Jan. 30th, 2009

So, I have to write a biography for a song submission.
I attempted to write it in the third person, but it felt fake. It’s like pretending it isn’t you saying what you're saying.
True, it’s easier to write sparkly things about one's self in the third person, because you can pitch it as though someone else were writing about you; so I will tell you a little about me (in the first person), and then - if you want the sparkly stuff on my music and gigs -you can read the re...

Jan. 30th, 2009

So, I have to write a biography for a song submission.
I attempted to write it in the third person, but it felt fake. It’s like pretending it isn’t you saying what you're saying.
True, it’s easier to write sparkly things about one's self in the third person, because you can pitch it as though someone else were writing about you; so I will tell you a little about me (in the first person), and then - if you want the sparkly stuff on my music and gigs -you can read the reviews written by others.

I was born on Vancouver Island, the storming edge of Canada’s Westcoast where rainforest meets the ocean.
I grew up amongst bears, whales and ancient cedar trees, before moving to the cobblestones and cathedrals of Switzerland at 13 years old.

At 17, I returned to Canada, studied Theatre and French literature, and then landed back in Switzerland for a longer than expected chunk of time. (Ping pong between the continents).

Two years ago, I packed up life in Basel and returned to Canada (again) to explore and stretch in Vancouver’s music scene – take in the artists, play new venues and to work with various producers. What a whacky two years.

A week ago, I arrived back in Basel…for however long (likely longer than I foresee - seems I am destined to straddle both lands). It was a rather sudden decision – within 10 days I booked a flight, packed up Canada life, left some boxes in the hall (not enough time to empty the entire apartment) and headed to the airport with three suitcases and a guitar, while slathering together peanut butter and honey sandwiches for my flight. (I left the jar of peanut butter at YVR. [You know Security these days - there might be terrorists in the peanut butter.])

And so I am here now, amongst the roasted chestnuts and empty Winter squares, and a rush of black and gray coats, and the lovely echoes of footsteps bouncing off cobblestones and Muenschters.

...I still have to call some friends in Canada and tell them I am not there...

In Switzerland I love GrittiBaenzlis and Pflaschterstei and the old flats with fishbone-patterned hardwood floors (especially floors which come with creaking). I love the high ceilings and am enchanted with the EXTRA DOOR that many Altbau rooms get!
I love the pureness of basic foods. (I stopped eating cottage cheese for my 2 years in Vancouver, because it was full of scary stuff that isn’t necessary to make cottage cheese. Today I had my first bite of the real thing again – Bio HuettenKaese from Coop – how ridiculously good it was.)

In Canada, I love the ragged westcoast edge and thousand-year-old massive cedar trees, which you can walk amongst while hearing the Pacific surf pound the sand. I love the moss and the wet and the desolate. I love brunches and café-bakeries with messy apple-rhubarb crisp (and all the acoustic guitars you will find there – the coffeehouse culture), and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, and the possibility of 3am pancakes.

I love the quivering possibility that hovers in Zurich mainstation – all the destinations calling themselves to you. And I love riding the ferries and winding between British Columbia’s pristine islands.

I love the lack of cars in Switzerland and the smokelessness in Canada.

I love Autumn and cellos and big happy dogs.
I am a raven and pounce on pretty fabrics – especially if they are wine-red in colour.
I sigh for Ireland, am a Dublin-junkie (Dublin has particularly bright coats wandering the streets).

I love words.
I have always loved writing (except autobiographies). Maybe I wouldn’t even say I love it - I just do it.

I like people.
With music I want to climb into people and open them from the inside. There is a lot of beautiful gunk you can find in people’s swamps (often you don’t even have to dig). It’s moving when they feel their own beautiful gunk surface.
Music…art...a blossom, a spiderweb shivering from a wet forest branch – partly be-sunned…a good cookie… all sorts of things can tap people into that (their loveliness, the loveliness).

My guitar and I have hopped many planes and trains and played many places. After wanting to go the solo route for a good while, I am now in a chapter of collaboration – craving it and curious to see what will surface. I have yet to record a song I wrote for a film five years ago, but the film has yet to be made, so we are in good timing. I’m looking forward to that.

That’s all I have to say about me right now.
If you want to know more about my music/gigs specifically (as opposed to my culinary preferences), you are welcome to read my reviews (on my website and myspace for now).

Thanks and Merci for the interest.

See you out there somewhere,
Andrea

P.S. Uebrigens, vielliecht muess ig das au emol ins Duetsch uebersaetzae...
(Ig find de Umlauts nid uuf min Kanadisches Laptop Taschtatur - it’s hard without Umlauts).