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
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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
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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
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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.
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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 .
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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
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