Surviving a catastrophic car accident in his teens seemed to usher, the Perth, Western Australia-based poet and singer-songwriter, Andy Michaels, toward his musical vocation.
Fast forward a few years, Michaels’ resume includes performances around Australia and Asia (including China), appearing on national television, and global radio airplay.
Having previously released the soulfully eclectic, Revisited, Andy has recently followed-up that body of work with the equally eclectic—though arguably more emotionally stirring—14-track monster album, Incendiary Heart.
Recruiting a talented group of collaborators which include, Tiarna Madison, Kerry Ironside, Carolyn Thomas, and Sharon Court, the project dances both skillfully and passionately back-and-forth across several genre lines.
HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…
The album opens with the deeply emotive and wildly personal, Darling It Hurts, an acousti-tronic, synth-meets-strings pop composition which is anthemically dedicated to broken love. The reality here, is that sometimes there is no happy ending. (Hell, if we’re honest, this is probably more often the case.) The entire track is gorgeously tragic.
OUR FAVORITE TRACK… Emerald Eyes, takes a minimalist approach. Uniting a largely acoustic melody with and electro kick & clap, the result is an expression of longing and yearning which has a distinct Rihanna feel to it.
The album’s title track, Incendiary Heart, is a pleasantly open and free spirited song of hope and encouragement. Think: Natasha Bedingfield…
“Let your incendiary heart
become insatiable…”
Slide guitar and fiddle add a country twist to the project in, Rambling Man, which solidifies one simple fact: Andy Michaels is a romantic. Whether that be hopeless or hopeful… is just not our place to decide.
Be sure to hang around long enough to experience This Songs For You’s soft and ambient instrumental break at 1:45. Just lovely.
The Flame offers a heartfelt and centered perspective in Michaels’ most worthy writing on the album…
“What makes one’s god in heaven, another’s demon to be slain?
What makes one want to hurt, when it’s easier to refrain?”
A gorgeous guitar riff on, Humming Bird, shows a veteran musical swagger.
In one last show of longing, I Can Fly, offers a story of love over years and distance, and the spontaneous power that can arise at the mere possibility of love.
Concluding the album is, Planet 8, a sci-fi-pop composition with a not-so-figurative story about humanity’s inability to learn from its mistakes and make practical change.
IN CONCLUSION…
Utterly passionate. Rich and substantive pop. An expose on every facet of love: new to old, hopeful to broken. Andy Michaels’ latest album, Incendiary Heart, colors its sonic tapestry with a full range of color & emotion. Creative instrumentation (whereby electronics seamlessly blend with acoustics) unite with dense and completely relatable lyrics to form a genre-splitting—or perhaps a genre-genesis—collection of neo-pop singer-songwriter music. The sum of the experience here is something dramatically theatrical. Those who seek a brand of pop which contains depth and substance will enjoy this album, and very much so.
WHOSE LOVECHILD…?
Peter Gabriel meets Natasha Bedingfield…
BELOW: Check out our full artist interview with Andy Michaels, listen to Incendiary Heart, and connect with his website and social media platforms, watch his music video, and find his booking & contact information. Please support Andy Michaels by visiting him online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing his music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
Check out our interview with ANDY MICHAELS:
INTERVIEW: ANDY MICHAELS (Click HERE)
Follow, stream, download & connect with ANDY MICHAELS online:
Listen to INCENDIARY HEART by ANDY MICHAELS:
Watch ANDY MICHAELS’ music video, DARLING IT HURTS:
Booking & contact information for ANDY MICHAELS:
Contact: Andy Michaels
Email: info (at) andymichaelsmusic (dot) com