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Andy Hobson, welcome to VENTS!
Can you tell us about your latest single, Rise?
Hi VENTS! Rise is essentially a song about life’s impermanence and making the most of every moment we have, even when life sends us a shocker.
Is there a story behind the single?
Not so much a story but more of a sense that we can easily lose our ‘Disney magic’ as we get older. I’m in my early 40s now and have noticed that, around that age, people stop taking risks, being spontaneous and they begin to settle for whatever they have. Settling is fine unless what you’re settling for doesn’t fit with who you really are. I think people get a bit more fearful of change as they get older.
I’m challenging that in myself. Well, part of that is trying something new like singing and writing songs. Two years in and I’m so glad I started. It’s opened up a whole new world and I love that I’m starting from scratch. I’ve Played Wembley Arena and toured with The Killers as a drummer but now I’m doing open mic nights. No pressure, no expectations, just one show at a time. It is terrifying not having a fortress of drums around me though.
What’s the secret to the intensity of the emotion in your music?
I think authenticity is a big part. I really mean it when I sing. And my writing has always been driven by emotion. A song has to have that grit that cuts through or I lose interest. I’ve accidently written a few catchy pop nuggets that will never see the light of day because they are just empty to me. Like fast food, it makes you feel like a king for 10 seconds but afterwards you feel like your soul has been taken.. by a cheeseburger. Nobody wants that.
When did your sense of spirituality start merging with your creativity?
Music/ creativity and spirituality feel like they’re a portal to the same thing – our connection to ourselves and every other soul trying to figure out this ridiculous existence on planet earth. Both have been a thread throughout my life from a young age. And I don’t really see spirituality as something separate, like a hobbie, or something I do. It’s just riding your ride and not clinging on so tightly to what happens. Like writing a song.
You’ve garnered over five million streams with your guided meditations and music, how does that feel?
Fantastic! I recorded my first guided meditation in 2010 thinking ‘why is anyone going to listen to me?” I’m an introvert and never liked speaking in public and when I did, I never thought I was someone people listened to. I took a risk, jumped out of my comfort zone and put some recordings out into the ether. Namely, a wonderful meditation app called Insight Timer.
Writing music seemed like a natural thing to do as I think meditation is about connecting with emotions, ones that are often hidden in daily life. I see my meditation music more as a film score, where you take the listener on a journey. The tricky part is making it very subtle as you have to leave room for someone’s own experience.
A little fact for you. I bought a cheap violin, having never played one before, for one particular track that sounded terrible with synth strings. I practiced it for a couple of weeks and then recorded it on the track. Honestly, it wasn’t a great performance but good enough with reverb and a bit of tuning. That track is now one of my most played meditations. So there you go – sometimes it’s best to switch off reasoning and just do it anyway. I’ve gotten pretty good at violin over the years from just recording but I can only play a few notes at a time before I mess up.
What is the ultimate goal with your music?
In terms of building on what I’m doing I’d love to take my music to a wider stage online and do some bigger live shows. I have this idea around playing music but also having some chat, maybe a guided meditation. Perhaps more interactive. That just might be crazy.
I think with the way the world is, my music has the purpose of soothing a few souls. My mission is to make planet earth a kinder, more self-aware place to be. Because we’re all in a right pickle at the moment aren’t we?
What’s next for Andy Hobson?
Lunch. Then I’m going to take over the world! Ok, I’m slowly writing an album. I’m doing my first studio session in September so let’s see. I’m also trying to do one gig a week to get my singing game up. And of course, my best songs are still waiting to be written
