ANDRA

“Sounds superb...  A unique talent... Well produced!” – Robin Hogarth, two-times Grammy Nominated Producer and winner of 2007 and 2006 Grammy Awards (Soweto Gospel Choir),

“She has a really great voice and makes a statement when she sings – not everyone does... Also the production is really classy on it...”– Bill Shanley, guitarist/producer for artists such as Ray Davies, Sinead O’Connor and Mary Black

“Love the Andra project – nice croak in the voice – very Dylan!” – Michael Stavrou, assistant to Sir George Martin, producer/engineer for John Williams, The Pretenders, T Rex.

Big words of praise for a little urchin with an enormous voice, indeed.
Andra.
Her debut CD Secrets and skeletons has recently been recorded at One Big Room Studios in Pretoria, South Africa, with Ludwig Bouwer. The album is already drawing immense attention from around the country and the globe.
Andra was born in Windhoek and grew up in Swakopmund. She has been exposed to music since childhood, and at the tender age of nine was inspired by Bruce Springsteen to pick up a tennis racket and start playing air guitar. Luckily, her dad passed on his guitar, and after six years of classical training she decided to focus on her own style – or, as she calls it: ‘stories and sounds’.
She has always been writing her own songs but only started sharing them with audiences three years ago, performing in their family-owned coffee shop in Swakop, the Village Café. In between she played waitress to make ends meet.
“I don’t see myself as a singer – I am only and totally in love with music, and I love making it…” she confesses.
An astounding comment, coming from someone with an immense voice that lies somewhere between Toni Childs and Alanis Morisette. With a hint of Janis Joplin and Natalie Merchant, too.
Secrets… consists of 12 tracks, all written and composed by Andra herself.
The themes are truly about everyday life. Love, loss, thwarted illusions and more.
And the songs are treated with a beguilingly simple modesty.
Now and then the odd sitar or Indian tabla drum sneaks in. However, saying it’s ‘simple’ does not for one moment hint at the album’s collective power – or prepare one for the deep impression she will no doubt leave on the listener.

True to nature, she underplays the effect of her music and sound.
“Luckily, I grew up in a very open-minded environment. I was prompted to ‘create, not imitate’ – something that will always stick with me.”
As for influences… Well, besides Springsteen at that young age, she is inspired by the happenings of life around her. ‘Capture the moment, be aware’ – is her mantra.
As for private loves. Mmm. Coffee tops the list. And yes, she does have empathy with cockroaches. (The track Cockroach being punted as a hit single of international standard on Secrets and skeletons.)
“They’ve been given bad press for ages. A raw deal. I think we should have a cockroach monument!” she teases.
As for the moment, though, she is ‘just here’, observing.
And what about the future?
She shrugs.
‘Hopefully more of the same…”
-fin-