‘The Eighth Note’ is 8 quick Questions with Wellington Musicians.
A chance for us to catch up with people & see what they’re up to, or introduce you to a new musician/band and their music.
Today’s guest is Andrew Masseurs who was the lead singer with the now defunct band AMMP, and who has just released a new solo debut called Origins.
Who are you? Tell us a bit about your music:
My name is Andrew Masseurs. I’ve been writing and making music for a long time. Since I was 15. Released an album in 2011 with Wellington band AMMP, called From the Back of the Sun and an EP last year called This Chaotic Symphony. We managed to get quite a bit of radio play. Plus support from NZ on Air, Play it Strange as well as some TV work with Vodafone and TV Programmes. Ammp have since disbanded. I love writing new music. That’s my passion. Now I have the freedom to write, record and mix my own stuff. It’s fun, scary, lonely, angry, crazy, pulsating, depressing, uplifting and so many other things. That’s why I love it.
What have you been working on lately? Any new tracks or albums on the way?
I’ve just finished my first solo album called ‘Origins’ (Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes). Recorded over the last year or so. It’s a combination of work I’ve had lying around over the last 10 to 15 years. I’ve done pretty much everything on the record and have taken on mixing duties. Mixing is my new passion. So enjoyable. I’m releasing a couple of singles this month from it. The rock single ‘So Violent’ and the atmospheric track, ‘Ghost’.
Where is the best place people can follow you & find your music?
Facebook, best place to get the latest info as it happens.
What were the 3 most influential albums to you growing up?
1. Anything by the Beatles. But probably my favourite is Abbey Road.
2. Anything by U2. But probably my favourite is Achtung Baby.
3. Radiohead – OK Computer.
4. Runner up, Crowded House – Woodface.
5. Runner Up 2, The Exponents – Something beginning with C.
6. Runner up 3, Elvis – Aloha from Hawaii via satellite 1973.
7. Runner up 4, Dave Dobbyn – Twist.
Which other Wellington musician (s) would you most like to work with?
Any of them. We are a talented bunch.
What’s your favourite Wellington venue to play in?
A sleep out in Upper Hutt. That’s where magic happens oh so often. My studio is in it.
In your songwriting or composing (or the band’s songwriting) how do the compositions and songs take shape?
So many different ways. The most popular for me is to just write a huge amount of ideas without thinking. I’ll then come back fresh and weed out the crap before working on the best. From there I whittle it down to an albums worth or more of around 16. I’ll demo them. Leave them again. Than come back fresh and spruce em up for release.
Where/when is your next gig?
Being a solo act I’m not altogether sure. Seems to be the way most acts are making their money these days. At the moment my passion is in the writing. I’ve got enough material now to put on a solid show. Family comes first and work. Right now I’m already heavily into writing the next album. My goal is too have the second one out by this time next year.