Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Andrew J – Summer Days (2023)

From his debut single ‘Opening Space’ to his most recent release ‘Summer Days’, singer-songwriter Andrew J has been described as an artist “…that floods you with emotion from the very start…” (TJPL News) and “…takes the listener on a sonic journey” (Sinusoidal Music). Hailing from Australia, Andrew J has a natural talent for music with gifted guitarism (that’s not a real word but it totally works here), engaging lyricism, moving melodies, and is just an all-around nice guy. Come with us as we delve into his sonic bubble – ready for some fun?

Following his four-track EP Making Space, ‘Summer Days’ is a shift in Andrew J’s sound from his early melodic post-rock melodies to energetic indie-rock. Penned as a love song of sorts, Andrew J captures the overwhelming, soul-stirring, breath-taking madness of love and then turns it on its head. Instead of all the happy things when you’re in love, ‘Summer Days’ explores the grittier, grimier side we prefer to avoid. Andrew J explains: “I wrote this song after a long sleepless night. You know the feeling when you’re in a relationship that’s just going nowhere but you both just don’t have the heart to end it? ‘Summer Days’ is that story.”

In ‘Summer Days’, Andrew J finds a line between heavy indie-rock and upbeat pop-rock. Crashing guitars meld with pounding drums in a turbulent arrangement; add Andrew J’s vocals and you have an energetic melody with a powerful punch. One aspect I love about ‘Summer Days’ is the rawness of its sound. A hard-hitting live band tone seems to have been lifted from the stage and inserted into the studio-recorded single. So, you have the sophistication of melodic arrangements with its harmonic instrumentation, but simultaneously the crash of a full band squeezing your heart, slapping you in the face and leaving you completely breathless.


For more from Andrew J, check out his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator