| Andy Stochansky | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupations | Musician, Composer |
| Instruments | Drums Percussion Vocals Piano Guitar |
Andy Stochansky is a songwriter[1] living in Los Angeles. He first started out as one the most wanted drummers in the Canadian music scene. His popularity caught the attention of songstress Ani DiFranco living just south of the border in Buffalo, New York. She asked him to not only record on her albums but also be her touring co-pilot. 7 years later and as Andy puts it "she came to her senses and realized she could play with other people".
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He switched instruments, taking up guitar and piano, and released his solo debut album, RadioFusebox, in 1999. The response to "Fusebox" was immediate. Music pundits everywhere were calling it one of the best CDs of the year. Joan Anderman from the Boston Globe called him "the best thing at SXSW" and David Byrne from the Talking Heads was quoted as saying he was a fan. "It was quite shocking, because I had no idea it would connect with audiences like this. "It took a while to make and even though all these accolades were pouring through, I wanted to switch gears and make a pop album. The day after my final Fusebox Tour show, I started writing something on the long drive home that would set me on course for the next few years. I wanted something with hook. I wanted feel good music. I wanted something which made people move, so I wrote Stutter and that opened the flood gates". He quickly had 25 new songs and wanted to let anyone hear them. He was approached by an independent promoter in California who wanted to know if he would play 6 shows in and around Los Angeles in February of 2000. On the second night of that tour in Los Angeles, Stochansky was approached by 3 different record companies, all wanting to sign him. One of the companies was RCA Victor.
In the summer of 2001, 5 Star Motel was released. Two songs, "Wonderful (It's Superman)" and "Stutter," received considerable radio attention Stochansky kept writing: "Anywhere, anytime I would have the guitar in my hands or steal away with headphones and mini keyboard I was truly addicted". 5 Star Motel was produced by Tom Rothrock, but Stochansky chose Goo Goo Dolls frontman Johnny Rzeznik to produce his follow-up album, 100. Rzeznik heard Stochansky's demo tapes which were floating around the Los Angeles music elite. The producers already vying to produce him were Stone Temple Pilots brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo. Stochansky chose Rzeznik, who seemed to have a serious love for the music and an understanding to take it to the next level. According to Stochansky, Rzeznik warned him, "the critics would eat me alive for working with him," but Stochansky chose to go forward with the project anyway, saying, "that's when I said, great, let's get started!".
100 never saw its release on the RCA label. A restructuring of the RCA record company, along with the firing of the very people who signed him, put Stochansky out on his own. The first would-be single from 100, entitled "Shine," was covered by Australian artist Shannon Noll. The song was a hit immediately and holds the record for most weeks at number one on the Australian Airplay Chart. A second single, "House of Gold", received huge radio success for Stochansky himself when released in Canada on Canadian independent label Linus. Shannon would have another Top 10 single again the following year when he covered another Stochansky song from the same 100 CD, "Loud", a song Stochansky calls his response to his self-imposed pressure when it comes to lyrics. "I just wanted to stop slaving in fetal position when I write lyrics and just wanted something akin to candy....and it felt so damn good to play."
He has recently co-written "Northern Lights" a song chosen for the Twilight Breaking Dawn (film and soundtrack) performed by Cider Sky 3 songs with Goo Goo Dolls front man John Rzeznik for their "Something For The Rest of Us" cd. "Home" is the first single and has made it to Billboards Top 10 "Best Of Us" was also recorded by the Goo Goo Dolls for the Hawaii 5-0 TV show and cd soundtrack "Beautiful Like You" has been recorded by American Idol winner Lee Dewyze for his Live It Up cd and was released as his second single Kaile Goh has recorded "Good Day" for her upcoming Lave/Island 2011 U.S. release. Vanessa Amorosi (Universal) has recorded 2 singles with Andy for her upcoming 2012 release. "On The Radio", a brand new never-released song, has been used in the American TV series Brothers & Sisters. Singer Dewi has released 2 songs of Andy's "Neighbourhood" (single) and "Jokes On You". Australian artist Damien Leith had a top ten single with one of Stochansky's songs, "22 Steps", "Summertime" was recorded by Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo. "Sorry" and "Wouldn't Change A Thing" have been recorded by Damien Leith. Shine has been used in U.S. film "Better Than The Steins".