My Inspiration
Becoming a writer and performer of hymns and inspirational Christian music is something that really "found me", and now it’s part of who I am. The more I write, the more I discover how music can spiritually prod and poke us: stirring, awakening and ultimately healing. It brings me blessings every day, and I love few things more than being to share these melodies, harmonies and healing messages with anyone who’ll listen. Eight of my compositions have been published in a hymnal used in churches all over the world, which is as exciting as it is humbling.
Hear me talk about music-making
Hear Tony Lobl interview me and fellow singer/songwriter Alex Cook about what inspires us to make music. We talk about the role God plays in our creativity, about getting ourselves out of the way to find the best results, and we share examples of allowing God’s love and light to shine when we write and perform has led to new ideas, inspiration, and healing.
This recording is the latest in the Sentinel Watch podcast series.
Early days
My recording career started with The Newsong Group, a project I worked on with Airlie Scott, Tamsin Bland and an assortment of enthusiastic friends, family and church members. Our little experiment to write a few new hymns ‘with a beat’ with young people at a Christian youth meeting in 2005 grew into four albums and an EP over the next ten years.
Songburst featured 30 musicians and three generations of lively singers; Gracenotes was a more peaceful, gentle healing album of solos and duets, as was Soulscapes. In between those two, our third album UpBeats featured an eclectic mix of uplifting and inspiring musical styles. We also toured the UK, the US east and west coasts, and South Africa.
You can buy all of our recordings here in the shop (including good old-fashioned CDs which will be mailed to you), or from wherever you like to download your music if you prefer. There are musical samples in the shop too.
Solo developments
Life moves on, of course, as it must. Airlie continues to sing, dance and act at every opportunity, while Tamsin has had her hands full raising two musically talented teenaged boys. We’re still close and I’m very proud of the work we did together. Meanwhile, my career has branched out to include theatre production, writing musicals … and fatherhood!
But writing, recording, performing and sharing inspirational music is something I still want to develop more, and I'd very much like to take my fans and supporters with me. In the past few years I’ve published two new recordings: ONE and Listen … for Thy voice, both of which are also in the shop. And the period of Covid-19 lockdown has unleashed yet more creativity, including regular live concerts online and a single, This Is The Time To Pray (released May 2020). A brand new double album, HOME, containing many of these new tracks, was released in October 2022, and featured the welcome return of Tamsin Bland, along with her two talented sons on brass and bass..
So please take a browse around this website, like and share my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, listen to the music, host a house concert, come to a show and generally spread the word.
Music reaches beyond denominational borders; it can lift, heal and connect with people of all beliefs and none. I’d love this work to bless more people - and it’s never been more important than it is now to find ways to connect with and support our fellow children of God.
Please join with me.
With love
Andrew x
“I have seen Andrew’s talents grow and develop over many years. Listening to him play and sing could be described as magical, inspirational, packed with joy, and deeply moving! He has a unique talent that he uses to the full and brings happiness and healing wherever he performs. It is wonderful that people like Andrew are sharing his kind of music with the world!”