Exclusive Interview with ANDRIA

“Ereka,” ANDRIA’s debut single, was self-produced and only available on Soundcloud in April 2023. “Prodigious artist ANDRIA has immediately showcased himself as an exciting emerging artist with a unique flair and style and an all-encompassing, dramatic edge,” read one of the positive reviews for the song, which praised its heartfelt lyricism and performance. —CLOUT (2023).

His upcoming single, “Liberty,” is a global fusion of sounds that pays tribute to freedom and unity during a time when universal values are in jeopardy. Check out the exclusive interview below:

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

ANDRIA: I was born in Madagascar, grew up in France, and arrived in London at 18 years old. As a child, music was always playing in my house. My parents managed to save enough money to pick up an old, used upright piano when I was seven, but I had already started writing songs and poems in a small notebook since I was four years old, before I even touched an instrument or had anything to record them.

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

ANDRIA: From the age of six until eighteen, I studied classical piano and music theory at the Conservatoire intensely, up to six hours every day when I was in high school. I don’t believe having received training or being self-taught to be decisive. Some are luckier than others and are more or better trained. Some need more time to learn, and some are simply gifted. But ultimately, what matters is what you achieve with these tools. Once I learned the language of music, I had to learn what I needed to say, and that’s something no conservatory can teach you.

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

ANDRIA: Rafael Nadal’s combativeness and courage on the pitch excited and moved me. Beethoven, Bob Marley, Mahaleo, and Rage Against The Machine emanated the same level of dedication and left a similar impression on me. Because a lot of Malagasy kids share my name, ‘Andria’, I will put it as high as I can for them to surpass.

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

ANDRIA: I sing popular music, music for the people. Each one of my songs is an attempt to shed light on an important subject I believe is, by accident or design, being kept in the dark. For instance, ‘Joy’, my single that will be released on March 1st, quotes the European Anthem, Beethoven’s ‘Ode To Joy’, to symbolise union and peace over private interests. I hope devices such as this figuralism give each listener an equal chance to appreciate and understand the song.

5. 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 POP? 

ANDRIA: Emulating classical composers and interpreters taught me how to compose, play, and perform. Being part of Neach, a rock band, helped me find my artistic purpose, which is to take part in the journey against inequality. I chose not to write genre music but rather to write music for myself and others, whether it is people music or popular music.

6. 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? 

ANDRIA: I believe a piece of art can be great, regardless of its nature. What is important to me is the degree of sincerity, and I feel strongly about the cruelty the world turns a blind eye to. I tell myself that even if people won’t see, I can make them hear. That being said, a song about extreme poverty or climate change is not more important and has the same chances of being bad as a song about clubbing.

7. 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? 

ANDRIA: Integrity is essential to maintaining any healthy relationship, in this case, between the artist and the art. I view my songs as both my children and my parents. I pour so much into them, and they give back a lot. I don’t look down on my music, but I don’t look up to it either, because I want to hear my songs as much as I need to write them down.

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?

ANDRIA: For instance, ‘Gallieni’ is a song about colonialism that will be released on April 5th. I was reading a book titled ‘Regardons Vivre Une Tribu Malgache’ and was taken aback by the violence of both the ideas and the language of French colonists in Madagascar. I knew the line in the chorus, ‘Some more than others’ from Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ would be the heart of the song, and it paved the way for the verses. The clash between the classical baroque instrumentation and Malagasy rhythm syncopations symbolised the violence of the colonial period.

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

ANDRIA: My father’s stroke was the most violent blow life threw at me and my family. My father lost a lot, and my mother carried that loss. His ongoing recovery and my mother’s efforts to keep everything together are an example of courage and resilience that greatly motivate and inspire me every day.

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

ANDRIA: My first hundred streams on Spotify was a moment I was very proud of, even if it might seem insignificant. I can’t imagine a hundred people coming to my house to listen to my song. It gives me a lot of energy to persevere.