Today we’d like to introduce you to Andre Epps.
Hi Andre, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Well, as a kid I began singing around the age of five, at my church hymns and all types of gospel music. Fully taken by the imagery of Michael Jackson, I kept on singing in my younger days at festivals like the taste of Chicago. By the age of 13, I started to get interested in the production and vinyl and who produced what, when, where and with what instruments. I started producing around that time and I grew fond of sampling. Very inspirational from the likes of J Dilla. A few years later, I took it upon myself to learn instruments and how to mix and master records for distribution to get the quality of my music to a place where I am content. During that time I was a full-time DJ/ producer for the Chicago music scene learning the ins and outs of taking a record from a to z and watching it grow through distribution. Playing at various historic venues all of the Chicago land areas. In 2020 I moved from Chicago to Atlanta looking for a vocal coach and I found one as I was learning the guitar. After being in Atlanta for two years I have started to produce records for my church and for others artists and myself.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were a bit of ups and downs like every journey there will be great highs and lows but it’s about maintaining a mental clarity regarding things that you can and cannot control. There were problems with cords or venue setups or pay or marketing. There was always a challenge in the midst of it all and having a clear mind state was very beneficial to have when dealing with such issues.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a singer-songwriter, record producer, and musician. I specialize in the electric guitar, acoustic guitar and bass. I am known for my singing and my guitar playing. I think the way I approach music with harmony in mind while I play is different from others. My voice is also a big thing that sets me apart from others. In addition to my production.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are so many people who deserve credit or people who gave me an opportunity to thrive. I’ll just list a few names, Tony Trimm, Touring DJ for Hannibal Burress taught me how to DJ. Hannibal Burress, the comedian gave me an opportunity to be a hypeman at his big shows. Chaston Ransom Engineer/record producer taught me how to engineer mix and master. Corey Gilkey got me my first mac computer. Jacob Victorine introduced me to a family of people that ensured advancement in my network in Chicago. Noah Zagor hired me and welcomed me into his network as an asset in his clothing store Meyvn.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulyrene/
