Interview with ANDREAH.
Interviewed by Laury Verdoux
ANDREAH is a rising singer-songwriter whose musical journey seamlessly weaves together the rich influences of Ireland and the Philippines. At just 22 years old, she has emerged as a prominent figure in the music industry, touring with prominent artists such as Sam Smith and The Script, among many others.
Her latest release, "Me People", serves as a heartfelt exploration of the challenges and joys inherent in forging deep connections. The track, a reflection of ANDREAH's personal experiences of constant movement and the quest for meaningful connections, oscillates between wholesome, feel-good vibes and a touch of melancholy. We got to chat with the artist around this new release.
Hi ANDREAH! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in the music industry?
I'm a 22-year-old Irish-Filipina singer-songwriter! I've been singing since I was 6, and writing music since I was 13. I had my first gig at 16, after the release of my song "Best Friend", a song I wrote in my bedroom at 15 years old. Releasing this song on Spotify opened so many doors for me as I was asked to open for some big names in Asia. I'm always writing music - I've written around 30 songs in total. I always write music based on personal experiences, so all of my songs are kind of like diary entries at different times in my life.
The inspiration behind your new track "My People" is quite unique. Can you share more about the co-writing session with Justin Stanley and Aijia and how the idea for the song came about?
It was actually my first co-writing session ever! I was in LA for a few weeks and I got in touch with Aijia - we decided that we wanted to write a song, but needed to find a producer to work with. The idea of collaborating with Justin too came up, as he had produced some of my previous song releases. When we first arrived at the studio, we were deciding what to write about. I started throwing around the idea of writing songs about boys or relationships, but Aijia asked if there was "something else bothering me that I could write about". I replied by saying "you know what, I've moved around so much in my life. All I wanna do is find a group of people that I really get along with". She then sang the line "All I'm tryna do is find my people". From there, we built the chorus. Justin then started playing some chords he had written earlier, which we ended up using to create the melody for the verses. We wrote "My People" in a span of 3 hours!
You've opened for some big names in the music industry. Can you share a memorable experience from performing with artists like Sam Smith, The Script, and others?
Honestly performing in front of so many people (and opening for such big names) is life-changing. The feeling is electric - its something that I can't really describe in words. I always tell people that they should experience the feeling of being on stage in front of thousands of people clapping. It's exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. My most memorable experience though has to be when I opened for The Script last year - I had the most incredible band with me. When I was singing one of my songs live, my band started improvising some cool melodies on the spot (that I hadn't heard before). The new arrangement of the song sounded so good, that I turned around and winked at them! It was so great being on stage performing with such talented musicians, in front of such an amazing audience.
How has the pandemic affected your music career and your approach to creating and sharing music?
I think the pandemic has changed how musicians create and share music to begin with - both in good and bad ways. Good because we can reach a wider audience, but kinda bad in a way that we're so focused on creating the best 15 seconds for people to use as reels. I had this mindset initially (at the start of the pandemic) - that was until I realized (well remembered) that the reason I write music is to share my own personal experiences (not to create the catchiest 15 seconds of a song). Every lyric and melody I write is intentional (it always has a purpose in my song) - the shift in how we consume music has made me more appreciative of the reasons I write music to begin with (and this will never change).
As you continue to carve your path in the industry, what are your goals and aspirations for the future?
My goal is to release an album by the end of 2023 called "Diaries", where each song is a diary entry in my life. My people is the first song on my album! I hope that my music provides comfort to those going through hard times, as I'm writing songs I wish I had growing up. Life is hard, but knowing that you're not alone is what makes it that little bit easier.
Looking back at your career so far, what has been the most rewarding or memorable moment for you?
Honestly I don't think I could say I have 1 moment that's the most rewarding or memorable - every time I perform, its memorable. Every time I get messages from people saying they love my music, its rewarding. I'm equally grateful for the all little (and big) things.