Published: June 22, 2009 10:05 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight June 2009 Edition
Andy Juhl
Andy Juhl
Singer/Songwriter Andy Juhl has an amazing voice that will instantly make you a fan of his when you heard Andy sings. A beautiful mixture of acoustics and folk, Andy's music is the perfect choice for music lovers looking for genuine music that has something to say. In this recent spotlight with the talented musician, Andy talks music with our Webzine.
Isaac: What was the best part of 2008 for you musically?
Andy: Getting the chance to perform at the Red Gorilla Music Fest which coincides with SXSW in Austin, TX was a great experience. It was incredible to see so many great musicians and music fans in one place.
Isaac: What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment for 2008?
Andy: The biggest accomplishment of 2008 was the completion of my latest album, Tales from the Buffalo Blue Stem. We used an old school method of recording. I gathered a group of musicians; we set up microphones, and just played the songs. There are very few overdubs or studio trickery. This gives the songs a very organic sound that I love.
Isaac: Describe the music scene in your area.
Andy: Minneapolis has a very active music scene. There are a lot of great venues and great musicians. There are also some not so good venues, but we won't talk about those. Sometimes there seems to be an over-saturation of bands, but there are definitely a lot of opportunities to perform.
Isaac: What has been the best venue to perform at and why?
Andy: One of my favorite shows was at the Gathering Place in the small town of Cherokee, Iowa. This was near my hometown, so a lot of friends and family came to the show. Most of them hadn't seen me perform before, so it was a very rewarding experience. The audience was quiet and attentive during the songs and applauded enthusiastically after the songs. That's just how I like it!
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Andy: The Beatles were my first influence when I started playing guitar at the age of 11. My twin brother is a great drummer, and we spent many hours playing Beatles tunes. Later, I started listening to a lot of the great progressive rock bands from the 70's like Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, and Jethro Tull. Other major influences are classic singer/songwriters such as Neil Young, Cat Stevens, and Nick Drake.
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Andy: I don't really worry about what I bring to the industry. I just try to do my thing, and hopefully people enjoy it. There are going to be people who like my music, and some (hopefully a small number) who don't. So I don't worry if my songs are going to be a "hit" or radio friendly. I just try to make music that I enjoy.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Andy: It would have to be Paul McCartney. I would have loved to work with George Harrison, but alas, it's too late. I have a fun Paul McCartney story. My sister was working at a catering service in Des Moines that was preparing Paul's pre-show meal. She actually got to hand Paul his plate of food. I think it was some sort of weird tofu thing. So I'm very jealous that she got to meet a Beatle.
If I could pick another artist, I would love to play with Steve Hackett. He was the guitarist for Genesis in their progressive rock heyday back in the Peter Gabriel-era of the band. He has since put out many incredible solo albums, and is one of the greatest guitarists that I've heard.
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Andy: I guess I would describe it as folk-rock with a little progressive rock thrown in occasionally, just to make sure that nobody tries to dance!
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from fans about your music?
Andy: People have said that I sound like Neil Young, and others have said Elliott Smith. Both are fine musicians so I take that as a compliment.
Isaac: Where can fans locate you at online?
Andy: You can find me at www.andyjuhl.com. I also have a MySpace page for people who still use MySpace: www.myspace.com/andyjuhl. My music is also available on iTunes and my CDs can be purchased through CD Baby.
Isaac: What can fans expect from you in the next five years?
Andy: We are planning on recording my next album over the winter, so you can look for that sometime in 2010. I've started working some of my new songs into my shows, so I'm getting anxious to start recording them. We are also starting a new record label called Sun Machine. This label is based on the co-op business model where the musicians and other workers own the company. It is a very exciting endeavor. The website is www.sunmachine.coop, although it is still under construction. There should be some updates soon, so keep your eye on it.
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…
Andy: Thank you to my family and friends for all your support!
