Exclusive Interview with ANDRÆ

“Would you have sex with yourself if you could?” – ANDRÆ finally releases his 4th EP: “I’m Killing All My Plants,” which includes the song “Lover,” a collaboration with British slam poet Prawn Prison. The song offers a different perspective on self-love and self-lust, while making some allusions to the myth of Narcissus. After examining various toxic behaviors related to dating, ANDRÆ wanted to end his EP on a positive note. You will discover self-love and the value of being by yourself in “Lover.” Check out the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

ANDRÆ: It all started when I was 12 and got completely obsessed with playing piano. I could watch some of my friends play for hours, I was fascinated by how fast their hands were moving on the keys. So I decided to learn. Singing and songwriting came a few years later, but I was quite shy for a while.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

ANDRÆ: I taught myself piano by watching others and learning pieces by ear. It was the same for singing, songwriting and music production, it all came very instinctively.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘ANDRÆ?

ANDRÆ: My first influences were probably soul and jazz artists like Nina Simone and Ray Charles. But once I moved to London I came across The xx, James Blake and FKA twigs, which opened so many possibilities creatively. And ‘ANDRÆ’ is just a different way to spell my first name: Andre.

4. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

ANDRÆ: To me, music is the most freeing way to create. So yes, the love of it comes first. But I like to write songs that have the potential to impact on people, resonate with them, give them the strength to be themselves. As I aim to understand my own mind through songwriting, I hope that it can also help others understand themselves.

5. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

ANDRÆ: Artistically speaking, I feel very fulfilled. Although I have much bigger expectations in terms of career, I want it to take more space in my life and become my one and only job.

6. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

ANDRÆ: People often seem intrigued by my music. I’m really trying to create my own sound: a blend of genre and influences, lots of electronic elements with an organic feel, contrasting with my warm vocals.

7. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as R&B?

ANDRÆ:

I used to listen to a particular artist for weeks, then my latest song would end up sounding very much like them. Though at this point I believe I have managed to find my own style. Every feedback I get is different, I’ve been called an Alternative R&B artist, a pop artist, an experimental artist. Which I do love. I take bits of what I like here and there, then put them together in my music.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

ANDRÆ:

It varies. Sometimes I will write down a few words about something that bothers me then try shaping a melody from it. And sometimes I like to improvise melodies on the piano, then try adding words to them. The production usually comes last, once I have most of the song written.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

ANDRÆ: Losing my mother a few years ago was probably the hardest thing I went through in my life. As for my music career, I’ve had a negative experience with a small label that signed me, which made me realise I don’t need a label to succeed.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

ANDRÆ: Whenever I hear how someone genuinely connected and/or fell in love with one of my songs, that always makes me feel like I did something right.