1. Hello, thank you for your time, please introduce yourself in a few words!
Thank you for taking the time to chat with me and for listening to my new EP Afterglow. My name is Andrew and my music collaboration project is Black Sands. I songwrite, record and produce tracks with different vocalists and musicians from all over the world. I was born in America but currently live in Amsterdam.
2. Please give us an update about – new single, tour dates, new videos?!
I just released my debut EP “Afterglow.” It’s five of the most personal songs I’ve ever written that I would classify as alternative pop with hints of alternative R&B, modern rock and indie electro pop. You can think of it like a cross between The Weeknd and The 1975. I’ve been amazed by the positive feedback since I’ve released the EP and have been focusing on telling the story of what Afterglow means to me. I’m also working on a ton of new tracks with collaborators from Brazil, Colombia, Australia, United Kingdom and Los Angeles coming later this year and early next year.
3. Name 5 things we all should know about you as an artist?!
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As I mentioned earlier I’d consider myself an artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. Even though I write all of the music and help define the creative direction on the songs, I don’t actually sing on the tracks. I leave that to amazing collaborators like Martino (@thankumartino on Instagram.)
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I spent years touring and playing guitar for alternative rock bands.
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Collaboration and inclusion are the values that I base Black Sands on. I believe all genres of music and people from different walks of life should be celebrated. Even though we should celebrate the differences with people, culture, music genres, etc. Black Sands tries to celebrate those differences but also find intersections of what can bring people and music together.
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I love all genres and types of music. I think we all gain more when we can support each other, celebrate art and the people who take a chance and put themselves out there.
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I’m open to collaborating and working with as many fascinating people as possible. If anybody has any recommendations or just wants to get to know me more — all you have to do is reach out on Instagram.
4. What fashion style or brand would best describe your music?
I’m a big fan of Celine for men. I think it has a youthful energy but is sophisticated, elevated and has a bit of a dark edge.
5. Tell us more about your songs! Topics! Message!?
As I started writing Black Sands songs, I was coping with the sudden death of my sister. When my family lost her, I struggled heavily. I felt a strong sense of confusion, depression, anxiety, anger, loss — you name it. But like many people who go through such a traumatic loss, I didn’t know how to process these complex emotions and talk about it. Music helped me focus that confusion and allowed me to grieve. If you listen to the first handful of Black Sands songs released, they’re all about trying to process your past and how the decisions you make haunt you and become a part of you.
Afterglow is about me understanding that I will never not feel this grief or loss. Instead it’s about the moment you decide to take a step forward and find beauty in living and moving on. No matter how much that paint and grief becomes intertwined into who you are, there’s hope and optimism and something beautiful waiting on the other side.
6. Beside music, do you have any special talents?
This is a tough one! I don’t know if it’s a talent but I think I tend to be very curious and interested in a range of topics. Outside of Black Sands I work in the entertainment industry so I’m an avid consumer of film and TV series. I love fashion, design and architecture. I think fitness and health are important to success and well-being so I like to kickbox and work with a trainer. I’m a huge American sports fan and it was great to see my hometown NBA team win the NBA Finals this year (Go Bucks!) I guess none of those things are talents so if I had to choose one, I’d say I’m a pretty good cook. My three signature dishes are borscht, lamb birria tacos and rabbit ragu with pappardelle
7. Being on stage feels like….!
I haven’t been on stage performing music in about 8 years but when I was touring and playing music every night there was nothing quite like it. It’s a special feeling to see people singing along to your songs and sweating in a mosh pit or dancing to your songs. That connection with people is special and is hard to replicate.
8. How did you learn to sing/ to write/ to play??
I started playing guitar when I was a teenager. My brother — who I played in touring bands with — taught me a few songs on guitar and that was like a dam bursting for me creatively. I didn’t learn to read music or play classically, instead I put all of my time and energy into writing music. Guitar is the most natural instrument for me but when I started Black Sands I wanted to use guitar as an instrument less prominently in the tracks. I’ve challenged myself to write more with bass guitar, drums, keys and synth. It’s really helped me see and hear music in a new way. It also puts a heavier emphasis on songwriting and finding strong melodies instead of guitar riffs.
9. A question you’d like to answer, but never been asked in an interview before?! + Answer pls
Oddly enough, I’ve never been asked which artists I would love to collaborate with next. There are so many amazing singers and songwriters out there that I’d love to collaborate with but I’d love to sit in and work with Rick Rubin and Max Martin. So much of getting great songs is about helping other artists be comfortable and have a safe but challenging space to be creative. They’re some of the best in the world at doing this and I think there’s a lot of value in working with people who are the best at what they do. From an artist perspective I think it would have to be Trent Reznor and Able Tesfaye. Nine Inch Nails is one of my favorite bands and shaped the way I think about music. The work he’s done on film scores is also inspirational. As for Abel, The Weeknd blends dark, edgy sounds with Michael Jackson levels of pop. There’s no better combination in my opinion!
Instagram: @black.sands.official