Podcast Feeds
about
What does she do?
Andrea works as a singer; is an awarded writer for theatre; lyricist for opera and contemporary song; composer for concert,circus, drama and dance; musical director for actors and choirs; trainer and educator in using arts for social change; producer of live events and recordings.
‘To make music for a purpose is the most satisfying thing for me. For theatre and drama all the sound has to underpin the action and dialogue. For circus and dance the music has to drive the story. Each commission is very specific. I know that other composers recycle their material but that never works for me because the energy of each piece is so specific that it’s just more true to custom build’ says Andrea.
How does she release her music?
From 1996 - 2005 Andrea released her music on Gorgeous Girl Records. She has clarified her focus, closing GGR and now releases her delicious music on her new Interconnected music label Happyhead.
‘Gorgeous Girl was great for its time, but energies change and move. It’s been very liberating to move into a new phase and deepen what I do with music and to simplify the moniker that the music travels under.’ says Andrea.
And why the term ‘Interconnected music’, why not Indie(pendent)?
Nothing I do is ever independent. It’s just not a term that appeals to me in any way. Being with people and ideas and conversations is how I make music and, for that matter, meaning in my life. The commercial sales pitch of doing what you want when you want is totally overrated. I love my interconnected way of living. It brings happiness.’
What sort of person is Andrea?
She is passionate and inspired when met with curiosity, can be stroppy and unreasonable when met with apathy and cynicism.
‘I’m not a very subtle person socially. All the things that are good skills to have as a songwriter aren’t always very useful in social situations. Like sensing the undertow of meaning beneath the words, or what is not being said. If I sense something unspoken is going on in a room I’ll often speak it before I even think it. Not a particularly useful talent amongst friends! I’m working on it!’ (lol)
How is the music made?
Andrea composes using computers, guitars, piano, harmonica, piano accordian, drums, ukulele and sings with a three octave voice that she has no fear in hauling skyward and turning the engines off to spiral earthward.
‘I approach songs as a composer and sound scores as a songwriter. You know, I think what makes energy really interesting, and music is one of the purest forms of energy there is, is when it has a contradiction or a counterweight. So I never can seem to make anything true to form or expectation. I don’t like things to go all one way. I feel like I’m right in the arms of the piece wrestling looking for the unexpected surprise. It’s a lovely messy, muscular feeling. And why I adore composing so much.’
Her performance?
In performance Andrea radiates a sense of embracing the world.
Says Australian theatre director Wesley Enoch ‘I know this is not possible, but when she came on stage it was like the room got bigger. She has a shamanic quality’.
Says Andrea, ‘There is a magic in performing. It’s one of the very few moments in my life when I am focused on only one thing. The fact that it’s usually getting the next line of lyrics out in the right order isn’t such a relaxing thing (lol). It’s just really really focusing. I always feel completely ironed out after singing. Similar feeling to having a great massage. I often get asked if I’m wrung out. I don’t. It’s a really nice release.’
The background story
Born in the country town of Shepparton Victoria in 1963, Andrea grew up in a family who sang together whilst doing ordinary things: driving, doing dishes, cutting wood.
She left ‘Shepp’ on her 18th birthday and moved to Melbourne to join a Catholic group who ran spiritual retreats. When her two years were up she collapsed and was diagnosed as having chronic allergies. At this time she began her dedication to alapathic healing methods - chiropractic, foot reflexology, meditation. Later she would choose the tradition of Chinese Acupuncture to change her life and health.
‘It’s so interesting to me that when I work with publicists or PR people they NEVER want me to tell the story of my journey towards health. I know exactly where they’re coming from, it’s a real downer. Except, being contained or restrained by illness for so long in that really formative time, from my teens on, has meant I see the world with great sensitivity. It just happens that way, that if you sit still, you notice so many tiny little things in the environment and in people’s mannerisms and in your own thinking. It’s not all bad by any means. But I’m ecstatic to be out of that phase. It was pretty dark in a lot of ways.’
At the age of 21 she caught a truck to Mitchell College Bathurst, NSW to study music and theatre. It was at the foothill of the famous Bathurst car race that Andrea reveled in opera singing, jazz drumming, video making, creative writing and choir studies.
‘I left my familiar surroundings to see if I had it in me to lead an artistic life. I’ve never looked back because all the things I really needed I had from when I was a kid - pig headed determination, a bit of flare and a recurring urge to make things with other people. The training really gave me some great processes to take an idea on the “long and winding road” to reality. I’m very grateful to the teachers at Bathurst. And like all training, it took a few years to shake.’
Pass on the good news
Now living in Melbourne Andrea lives and loves through music and communication. Her music relies on Word of Mouth by Open Hearted People. Pass it on!