Andrew Butcher
Andrew Butcher is a country singer/songwriter from Greenwood, Indiana.
After different experiences in bands, Butcher competed as a finalist on the ABC-TV music competition series “Boy Band” last summer where he made the Top 12. Now based in Nashville, the 18 year old artist revealed his first single “You Were There” in 2017, followed by his debut EP “Everything & More” released in April 2018. The 6 track EP features his brand new single “What Is”.
The new single is a country record written by Hunter Leath, Eric Varnell and Jessa Taylor & produced by Jeff Zacharski.
Directed by Lexi Kadey, the video captures the beautiful universality of love.
“We literally went out on the streets of Nashville and randomly asked people to write down what love means to them. It makes the video very personal and introspective, and those were some of the sentiments we were trying to convey,” says Butcher.
His debut EP “Everything & More” is now available.
Introduce yourself.
My name is Andrew Butcher and I’m an 18 year-old singer and songwriter from Greenwood, Indiana who now lives in Nashville, TN.
What’s your story?
I started performing music when I was 9 because my dad dared me to do a talent show. I started with a band called South65 when I was 10 years old. The band split up and my friend Jake and I performed as a duo for 4 years. We auditioned for America’s Got Talent in 2014 and ended up going our separate ways a few years later. I proceeded to perform as a solo artist and was asked to audition for ABC-TV’s “Boy Band” last year, where I made the Top 12.
Growing up, what were the things you were passionate about?
I really loved sports and music, and I still do.
When did you realize you were passionate about music?
When I performed at my first talent show, which was at my elementary school.
At what point did you know you had to become an artist?
When Jake and I stopped performing as a duo, I knew I had to keep going as a solo artist because by that time I realized music was a real passion of mine.
Can you talk about your latest single “What Is? What’s the story behind the record?
After “Boy Band” ended, I came to Nashville and started working on my first EP. I hadn’t written too many songs at that point, and this was one of the first ones that was pitched to me by some of the music publishers in Nashville. I really felt connected to the song because it had a lot of country roots in it that I grew up listening to, and I loved the story in the song. Interestingly, one of the song’s co-writers, Hunter Leath, has become one of my closest friends and is also now a regular co-writer of mine.
Who wrote and produced the single?
The song was written by Hunter Leath, Eric Varnell and Jessa Taylor and produced in Nashville by Jeff Zacharski, who had previously worked with John Legend. One of the coolest things about recording my debut EP “Everything and More”, which includes the new single “What Is”, is that John Mayer’s guitar player even played on the EP, which was really cool because John Mayer is one of my biggest musical influences.
What made you want to release “What Is” as a single?
My first single, “You Were There”, was a mid-tempo ballad and a breakup song. We felt like we needed to follow it up with something with a positive and fun message, and “What Is” was a perfect fit for that.
You’ve just released an honest and powerful video along with the song. Where did you find the inspiration for the video?
I didn’t want to put out a video about a just a love story between two people, because I think the lyrics of the song are more universal than that. Myself, my manager and the video’s director, Lexy Kadey, brainstormed about the concept and I think we came up with something really captivating.
What would be your definition of love?
My definition is the same as my favorite Bible verse about love…“love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy, does not boast and is not proud.”
How did your sound evolve since your very first release?
Now that I’ve been working in Nashville and writing for the past year with so many talented songwriters and producers, I think I’m discovering and evolving my sound and finding that I have a number of influences and favorite genres, all of which I bring into my own music. The lyrics that I write tend to be more on the positive side, which reflects me because I am, for the most part, a very positive and optimistic person.
What advices would you give to young songwriters?
Come to Nashville because it’s hard to seriously pursue a real music career without being in a major music center. The music industry is such a “people business” and it’s so important to be present and to network. Write what your heart tells you to write, not what the world tells you to write.
What does music make you feel?
It makes me feel I can get lost in my own little world and at the same time share a piece of myself with the world.
What have you learnt as an artist and as a person so far?
I’ve learned to be thankful for the career that I’m building, I’ve learned to be disciplined in my music and treating it as a career and not a hobby. I’ve learned that you have to work hard for what you want, as well as make sacrifices such as be away from your family for extended periods of time.
What are the things you are the most proud of?
I’m most proud of my fans for sticking with me even after the “Boy Band” show ended. I’m proud of my manager for his knowledge and guidance and my family for their support and encouragement, and I’m proud of myself for pushing myself to get where I need to be every day.
Any upcoming project?
I’m always writing and working on getting music out to my fans. Lots of things in the works. I usually write 2 or 3 songs every week in Nashville, as well as work on music for Film and TV shows.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
As we tried to portray in the video, I think more love and peace and tolerance would go a long way in making the world a better place.
What’s your purpose?
To share my music with the world and follow God’s plan in all of it.
Connect with Andrew: