andrew anderson & stephanie johnson: Home

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to take a few minutes to let you all know what is going on with me lately.

Over the past few months I have been playing several shows with some friends at Berklee under the name Andrew Anderson & Northsouth. We have played gigs all over the Northeast this semester in Boston, New York, Philly and Gettysburg.
We have spent a lot of hours on busses, and had a lot of late nights. We have also been working on a demo of my song Wait Darlin' at the studios in Berklee.

During the last semester I decided that I wanted to take some time off of school in order to continue playing and recording a new record. While making plans to leave Berklee I have been in contact with several Artist's managers and booking agents about getting on the road soon as an opening act. There are a few potential options for that. but as of now, it is still up in there when that will happen or who with.

I also was just informed a few days ago that I will be re-locating to Seattle for the summer/fall to record an album with Mike Herrera from the band MxPx.

Mike began working on a 'country' project under the name Tumbledown last year. His touring band currently includes Seattle locals The Rocky Point All-Stars, with Mike on vocals and guitar. This is a side project from MxPx that Mike has been wanting to do for a long time. To hear some of his new tunes check out myspace.com/tumbledowncountry.


I have been in contact with Mike over the last year on and off about playing mandolin on the full length album when he was going to record it. I heard from him a few days ago and he let me know that recording would be starting in June. So I am heading back to the Emerald City to record mandolin parts for Mike on his new album/band Tumbledown!

This is really a very exciting opportunity, and I cannot wait to get to Seattle and begin the recording process. While there I am planning on continuing the momentum I have developed as an artist, by playing shows and as I mentioned before, recording a new album.

The plans for my record for now only include myself and friend Jeremy Harris on guitar, as Brian (keys) and Dustin (drums) are continuing at Berklee in Boston which will make recording difficult, however if we can work out the details they may be included in the process. This is all up in the air until Jeremy leaves Berklee in August.

To hear some of the music, and continue to be updated, check out myspace.com/andrewandersonandnorthsouth

Thank you all for your support and prayers over the last few years. To those in Boise, I'll be home for a few weeks before leaving for Seattle. To those in Seattle, I can't wait to see you again! To those in Boston, I love you all, and our paths will cross again.

Till next time.

cheers!

-andrew anderson

I thought I'd fill everyone in on what I'm doing... it's unusual... but I thought someone might be as fascinated with it as I am.

I'm in Boston at Berklee college of music studying music therapy... and it's wonderful and inspiring and has changed my life. The first time I started hearing about music therapy I thought it was a little cooky... I absolutely believed that music was powerful... but I thought music therapy meant music healing. It's not... it's using music as a non-threatening medium to promote communication, socialization, and increase self esteem in a variety of patients.

The main populations that music therapists work with are children with disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, psychiatric disorders, hospice, hospitals (especially with cancer patients), and in school settings to promote healthy relationships and learning.

For example, a child with autism is usually unable to build relationships, communicate, make eye contact, or relate. A music therapist would use music as a way to communicate with the child in a way that is very non-threatening and natural. Sometimes a therapist can manage to maintain eye contact with the child for an entire song within the first two sessions. Musical "communication" would eventually lead to verbal communication, and the child feels like they are not in "therapy" at all... which is so important... as these children are in other types of therapy constantly.

This semester I'm working with adult women in a halfway home. The home is definitely in a part of town where I have to be extra careful... and the women have been through some incredible hardships. In order to live in this home they have to have HIV/AIDs, a substance abuse problem, have a history with physical abuse, be a single mother, and have a psychological disorder. One of those things would be enough... but they've got all of that to deal with. And I will tell you... these women are so strong... they are turning around their lives.

The first session I attended with these women was exceptional... I have to tell you about it. I walked in and got completely stared down, but I felt strangely comfortable. We do music therapy in their living room... and they were all waiting for us (7 women). I am being supervised by the most amazing music therapist here, and she took charge of the first session. We started the music, and the women were dead silent and not willing to participate. Within 5 minutes about half of the women sat up and started singing with us... singing songs of hope, and the importance of women sticking together... and how they needed to keep going. One by one, the women started singing, and I could see in their eyes that they absolutely needed this time. There was one final woman who wouldn't sing... wouldn't look up... wouldn't make eye contact with any of us. One of the women wanted to sing "all we are saying... is give peace a chance..." so we sang that over and over again... getting louder and louder. They wanted to change the words around... so we sang "give love a chance" and "give friends a chance." Finally, the one woman who wouldn't sing looked up and said... "give life.... we have to give life a chance." And she sang, so loudly and emotionally... and the other women rallied with her, and sang with her as if they were singing to praise her strength. The session ended and the women... who started out completely unwilling to participate... were hugging and laughing and singing as they went out to their daily activities. I found out later that the woman who had said "give life a chance" had attempted suicide twice in the last month.

That was a powerful, powerful day for everyone involved. I wanted to share that because it shows the power of song to bring people together. And... I find that I have a greater appreciation for everything in my life, and a deep respect for those who have overcome any kind of difficulty.

This is a lot longer than I expected. I hope this touches you like it touched me. :)

stephanie

Well folks, we wrapped up the end of the holidays and I spent a few weeks playing a lot of gigs here at home in Boise. Steph and Brian (my room mate and new keyboardist) and some friends from Berklee all went and spent a weekend up at Steph's family's cabin in Donnelly, ID. It was very relaxing. The landscape of Idaho in the winter is something that everyone needs to see at some point in their life.

I also went camping with my brother in law, one weekend up at a hot springs, near Atlanta, ID where after getting out our shorts froze solid it was so cold. Then another weekend out in the desert near Murphy, ID. I love being in this state, where I can go out and see wolves, bears, deer, or moose...

However, though I had a blast this past month, it has come to an end. Today is my last ful day in Boise. I am spending some time with my family, my youngest nephew just turned one, and so we are celebrating his birthday. Eating cake and Ice Cream, and drinking coffee...

Tomorrow I head to Boston, at 5:00 p.m. I head to Phoenix, then catch a red eye flight to Boston.

I have a lot of good things going on. I just got a manager who has been helping me out tremendously with getting some more work. We just confirmed some dates in New York and will hopefully be getting more in the Northeast soon.

So while I am sad to be leaving my family and closest friends here in Idaho, I am looking forward to what is ahead. Because the road is looking to have thrilling possibilities. We shall see and I will try my best to keep you all posted. Check the sight again soon!