Collaboration, Songwriting, the process!!!!!!

I just put a playlist together and guess what? I have over 30 songs out there in the world that you can hear at any time anywhere! That's crazy, right? 29 of those songs were written, composed, and co-produced by moi. I have been in the music industry for more than 15 years, but I still feel like I have just started, so much to learn and so much to do.

I wrote my first song at the age of 13 and I didn’t know I could do that as a job. I just remember letting go at the piano and composing, for at the piano there was no judgment, and growing up in a very strict and controlled household, it felt liberating. Although my family could hear what I was doing, it was a very personal experience, it was easy, and I thought every artist out there was doing it. I thought if you were a singer, you were a writer. Little by little I would be very surprised...

I had my first recording studio experience at the age of 18 years old, it was a present from my best friend. The name of the song I recorded was “ I will miss you”, a song I wrote when I had to move from Paris to Las Vegas, leaving my friends and universe behind in the middle of my teenage years.

I remember standing in front of the microphone and wanting it to be perfect! It was not only the vocals but the production and the arrangement that had to be just right. I thought that musicians and producers had so much talent, I admired that, and although I had the instinct to know what felt right and would voice my opinion, I didn’t fully believe that I was nearly as talented as everyone else! Nooooo, what I had was the belief that big dreams could come true, that if I worked hard enough, I could accomplish anything.

To me, being an artist is constantly questioning yourself, are you good enough? Do you know your craft? Do you have integrity in your creation? Can you create something even better than the last song and composition? There is that everlasting doubt if you can do it or not!

I recently opened up to collaborating with various songwriters. Songwriting with someone is like going on a date, you are not sure if it will work out! You need to get personal, just enough to write something good, yet you don’t want to tell your whole life story. You have to listen, react, mentally you exchange thoughts, what you are going through, trying to find a common ground, something that you can both talk, write and sing about…

Then there is the collaboration with the musicians, you need to give directions to where you want to go, what you hear in your head, but leave space for the musician to make their magic, to transform the idea into music, into that feeling, into an experience. In my opinion, it needs to organically happen, you are the guide, and at your best should know when to let go and when to take back control.

I recently connected online with a wonderful guitarist from Brazil, Eduardo Balthar. We exchanged our music and talked about collaboration. His style is Brazilian jazz and I really enjoyed his playing and thought I would love to collaborate with him. I sent him a track, Settle Down, from my new album Truth & Dare, and asked him to record an acoustic version, to see where it would go… It was one of the easiest collaborations I have done. The mutual respect we hold for each other as musicians goes a long way. His guitar tells a story, and vocally I wanted it to be raw, honest.

On stage, in the studio, what you do is so much to do with your energy, the way you feel, as well as your entourage. I am a Gemini, so my moods change a lot, good for me right, haha!

Settle Down acoustic is released Friday 5th February 2021, listen, save it, I hope you will appreciate listening to it as much as I did recording it!

Love to hear your thoughts

Instagram @Theandreadee

Email: Theandreadee@gmail.com

New Year; No resolution?

We turn the page to 2021, a new year to start fresh, or a good time to challenge yourself to do something new or different: they call it New Year Resolutions!

I was so surprised when asking around what were my friends and family's new resolutions were, 80 percent of people decided not to make any. It could be the fact that 2020 was a year where everybody was a little depressed, we didn’t get to travel, we didn’t get to see family, and maybe some of us got sick. I believe there is always a positive way to look at things.

For me, 2020 was a year when I wrote, recorded, and co-produced my electro-pop album Truth & Dare. I had the time to research, read, practice, set goals, and really throw myself into my music. I have learned during the years that keeping myself busy is the way I cope with any situation. When I have a hard break, I go out all the time, any reason is a good one, I have a need for communication and community. Talking about what’s on my mind, helps me get through anything. It’s amazing what happens when you reach out to people and interact!

Of course, during Covid, it has been impossible to meet new people. So, I took interaction online using my favorite subject: music, and I am still doing it! Some of you might say that it’s not the same as meeting real people and to that, I would answer yes, I agree, but what are your chances of meeting people from all over the world in an hour? It is all a matter of perspective, no?

I love to be busy, and I always have a million ideas to move forward and take on something new, but I believe that you create your life. We put together an online music festival where I got to connect with amazing musicians, actors, and presenters, raising money for the prevention of breast cancer.

In 2019 everybody talked about being so busy that we didn’t have time to sit for a cup of coffee with a friend that lives in the same city, and in 2020 we complained about being bored…What will be 2021 about? The good news is that you get to choose, what do you want it to be? Happy? Exciting? Entertaining? Full of love? Laughter? Success? I want all those things, and it starts now!

I love to hear that people are trying something new, or taking on a challenge, this is called living life to the full. Do the best with what you can and don’t stop! Don’t listen to that amazing, brilliant voice in your head that gives all the excuses to stop or quit, instead watch something or somebody that inspires you. I miss traveling and being on tour, so I watched the Rolling Stones Ole, Ole, Ole A Trip Across America, lol!

In December, I got my phone stolen twice in the space of 4 days by cyclists at night whilst coming home from work. It was an invasion of my space, I felt weak, a loss of power and I couldn't walk by myself when it was dark in fear that it would happen again! Even now when a bike or somebody comes close to me, I feel unsettled. I have never felt scared, especially outdoors as I grew up in a not-so-great neighborhood which will get you ready for anything, but then again, I am human.

I decided to take on a running marathon to challenge myself. I can tell you that I am no runner, but I am working on it, (a great way to get rid of all the food and drinks I overindulged in during the holiday as well). Ok by now you might think that I am crazy (or think yeah this girl loves to talk haha), but just doing my best to share what I found that works for me, wanting to give you great energy and encouragement.

I hope that when reading this you decide on a new goal, something that will challenge you and push your boundaries.

What did you choose? I would love to hear it… post a comment, email me, or DM.

@Theandreadee

www.andreadee.me

How I found my voice?

I come from a family of entertainers, dancers on my mother's side, and some might say that it would make my life easier, I think it’s the opposite actually.

Looking back I understand why, an artist, performer needs to constantly recycle themself.

From one album to another, one year to the other, we build concepts and ideas, that are all based on emotions, life, willpower, age, and belief that one person might see it or even better like it. You have to be great at what you do, constantly looking for opportunities, and there are no guarantees that you will have a job tomorrow! You work on your skill, practice, you need to be the best always, well the best version of yourself at least, and you must do this again and again, over and over.

I went to art school, studied music, singing, acting, and dancing, I learned techniques, read of magnificent humans that through their talent had the world hold their breath. I met people like me that didn’t fit in, I learned discipline, and that I had unconditional love for it.

Love is such an intense, yet a light word.

I always knew there was something different about me like I had this special strength in me (perhaps growing up with an abusive father makes you figure out things faster), I had to use it to do something good, something life-changing, with music as my language but why? Why did I want to be a singer? Was it the attention? Creativity? Unlimited possibilities of each song, ep, album, performance being better?

The young girl in me wanted to prove to the world that I could make it but had no idea what that meant. What is making it? My response today is the same as before the only difference is that I wasn't ready to see it. My ego was way louder, which is normal for an 18-year-old, you would think?

I listened to everyone around me about what I should do next, if it was in the entertainment industry, I would do it! I auditioned, got in the show, but for my soul it was just not enough. I kept taking classes on the side, in search of making myself the best.

I had to hit that note because if I didn't then I couldn’t call myself a singer. (spent hours in the studio, recording) I took the hardest dance classes, I was not the most flexible, it took me longer than others to learn choreography but I spent all my money on training myself.

Wanting to be around the best, I moved to New York City and continued my journey, but it was not enough again, I kept telling myself, I can do more, work harder. Little by little my work ethic started to get noticed, first my passion, then my songwriting, then my voice, but It wasn’t until the first tour that I started believing in myself.

When my band gave their time, and passion for nothing but the want to succeed, love for the art, and the feeling that we understood each other without words.

We set up a European tour, performing in each band member's country. Of course, France was mine, it took so long to even get booked, I kept receiving answers like, “your music will not work here”, my brother had to talk to his boss and asked if we could do it there, it had no stage but enough space to make it work and we did, that night was so intense, not only the bar was packed (don't let anyone stop you ), but it was the first time my family saw what I was doing. I remember thinking on stage, I made it!

I could feel my band having my back, nothing could happen to me, a wrong note, a crack in my voice, they were there with me.

Sometimes it takes others to show you how great you are but never wait for them, because the minute you believe in yourself, the rest will follow.

I found my voice and my reason why at the same time, after this moment, things began to be a little lighter of course I didn’t get that at the time.

Coming out with my first French song JE SUIS SEULE on my solo album is a big deal to me, I have grown, but I am still learning.

A message to all of you out there!

DARE TO DREAM, TRUST YOURSELF, and always DARE TO BELIEVE you can make a difference. Shine Bright my friends.

Andrea Dee