| Story: Ralph Greco, Jr.
Andy Stochansky will release the title track off his upcoming album Poetry Of Birds, on Friday, November 22. The video is now streaming.
On the heartfelt new single, Stochansky pays homage to loved ones who shaped his perspective.
“That song is almost a ‘thank you’ to the people who taught you respect for life, nature, and other people,” he says. “It could be a grandparent, parent, friend, or anyone.”
The album will be released in 2025.
Pre-save the new single “Poetry Of Birds” here: https://onerpm.link/PoetryOfBirds
Watch the music video here: https://youtu.be/6XyiImKtzz8
Andy will be performing at LA’s The Hotel Cafe at 8pm on Saturday, November 23. Tickets available here.
Andy Stochansky highlights life’s most delicate details in his music, zooming into and exploring the wonder and magic of each day. This intimate approach enables him to naturally connect via vivid and vibrant lyrics soundtracked by organic instrumentation. Now, he embraces the beauty of simplicity on Poetry Of Birds. The title effectively speaks to the overarching theme.
“It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the modern world,” he observes. “I love electronics as much as anybody else does, but I wanted to show some respect to nature. It can teach us everything we need. Poetry Of Birds is a reminder to look at the beauty of the simple things around us.”
It’s also indicative of the wisdom that Andy has picked up throughout his illustrious career. Taking the first step on his professional journey, the Toronto native spent seven years as a touring and studio musician for indie icon Ani DiFranco. In 1999, he released his critically acclaimed solo debut LP, Radio Fusebox. He only continued to evolve across solo records such as 5 Star Motel [2001] and 100 [2005], which was produced by none other than Johnny Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls. Making waves worldwide, Australian Idol winner Shannon Noll notably covered Andy’s song “Shine,” notching a #1 for eight weeks on the Australian Singles Chart as a result. Plus, the latter landed various film, television, and commercial syncs. It even served as the theme song for the Commonwealth Games.
Settling in Los Angeles, he logged countless sessions, penning music for everyone from Dragonette to Goo Goo Dolls and Lola Lennox—produced by her mother Annie Lennox. He notably co-wrote the “Hyper Love” for Ferry Corsten, earning a Top 10 entry on the Billboard Dance Singles Chart. His other major placements included Cider Sky’s “Northern Lights” for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (Soundtrack), which bowed at #1 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums Chart and Top US Soundtrack Albums Chart and in the Top 4 of the Billboard 200. 2020 saw him introduce White Elephant Orchestra with the project’s first offering, Debut. Right out of the gate, tastemakers like NPR World Café championed the music with airplay.
During 2022, he immersed himself into this latest solo project.
“I love collaboration, but I had a real need for my own voice to be out there again,” he explains. “Lyrically, I have a pretty high bar for myself because the people I’ve worked with also had such high bars. I just wanted to be able to knock this project out of the park on my own.”
He nodded to inspirations as diverse as movies and poetry to nature and the various people around him, in addition to wrestling with our society’s dependency on technology. Among many highlights, “Beautiful Sky” dives into this core concept. Revolving around lithe acoustic guitar, gentle verses give way to an anthemic refrain, “all I need is a beautiful sky.”
“It was actually the first song I wrote for this record,” he recalls. “It’s specifically about being overwhelmed by social media. Often, you need to walk outside, look up, and just chill from it all.”
Then, there’s “Oxygen.” Between brisk strumming and a lively beat, he leans into a hummable melody. He makes a pledge to a friend in a time of need, going on to urge, “Let me be your oxygen.”
“I wrote that song about a friend who went through a really bad divorce,” he notes. “I wasn’t around him in Toronto, so all I could do was check up on him through FaceTime and just hear him out. It’s just about helping somebody else.”
Accented by light synths, the stripped-down soundscape of “Champion” underlines a captivating vocal performance and his eloquent storytelling. “After a concert, my wife and I went to this diner,” he elaborates. “One waitress was alone, and she serving easily a hundred people. I realized I could never do that job. I was sitting in the booth, and this whole story came to me. She’s surrounded by craziness, but she’s staying calm and killing it.”
In the end, Andy might inspire you to treasure the little things around you even more.
“I want people to walk away with a sense of hopefulness,” he leaves off. “I hope this album is strong enough so you can remember the stories. I put a lot of care into them, and I’m happy to finally share them.”
More music from Andy Stochansky:
God’s Tree: https://onerpm.link/GodsTree
Champion: https://onerpm.link/ASChampion
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