INTERVIEW: Gem Andrews
Gem originally moved to the North East to study music and in particular the Saxophone, at Newcastle University. “Since then I have opened and closed a business, moved to a caravan in County Durham, broke my back, recovered, moved to Vancouver, and finally, last March, returned to Newcastle. On Scatter each song is a piece of that puzzle in some way, it reflects the emotional intensity of those years.”
The Americana and alt. country style of her music is something she developed early on in her life. After receiving her first guitar as a six year old, she also recalled the day her mum brought home Wrecking Ball by Emmylou Harris which “had an effect on me which I can only describe as seismic!” Since then she has studiously followed the country genre and discovered artists such as Neil Young, Steve Earle, Kate and Anna McGarrigle and Nanci Griffith along the way. “There’s something that feels authentic about country music to me, which I find incredibly satisfying.”
Unlike most students, who choose to recklessly spend their loans within months of arriving on campus, Gem’s growing fascination with the origins of Americana led her to save hers up and travel to the Deep South after her first year at University. She spent three months visiting Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans and Austin watching professional singer-songwriters in the local bars. She described this experience as astounding and it helped finely hone her own songwriting style. In 2011 Gem fulfilled a lifelong ambition when she booked a solo tour down the West Coast of the USA.
Now fully ensconced in the North East, Gem will launch her album at The Cluny 2 on Thursday 2nd August with support from Beccy Owen. Gem noted that “every time I resurface to play a local gig, I’m always amazed at the amount of brilliant new musicians on the scene. I love the North East, it’s an exciting time to be here.” Post-launch, she will tour the UK at the end of September and then on to Switzerland in November. We’re hopeful she fulfils her ambition to get a slot at Austin’s famous SXSW festival next year. Her talent’s more than shining through.
Gem Andrews plays the Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle on Friday 13th July and the SummerTyne Americana Festival at the Sage Gateshead on Saturday 21st July. Scatter is released on 2nd August.
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Interview: Gem Andrews (@GemAndrewsMusic) "It's an exciting time to be in the North-East" | http://t.co/kpZM7rKA
Interview: Gem Andrews (@GemAndrewsMusic) "It's an exciting time to be in the North-East" | http://t.co/kpZM7rKA
Interview: Gem Andrews (@GemAndrewsMusic) "It's an exciting time to be in the North-East" | http://t.co/kpZM7rKA
Interview: Gem Andrews (@GemAndrewsMusic) "It's an exciting time to be in the North-East" | http://t.co/kpZM7rKA
Interview: Gem Andrews (@GemAndrewsMusic) "It's an exciting time to be in the North-East" | http://t.co/kpZM7rKA