We got the chance to interview LA based pop-newcomer AnDel! AnDel just released his song “One Night”. Check it out!
upfrontNY: What makes you passionate about music and when did you know it was something you wanted to pursue?
AnDel: Music is one of the truest sources of freedom for me. When I write a song, it’s my words and ideas, for better or worse. Life can get rough, and you need a healthy outlet to express pain, sadness, heartbreak… Music is that for me.
I knew I wanted to pursue it after I first heard a finished recording of a song I had written called “Liar”. JaySpex did an incredible job with it and saw potential in me I didn’t know I had. He played it back and I was floored. It wasn’t the best song ever written, but I had written it about a mentor who lied to me for over a year about who they were, so it was personal to me. Jay cleaned it up really well and he said with a smirk, “You’re gonna be on the radio someday.”
Hopefully he’s right!
upfrontNY: Can you tell us about your new song One Night?
AnDel: Of course. “One Night” is about knowing you’re not ready for a relationship but still wanting to be physically intimate with someone. When I’d written it, I had just gotten out of a relationship that ended in flames. I had a friend that was getting very close- too close- and I knew it would end terribly if I pursued it because I was still trying to get over the other person. I pursued it anyway. It ended terribly.
Moral of the story, kids: Learn to stay single until you are prepared to fully give your heart to the RIGHT someone else. I wish I was smart enough to spare myself the heartache.
upfrontNY: What was the experience like making the music video for this song?
AnDel: It was so much fun! Everyone who I got to work with were friends I’ve had for a while. I’ve known Josh (the director) for a year or two, Jay (my stylist) I’ve known for 3, Brenna (the girl in white) I’ve known for about 3 years, and Eya (the girl with purple hair) I’ve known for about a decade. It’s so easy and so much fun to work with people you enjoy, and I can’t brag enough about how great everyone on my team is. It was a long day of shooting, but I went home smiling knowing how lucky I am.
upfrontNY: If you could have one night anywhere in the world- where would you go and what would you do?
AnDel: Oo, that’s a tough one because there’s so many places I want to go! Hmm… I guess I’d probably go to Italy, specifically Venice. Italy has so much history, and there’s something about the idea of a city on the water that fascinates me. I would definitely have to take a love interest with me. We could have a rooftop dinner, maybe do some clubbing, then ride a gondola… I’d want to stroll the city, too. The lights must look so beautiful reflecting on the water. . . Can we go now? Haha
upfrontNY: Growing up you were involved with musical theatre, how has this helped you become the artist you are today?
AnDel: It’s the biggest reason I could be an artist, I think. When I was younger, it taught me how to be comfortable onstage in front of a crowd and how to allow people to connect with me. As I got older, I think that it really helped with personal self-awareness, which is so important to write songs. My mentors taught me to have intention behind everything I did in acting. I needed to understand why my character did what they did in every scene. When I sang a song, I needed to understand the reason and intention behind the lyrics. It’s because of this that I do the same with my own life. I’m always asking myself, “Why did you do that?” “Why do you feel this way?” I don’t always make the best choices, but at the very least, I always know why I made them. That helps me to write and perform from a truthful place. The rest is just having talented people around you helping bring the vision to life.
upfrontNY: Who have been some of your musical inspirations?
AnDel: I think everybody will say Michael Jackson, but it’s true. He made catchy pop hooks with a message, and I will die trying to emulate that. After him, I have way too many others. Kehlani, Justin Timberlake, Blackbear, Lauv, Julia Michaels, even Ariana Grande… The list goes on.
upfrontNY: What is your favorite song or song lyric?
AnDel: That one changes all the time too. Currently, “Real Friends” by Camila Cabello. It’s beautiful, sad, simple, and exactly how I feel living in LA right now. I’m so mad I didn’t write it first! Hahaha
upfrontNY: Do you have a dream venue, city, or country you hope to perform in one day?
AnDel: How about a short term goal venue and a long term goal country?
The short term goal is playing at The Peppermint Club in West Hollywood. It’s small but has such a great 1920’s vibe, and some of my favorite artists have performed there.
Long term goal? Brazil. I stayed for a few months in Brazil and I love it there. Brazilians always know how to have a good time, and are some of the most loving, welcoming people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. I miss it so much, and the second it was an option I’d love to perform in any of the major cities.
upfrontNY: When you are not working on your music what do you like to do?
AnDel: Sleep? Kidding. I don’t sleep.
It kind of depends based off of my headspace, and that changes every month or two.
Usually I love to hike. Getting out of my house, the city: it’s a necessity for me. Sometimes I’ll just wake up, grab some great friends and go on an adventure. Beach days, barbecues, pool parties where we play cards and swear at each other when we lose… Basically anything where you can invite a few friends, make some food, and enjoy each other’s company and the world God created.
When I’m in my antisocial headspace? I’m actually secretly a huge nerd. I love watching anime, playing video games, sometimes I even like to read. I’ll play Mass Effect to wind myself down, suck down some stress relief tea and call it a night. I dunno. I’m weird. I guess I just enjoy balance. We all need a break from the crazy every now and then.
Leave a Reply