Andi Star is an Indie Pop singer-songwriter born and raised in Jamshedpur, India. Star has been performing since the age of 10 and garnered a fanbase online including people from Brazil, UAE, USA, and UK after posting her music on YouTube. She has been noticed online by numerous artists including Australian musician Savannah Clarke and boybands PRETTYMUCH and Why Don’t We. Her work has been featured in numerous articles including Mirchi Play, and she released her debut single Beside Me, a heartbreak ballad in February. Having more than 600,000 views on her YouTube channel and more than 4,500 subscribers from all over the world, Indian singer-songwriter Andi Star returns with her second single, “Home”, India’s first EDM Pop Song by a Solo Indie Female Artist, dropping July 30th.
Here is Andi Star in a conversation with GOGO Magazine.
1) When did your journey as a musician begin?
I have been singing since I was born really, I came out of the womb hitting a high note. But yeah, ever since I was young I have been performing on stage, participating in talent shows, and learning music. My mom is a singer as well, so I think that probably influenced me and she put me in Music class pretty early, where I got my training in Hindustani Classical Music. I think Disney Channel too had a huge impact on me as most of its protagonists were Singers, so I was very sure even as a kid that it was what I wanted to do.
2) Tell us more about the feeling of having an international fanbase.
It feels awesome. Social Media might have its downsides, but it’s a blessing too because it connects people from any part of the world to you. You can be sitting here in India and talking to someone from Brazil, or the UAE, or someone sitting in Los Angeles, how crazy is that? When people from other countries started commenting on my channel, I was so surprised and also overwhelmed, I translate all the comments into other languages and they turn out to be the sweetest things! I learned some Portuguese along the way too, que incrível!
3) Which has been your first track?
I released my debut single this year, it’s called Beside Me, and it’s an emotional ballad pop song about heartbreak. I wrote it last year on my piano in quarantine and worked with producers from Italy and the USA. What’s crazy is at the time I wrote this song in 2020, most pop songs on the radio were fast and catchy tunes, and then Driver’s License (by Olivia Rodrigo) came out this year, and it kinda made “sad angsty music” mainstream, so I love that. Beside Me is genre-wise similar to Driver’s License, a heartbreak ballad. Besides Me also has orchestral elements, and I love orchestral pop music, like Reckless by Madison Beer, or Grey by Why Don’t We.
4) Who has been your inspiration?
Aah, so many incredible artists have inspired me growing up, and I’m so grateful to be living in the same era as them. I grew up listening to Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, and all the Disney Channel artists – Miley, Demi, Selena, and Sabrina Carpenter, Dove Cameron, Bridgit Mendler, and Ross Lynch. It sounds cliché, but they raised me, music-wise. I used to blast their music on the music system and sing at the top of my lungs. Later, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and 1D, 5SOS, all became huge music influences, and also my idols. Right now, Why Don’t We and Now United inspire me a lot.
5) Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Aaaah! I have so many big dreams, so of course, I see myself living my dreams. Yeah, I see myself touring the world and performing for people in different countries, and inspiring many others.
6) How would you describe your music?
I’d describe my music as something that makes you feel emotions. Although I say my genre is Pop, I like to make music that I feel most inspired by, that makes me and the person listening to happy. My debut single was a heartbreak ballad, and now my next single is a 360-degree turn and is an EDM Dance anthem. I like changing music styles with each song. Like Taylor Swift, she made a country album, then a Pop Album, then she came out with Reputation, then Lover, and then Indie Alternative Folklore. That’s the beauty of Pop, it’s not just one kind of music, it can be anything.
7) Which has been your most memorable project or song?
I’d definitely say my latest song, Home is one of my favorites so far. I was originally working on a melodic love song, but I had been obsessed with this song called “For You” by Why Don’t We, it’s a beautiful electronic pop song. I loved it so much, that I sat on my piano and said “ Time to make a Dance Anthem”. I worked with multiple people for the production of the track, and each person contributed their own little touch to my song, and that was the most fun part of this project.
8) What advice woukd you give to the aspiring musicians?
I’d say just go for it. There’ll be too many people around you trying to divert you from who you are meant to be — your authentic self. But you gotta take a leap of faith and follow your dreams, cause you are the only one who has the power to make them come true.
9) Share some of your achievements with the magazine.
I’d say one of my proudest achievements is growing my YouTube channel from 100 to 4,500 in 6 months, with more than 600,000 views. Another one would be releasing music this year, and shooting music videos!
Oh, and the fact I’m getting interviewed by you, that’s pretty awesome!
10) How was life in quarantine?
Life in quarantine for me has been a blessing, to be honest. This pandemic has brought a lot of sadness to so many people, but the one good thing it brought, was a pause, a break. I am not the same person I was before the pandemic. I have learned so much, I have grown so much, and I am so happy with where I am headed! I made music, my videos, and my music reached people from all over the world, I started learning music production and did some modeling photoshoots. There are just so many exciting things coming in the future!
FOLLOW THE AMAZING SINGER ANDI STAR
INSTAGRAM: @andi star
YOUTUBE: ANDI STAR
SPOTIFY: ANDI STAR
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