Writing songs such as I Need You Tonight and Don't Change, prolific Aussie songwriter Andrew Farriss is best known as a founding member of legendary chart-toppers INXS. He played keyboards and guitar, and sang backing vocals in the legendary Australian band. The songs he wrote with lead singer Michael Hutchence catapulted the group to international stardom that included sold-out arena and stadium tours, and more than 50 million album sales worldwide.
Living on the land and running a working farm for the last 25 years, country music however has never been far from Andrew’s heart. Yet, it was a chance trip up to the Apache Pass along the Mexican border that set the musical direction for his first self-titled solo album. The history of the area really captivated Andrew in a way that he wasn’t expecting, from the stories of the tumultuous fighting to the barren beautiful landscape.
“I became quite enamoured with it, it became very real to me,” Farris says.
“When I went back to Nashville, what I really wanted to do was write about that outlaw country that I just saw and the history of the area.”
With INXS not having any touring plans in the pipeline, and a swag of original material in his songbook, Andrew has now embarked on a solo career that sees him explore the Country-Americana genre. When it came to writing material for his own album, he did what he had always done, he focused on writing good stories with great music.
“I am really enjoying stepping out on my own with this album,” Farris says.
“I love writing songs and telling stories that hopefully resonate with people. I have not followed any trends or formulas creating these songs. What I have written and recorded is different. I like different, different is good."
After being asked so many times what people can expect musically from Andrew as a solo artist, he decided to record a live concert with his band. Recorded in late 2020, when COVID lockdowns in Australia meant touring was off the cards, Andrew Farris has uploaded the live concert to his Facebook and YouTube channel.
The concert features the songs from Andrew’s EP Love Makes The World and is the perfect introduction to his solo work. The EP was released in mid 2020, to bridge the gap when it was decided to postpone the album’s scheduled 2020 release. After waiting a year from the original planned release date, Farris has decided to seize the day and stop waiting on the unknown and is now launching the album on 19th of this month.
“I recorded the live EP set to give people an idea of what I am doing musically,” says Farris.
“The EP set is a little more diverse than the tracks on the album, but it is a good introduction into what is coming on March 19th when we release the album. Because of the pandemic regulations we were unable to have an audience for the concert recording, but now that it is up on my Facebook and YouTube, everyone watching will become the audience for my first solo live concert. I hope you enjoy it.”
Watch the first live solo performance by Andrew Farriss via his Facebook or YouTube Channel.
Love Makes The World Live from Studio 301 is streaming now >>
facebook.com/AndrewFarrissMusic
youtube.com/c/AndrewFarrissMusic
Andrew’s debut self-titled album is released internationally through BMG/BBR on Friday 19th March 2021.
