Greetings! I’m excited to announce the release of my 6th solo album, “Andrea’s Exile”! This marks my 3rd album in about 3 years, a shift from my previous schedule of one album every 5 years.
It’s also my 3rd collaboration with producer/musician Dan Kowalke. In January 2022, months after releasing “February On Ice”, we began recording a batch of 30+ songs for a long-planned double album called “Andrea’s Exile”, catching up on unrecorded songs from the past. However, it was put aside as the pandemic and other events led to a batch of new songs, resulting in the creation of “Baker’s Cousin,” a somewhat surreal musical journey reflecting the chaos of the times.
After “Baker’s Cousin,” I started writing for a new album. Meanwhile, Dan began adding instruments to the discarded tracks from the “Andrea’s Exile” project and sending mixes my way. Though I was ready to move forward, I couldn’t help but love the way those songs were sounding. I decided to pare it down to a single album with 10 songs that I felt had some type of flow and connection, Side A leaning towards pop while Side B explores darker themes.
A true highlight of this album was working with my talented friends, Edie Baumgart and Lisa Tradewell. They’d often told me how much they liked my lyrics, offering to sing on any future recordings. In October 2023, they joined us for 2 of the most fun days I’ve spent in a studio. Edie and Lisa arrived prepared and to hear their harmonious voices on my songs brings me much joy.
As a first, I decided to include printed lyrics, putting them in a booklet with art for the CD and a limited run of vinyl LPs which also includes signed and numbered prints of the cover painting.
Recording “Andrea’s Exile” has been a journey of rediscovery and collaboration. The album captures different eras of writing, exploring themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. Working with Dan, Edie, and Lisa has elevated the album to new heights.
I’m thrilled to present “Andrea’s Exile” to you. This project holds a special place in my heart, and I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it.