional Collaborator

Madoku Raye, a vocalist, songwriter, and producer, has contributed to both PLB and Lewnatic projects since 2021. Her involvement brings fresh perspectives and additional layers to Patrick’s later digital-era releases.

RPG Mezzy: Featured Artist

RPG Mezzy is credited as a featured artist on the STARRCADE album, contributing to tracks such as “Hot Curves,” “We The People,” and “Victory!” Their collaboration adds depth and diversity to Lewnatic’s sound.

Live Performances and Touring History

DNA Lounge Residencies and Local Shows

Lewnatic’s live shows are renowned for their theatrical flair and cyberpunk swagger. During the duo era, Patrick and Ahmed held monthly residencies at San Francisco’s DNA Lounge, transforming the venue into a laboratory of genre fusion and performance art. These shows often featured custom visuals, rapid instrument changes, and a blend of live and virtual elements.

In August 2019, Lewnatic performed in Japan, playing intimate venues in Tokyo and Osaka. These international appearances underscored the project’s global ambition and Patrick’s connection to Japanese pop culture.

Transition to Virtual Concerts and Livestreams

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced a shift from in-person gigs to virtual performances. Patrick embraced live-streaming on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, turning his bedroom into a dynamic stage for real-time fan interaction. These nightly streams feature improvised jams, Q&A sessions, and behind-the-scenes production tutorials, blurring the line between performance and workshop.

The virtual Japan tour paired pre-recorded video collages shot in Tokyo’s Shibuya district with live guitar overlays from San Francisco, allowing fans in Tokyo and worldwide to participate in a shared digital experience.

Innovative Promotion: CD/QR Code Street Tours

In mid-May 2024, Patrick launched a CD/QR code promotional tour across Los Angeles, turning urban alleys into pop-up listening booths. Passersby could scan codes to download exclusive tracks, remix them, and return the results for spotlight features on Lewnatic’s channel. This analogue twist on digital distribution exemplifies Patrick’s inventive approach to fan engagement.

Community Engagement: Discord and Remix Contests

Through Discord, Patrick hosts monthly remix contests, sample swaps, and voice-note feedback circles. This interactive ecosystem has become integral to Lewnatic’s identity, fostering a sense of community and collaborative creativity among fans and fellow musicians.

Virtual Collaboration, AI, and Production Setup

Embracing Technology: AI and Virtual Band Model

Lewnatic is a pioneer in integrating AI-driven production and virtual collaboration into the creative process. Patrick uses AI tools to generate instrumentals and backing tracks, which he then augments with his own guitar, piano, synth, and vocal parts. This hybrid approach—“half-AI and half-realistic”—allows for rapid experimentation and fresh ideas, while maintaining a distinctly human touch.

VOCALOID software is used to create Madeline Lew’s AI-generated vocals, adding another layer of digital artistry to the project. Patrick’s willingness to embrace new technologies reflects his belief that authenticity flourishes when artists embrace contradiction and innovation.

Home Studio and Technical Gear

Patrick’s home studio, dubbed “Lewnatic HQ,” is a testament to the power of DIY production. The setup includes:

Guitars: Fender Telecaster, Epiphone Les Paul, Rogue SX100B bass
Amps: Marshall CODE50 (digital modeling), Vox AD50VT, Glarry 20-watt practice amp
Pedals: Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion
Recording Hardware: PreSonus AudioBox iOne interface, 2012 MacBook Pro, 2015 MacBook Air, HP Victus laptop
Software: Logic Pro X, GarageBand, Apple MainStage 3, iMovie (for video editing)
Digital Tools: AI music generators (Sound Raw Japan, Launchpad iOS app), VOCALOID, iPhone 13 Pro for mobile tracking and video
Other: Boss Dr. Rhythm DR-3 drum machine, inexpensive digital audio interface

This minimalist yet sophisticated setup enables Patrick to produce, mix, and master his music independently, embodying the ethos of the modern bedroom producer.

Production Process

Patrick’s creative process often begins with a thematic prompt—an idea, word, or phrase evoking urban life or a philosophical concept. He sketches chord progressions, programs drum loops, and textures the mix with field recordings from city streets or vintage arcade game samples. Each song emerges as a collage of real and synthetic elements, mirroring Patrick’s hybrid identity and commitment to authenticity through contradiction.

Visual Identity, Branding, and Stagecraft

Cover Art and Visual Aesthetics

Lewnatic’s visual identity is a patchwork of 90s VHS aesthetics, anime ephemera, and cyberpunk motifs. Patrick designs cover art using collage techniques that evoke both nostalgia and futurism, drawing inspiration from the vibrant world of anime, retro video games, and classic rock iconography.

Music videos are often shot on an iPhone 13 Pro and edited in iMovie, embracing lo-fi charm over polished slickness. AI-generated overlays and motion graphics blur the line between human performance and digital artifice, reinforcing Lewnatic’s fluid persona.

Stage Outfits and Performance Art

Onstage, Patrick’s outfits range from minimalist streetwear to elaborate cosplay nods. One moment he dons a denim jacket spray-painted with circuit diagrams; the next, he’s draped in a cyberpunk-inspired kimono. These shifts reinforce Lewnatic’s commitment to fluid identity and theatrical storytelling.

The integration of Madeline Lew as a virtual bandmate adds another layer of performance art, challenging gender norms and expanding the project’s narrative universe.

Critical Reception and Press Coverage

Lewnatic has garnered acclaim from indie music blogs, digital magazines, and international press for its genre-defying sound, innovative production, and cultural storytelling.

Music Review World described Lewnatic as “the genre-bending rock project of Patrick Lew Hayashi,” highlighting the project’s fusion of pop-metal, grunge, and classic rock, as well as its fiery guitar solos and experimental sounds.
ArtistPR and MUSIC PR Japan praised Lewnatic’s dynamic fusion of rock, J-pop, and grunge, noting Patrick’s role as an Asian-American icon and his commitment to positivity and representation in the music industry.
MuzicNotez and BuzzSlayers lauded the Rapid Fire! EP as a “pure guitar rock album with loads of drive and plenty of heart,” emphasizing Patrick’s prowess as a guitarist and the emotional depth of his arrangements.
Top Music Japan and MUSIC PR Japan have featured Lewnatic alongside other J-Rock and J-Pop luminaries, expanding the project’s reach in Japan and abroad.

Lewnatic’s instrumental and genre-bending approach is often described as “impossible to label”—a point of pride for Patrick and a hallmark of the project’s critical appeal.

Fan Community and Engagement Strategies

Lewnatic’s fan community is as diverse and dynamic as the music itself. Patrick’s interactive approach—through Discord, YouTube, and social media—has fostered a global network of fans, collaborators, and fellow musicians.

Livestream Concerts: Regular YouTube and Twitch streams offer fans improvised jams, Q&A sessions, and behind-the-scenes access to the creative process.
Remix Contests: Monthly remix contests and sample swaps on Discord invite fans to reinterpret Lewnatic’s work, blurring the line between artist and audience.
Digital Content: Over 700 videos on YouTube, including music videos, tutorials, and vlogs, provide a window into Patrick’s world and creative journey.
Social Media: Active engagement on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok keeps fans informed and involved, while collaborations with MUSIC PR Japan and Top Music Japan expand the project’s international footprint.

Patrick’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and cultural advocacy resonates deeply with fans, many of whom see Lewnatic as a beacon for marginalized and underrepresented voices in rock music.

Impact on Patrick Lew’s Artistic Legacy

Post-PLB Reinvention and Artistic Evolution

Lewnatic represents a bold new chapter in Patrick Lew’s artistic journey. Following the official retirement of the Patrick Lew Band in July 2025, Lewnatic has become the primary vehicle for Patrick’s creative expression, embodying the lessons, innovations, and resilience honed over two decades in the indie music scene.

The project’s genre-blending approach, virtual collaboration, and embrace of AI-driven production position Lewnatic at the forefront of contemporary music innovation. By integrating cultural storytelling, philosophical inquiry, and digital artistry, Patrick has crafted a body of work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

Cultural and Emotional Storytelling

Lewnatic’s music serves as a vehicle for cultural and emotional storytelling, weaving together narratives of alienation, resilience, and self-empowerment. The project’s cross-cultural ethos—bridging East and West, analog and digital, tradition and reinvention—reflects Patrick’s own journey as a mixed-race Asian-American artist.

Through songs that celebrate diversity, challenge stereotypes, and advocate for marginalized voices, Lewnatic has become a symbol of representation and possibility in the indie rock landscape.

Recognition and Awards

Patrick’s contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including:

Induction into the Akademia Music Hall of Fame (2023)
First Japanese-American male recipient of CSU East Bay’s 40 Under 40 Award (2019)
AcademiaMusic Award (2016) for the experimental track “Game Changer”

These milestones underscore Patrick’s resilience, innovation, and enduring impact on the music industry.

Future Projects and Upcoming Releases

Looking ahead, Patrick plans to continue expanding Lewnatic’s sonic and visual universe. Upcoming projects include:

A full-length concept album (late 2025): Exploring themes of homecoming, collective memory, and digital identity, with guest features, orchestral swells, and interactive companion visuals.
In-person shows in Japan (late 2025): Collaborations with local producers to infuse new textures and perspectives into Lewnatic’s sound.
Integration of cinematic elements: Patrick is exploring acting auditions and plans to incorporate more cinematic storytelling into future music videos.
Continued virtual concerts and livestreams: Ongoing engagement with fans through YouTube, Discord, and social media, including monthly remix contests and behind-the-scenes content.

Patrick’s vision for Lewnatic remains open-ended—a project where identity, technology, and community converge to celebrate the creative process itself.

Conclusion: Lewnatic’s Legacy and Invitation

Lewnatic’s journey from bedroom demos to global livestream spectacles is a testament to Patrick Lew Hayashi’s restless curiosity, fearless genre-hopping, and unwavering commitment to authenticity. As a post-PLB reinvention, Lewnatic embodies the spirit of resilience, innovation, and cultural storytelling, inviting listeners to join an ongoing odyssey where the only rule is to embrace the unexpected.

Whether you’re tuning in on YouTube, remixing stems in Discord, or dancing at a pop-up performance, Lewnatic offers a space for outsiders, dreamers, and rebels—a “Lewniverse” where music, identity, and technology collide in a celebration of possibility.

Lewnatic is not just a band. It’s a movement. It’s the future.

For streaming, exclusive releases, and digital vlogs, connect with Lewnatic on:

Contact: lewnatic@bentleyrecordsred.net

“Lewnatic is me, unfiltered. No gimmicks, just raw emotion and anime beats.” — Patrick Lew Hayashi

Got it — I’ll start researching a detailed band biography for Lewnatic, focusing on its origins, musical evolution, key releases like STARRCADE, and its role in your post-PLB creative journey. This will take me several minutes, so feel free to leave — I'll keep working in the background. Your report will be saved in this conversation.

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Lewnatic

Lewnatic is the electrifying, genre-blurring brainchild of San Francisco’s Patrick Lew Hayashi—a one-person band and mythic Asian-American guitar hero smashing the walls between punk, grunge, J-Pop, and digital rock. Fusing 90s grunge grit, arena-sized pop-metal riffs, and a fearless DIY ethos, Lewnatic delivers wild, hook-laden anthems with theatrical flair and cyberpunk swagger. From the bedroom studio to global virtual stages, Lewnatic’s music pulses with raw resilience, anime-fueled energy, and outsider spirit—cinematic, rebellious, and unapologetically wired for the digital age. Tune in, turn up, and join the Lewniverse.

Origins and Formative Years

Patrick Lew Hayashi was born on November 15, 1985, in San Francisco, California, to a Chinese father and a Sino-Japanese mother. These multicultural roots exposed him early to a fusion of traditions, teaching him that bridging worlds breeds creativity.

By age 13, Patrick stumbled upon his cousin’s dusty Fender guitar and amplifier, setting off a lifelong obsession. Inspired by Nirvana’s raw power, Metallica’s precision, and The Beatles’ melodic genius, he taught himself chords and crafted his first riffs in a makeshift bedroom studio.

He navigated a dual curriculum at Raoul Wallenberg High School and Soko Gakuen Japanese School, graduating in 2004. His formal music exploration deepened at California State University, East Bay, where he earned a B.A. in Philosophy with a minor in Music Composition in June 2011.

These academic and cultural experiences cemented Patrick’s DIY ethos and philosophical approach to songwriting. He learned to think of each riff as a question, each lyric as a thesis, and each recording as an experiment.

Growing up in Daly City, he programmed backing tracks on outdated laptops and shared demos on early internet forums. This online hustle honed his production skills and taught him the value of community feedback.

The Patrick Lew Band Legacy

In 2006, Patrick launched his first major project, Band of Asians, self-releasing the album REVENGE on his 21st birthday. It was a raw manifesto of intent, filled with grunge grit and youthful defiance.

Soon after, he rebranded as the Patrick Lew Band (PLB), assembling a revolving internet-based collective. Members recorded their parts remotely and sent them to Patrick, who performed final production and mixed each track into cohesive anthems of pop-metal intensity.

Between 2006 and 2012, PLB’s prolific output included albums such as Jump! Rattle! And Roll!!!, Curb Your Wild Life, Let It Rise and Against, Murder Bay, and the Angry Yellow EP. These releases showcased Patrick’s ability to fuse punk rawness with melodic hooks and layered guitar work.

Creative differences ushered PLB into a hiatus in late 2012, but the seeds for reinvention were already planted. Patrick reflected on the collective’s spirit and began envisioning new ways to expand his musical universe.

In 2015, he resurrected PLB as a “virtual rock band,” introducing Madeline Lew—his cross-dressing M2F alter ego using VOCALOID and AI-generated vocals. This avatar rebooted the band’s image, earning blog features and Bay Area radio mentions while laying the groundwork for Lewnatic’s genre-defying experiments.

Birth of Lewnatic Duo

On July 1, 2019, Patrick and his longtime collaborator Ahmed officially formed Lewnatic as a rap-metal duo. The name marries Patrick’s surname with “lunatic,” signaling his fearless approach to genre fusion and sonic unpredictability.

They kicked off monthly residencies at San Francisco’s famed DNA Lounge, transforming the venue into a laboratory of heavy riffs, cascading synths, and spoken-word interludes. Each show blurred the lines between virtual performance art and live punk spectacle.

In August 2019, Lewnatic made their first forays into Japan, playing intimate venues in Tokyo and Osaka. These early international appearances highlighted the project’s global ambition and Patrick’s affinity for Japanese pop culture aesthetics.

As COVID-19 swept the globe in March 2020, Lewnatic’s momentum shifted. Their final duo performance at DNA Lounge on March 8 became a moment of farewell, with both members choosing divergent paths afterward.

This brief but intense chapter laid the foundation for Patrick’s next evolution—reimagining Lewnatic as a solo project that could harness digital tools and live streaming to reach fans worldwide.

Solo Transformation and Bentley Records

In early 2022, Patrick resurfaced Lewnatic as a solo act, stripping down the lineup to focus on his multi-instrumental prowess and production agility. The move allowed him to experiment with new textures and songwriting structures without compromise.

On July 19, 2022, he signed a one-year Artist Development deal with New York–based Bentley Records. This partnership provided professional mentorship and resources while preserving Lewnatic’s DIY spirit and creative autonomy.

During 2022 and 2023, Patrick released three EPs under the Lewnatic banner, each exploring themes of work, belonging, and urban solitude. He also relaunched weekly live-stream shows on YouTube, turning his bedroom into a dynamic stage for real-time fan interaction.

He embraced virtual touring, collaborating with Japanese indie venues to stream performances overseas. Back in the U.S., an innovative CD/QR code street promo tour in Los Angeles invited passersby to scan and download exclusive tracks—an analogue twist on digital distribution.

Patrick’s solo era honed his vision of Lewnatic as both a personal diary and a communal playground. It demonstrated how one artist could wield technology to collapse geographical boundaries and spark collaborative creativity.

Musical Style, Gear, and Production

At its core, Lewnatic is a hybrid of 90s grunge grit, pop-metal theatrics, J-pop sweetness, and electronic experiment. Patrick’s songs often pivot mid-track, juxtaposing sludgy guitar riffs with crystalline synth arpeggios.

His gear list reads like a modern bedroom-producer’s dream: a Fender Telecaster feeding into a Marshall CODE50, a PreSonus AudioBox iOne for crisp preamps, and Logic Pro as his digital canvas. He alternates between a 2015 MacBook Air and the latest HP Victus laptop for rendering AI instrumentals and looped beats.

For vocals, he layers his own tracks with VOCALOID software, occasionally resurrecting Madeline Lew’s AI-generated timbre. Effects pedals like the Boss DS-2 add distortion textures, while a modest Glarry 20-watt amp powers intimate rehearsals and livestream jam sessions.

Patrick’s production process begins with a thematic prompt—often a word or phrase evoking urban life or a philosophical concept. From there, he sketches chord progressions, programs drum loops, and textures the mix with field recordings from city streets or vintage arcade game samples.

Each song emerges as a collage of real and synthetic elements, mirroring Patrick’s hybrid identity and his belief that authenticity flourishes when you embrace contradiction.

Discography and Notable Releases

Since its solo rebirth, Lewnatic’s catalog has grown steadily. His first three EPs—released in late 2022 and throughout 2023—dive into the rhythms of shift work, the alienation of late-night commutes, and fleeting connections in digital spaces.

The debut STARRCADE album in 2024 marked a leap toward theatrical flair, weaving pop-metal anthems with J-pop–inflected choruses. It showcased Patrick’s knack for crafting earworms that hit just as hard as his gritty guitar solos.

Singles like “My Only Fan” and “Victory!” have become livestream staples. They epitomize Lewnatic’s signature interplay of darkly melodic hooks and waves of distorted ambience.

Patrick plans to unveil a full-length concept album by late 2025, exploring themes of homecoming and collective memory. Early demos hint at guest features, orchestral swells, and interactive companion visuals.

Beyond releases, he periodically drops instrumental beat tapes and remix stems on his Discord server, inviting fans to reinterpret his work and collaborate across borders.

Live Shows and Virtual Community

Lewnatic’s live shows defy traditional formats. At DNA Lounge, Patrick projected custom visuals synchronized to backing tracks, while switching between guitar, keyboard, and vocal mic in rapid succession.

Since 2022, his nightly YouTube streams have drawn a dedicated subset of fans who tune in for improvised jams, Q&A sessions, and behind-the-scenes production tutorials. These streams blur the line between performance and workshop.

The virtual Japan tour paired pre-recorded video collages shot in Tokyo’s Shibuya district with live guitar overlays from San Francisco. Fans in Tokyo watched on local screens, while viewers worldwide joined via chat to share impressions in real time.

During the LA CD/QR promo, Patrick documented street performances on Instagram, turning urban alleys into pop-up listening booths. He then invited passersby to remix the tracks and return the results for spotlight features on his channel.

Through Discord, he hosts monthly remix contests, sample swaps, and voice-note feedback circles. This interactive ecosystem has become as integral to Lewnatic’s identity as its recorded catalog.

Visual Identity and Future Directions

Patrick designs Lewnatic’s cover art using collage techniques that nod to 90s VHS aesthetics and anime ephemera. The result is a patchwork style that feels both nostalgic and futuristic.

Stage outfits run the gamut from minimalist streetwear to elaborate cosplay nods—one moment he’s in a denim jacket spray-painted with circuit diagrams, the next draped in a cyberpunk-inspired kimono. These shifts reinforce Lewnatic’s fluid persona.

Looking ahead, Patrick aims to bring Lewnatic to Japan for in-person shows in late 2025, collaborating with local producers to infuse his sound with new textures. He’s also exploring acting auditions, hoping to integrate cinematic elements into future music videos.

As Lewnatic ventures into its next chapter, it remains an open canvas—a project where identity, technology, and community converge to celebrate the creative process itself.

Lewnatic’s journey from bedroom demos to global livestream spectacles highlights Patrick Lew Hayashi’s restless curiosity and fearless genre-hopping. Each chapter has built on the last, weaving a narrative of reinvention and communal exploration. Whether you’re tuning in on YouTube, remixing stems in Discord, or dancing at a pop-up performance, Lewnatic invites you to join an ongoing odyssey where the only rule is to embrace the unexpected.