Growing up in a small town struggling to hold onto its identity in the face of consumerism, capitalism and monotony, Andy John Jones sought escapism by any means necessary. After learning the basics of his first acoustic guitar at 15, he began to frontman his first Alternative Rock band at 17 playing venues across the city of Birmingham. After four years of both solo and band work, Andy moved to London in search of a scene, an energy not stagnating but thriving.
“In London I was expecting to just fall into a music scene, form a band, make a record, gain a following etc, all in the space of twenty four months but it doesn’t really work that way. At first London was overwhelming. The people can be cut-throat and with little to no money it’s difficult to lead any kind of social life outside the four walls of your house or flat. I became quite reclusive really. All I had was my guitar, a pen and a sheet paper.”
Andy dived into the works of poets and writers assigned to him during his Bachelor degree in English Literature at the University of Westminster. From Baudelaire to the Beatniks, Wordsworth to Plath, Guevara to Orwell, Arnold to Adorno, the vast swathes of literature served to fuel his love of the literary world as well as a drive to find his place amongst it. Andy also spent many hours learning and practising the guitar pieces he never thought he’d know such as pieces by heroes Jimi Hendrix, John Frusciante, Eric Clapton and Robert Johnson as well as experimenting with various styles including Rock, Blues, Jazz, Folk and Flamenco. Upon completing his third year of study, Andy fled from the fear of looming stagnation yet again but this time from the onslaught of corporate mundanity and student debt. Taking to the streets Andy began busking as a full time job where he has not only honed his skill as a guitarist, but the powerful range of his distinctive, raw and impactful voice.
In his first recorded EP in over six years, Andy John Jones has aimed to capture the emotions and experiences of the 21st Century. Taking inspiration from the work of John Martyn, Jeff Buckley, Paolo Nutini and Nick Drake, poets such as Charles Bukowski and Dylan Thomas (who has ties with Andy’s own Welsh heritage via his friendship to Andy’s Great-Uncle the painter Alfred Janes), the piece seeks to experiment musically with genre, poetically with literary devices and emotionally, mentally with subject matter and narrative. It is a taste of the potential of this up and coming artist honing his craft upon the street corners of London.