Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Andrew Young
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
My dad is a drummer, so I grew up listening to him play at home and thought it was the coolest thing. I knew watching him play that I wanted to do the same (just on a different instrument so we could one day play together!)
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I think it really started with seeing how passionate the artists that inspired me are. I remember watching clips of My Chemical Romance performing live and I loved seeing how visually cathartic it was for them. It inspired me to start writing myself and I definitely felt that catharsis as I started writing my own material and playing it live.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I feel like life happens in seasons, and my last EP ‘Hello Again’ is a passion project dedicated to that. After graduating from college here in the US, I took some time away from music to start my professional, ‘day job’ career. Writing for this EP was all about sitting down, getting the creative juices flowing again and just writing something I was proud of – not worrying about length, genre, whatever – just letting it happen organically.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Imagine 90’s rock mixed with some indie and country singer-songwriter vibes – like the Goo Goo Dolls meets Ray LaMontagne or Jason Isbell.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
I struggled with writer’s block for a long time because I was so focused on writing music a certain way, following an arbitrary process to always have instruments come first, and not what you’re trying to say lyrically. I found I broke through that a lot by flipping that process on its head purposefully – thinking about what I want to say literally, and building around that. Changing that approach helped me so much – most of the songs on the new EP were a result of me changing that approach.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I worked with an incredible team (Charlotte Avenue Entertainment) out of Nashville, TN, that managed the whole process of recording ‘Hello Again.’ I had written the songs, talked with the Charlotte Avenue team about my vision for them, and they brought in some incredible musicians to help fill out the rest of the instruments. It was all recorded at Station West in Nashville and I couldn’t have been happier with how things turned out.
For myself personally, I’m a guitar nerd so that’s where most of my music starts. I play a Gibson J-45 that is definitely old faithful for me – it goes with me pretty much everywhere. Most of my last EP was recorded on my PRS SE A60E acoustic – we used a lot of weird tunings on the record and my PRS has a really good sound for those.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I love supporting other independent artists in my local communities (Virginia and North Carolina, USA). Christina Munsey and Sam Underwood are two incredible songwriters based in Raleigh, NC – I really enjoy everything they put out and definitely recommend checking them out.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
They absolutely have – I grew up on 90’s and 2000’s rock and it definitely shows. I grew up watching VH1 and the top-20 countdown in the early 2000’s, so I love bands like The Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox Twenty, Blink-182 – those bands musically feel like home for me and bring me back to really fond memories from my childhood. I really want to channel the same vibes and feelings as a lot of music from that time.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
A whole lot of nostalgia, and I’m proud of that – past memories are influences for me both sonically and lyrically.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Songs are a really powerful tool to express yourself in ways that you can’t always do with everyday language. Sometimes you might get closer to conveying what you feel through a guitar riff or drum part than trying to directly say what you’re thinking, and I love that. Music is incredibly impactful that way.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I would absolutely love one day to play at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. I’m from that area and have gone to so many shows there growing up.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Stevie Ray Vaughan – greatest guitarist of all time in my opinion, and even attempting to learn his music has made me into a better guitar player, writer, and musician.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Check out my website: andrewmyoungmusic.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3v1qI6xsoFYCGErtAPHlnx
Instagram: andrewyoungmusicnc
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I would love to get back in the studio in 2026. I have several songs that either didn’t make the last record or have been written since, and I would love to get those into the world.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
My music blends a unique mix of styles, sounds, and genres that channels nostalgic memories with a little bit of twang. I am incredibly grateful for your support – thank you for listening!
If you want here you can add a representative Youtube video to insert below the interview 🙂
https://www.wral.com/video/tar-heel-traveler-the-one-handed-guitarist/22133508
