Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea & Mud.
Hi Andrea & Mud, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Andrea: We met at Star Bar in Little 5 Points. Turns out, we’d been going to the same shows for a while because we had very similar tastes in music. And he was obviously very handsome, and I knew he played guitar. When I finally convinced him to come all the way OTP to Hickory Flat and play music with me, we clicked instantly. He played me a song that he needed to finish, I helped him of course, and the rest is history.
Kyle: Did some practicing and started writing songs. Quit my job and hit the road with Andrea. It’s been a lot of learning and hard work.
A: We both quit our day jobs very early on and decided to pursue music full-time. I was an interior designer and Kyle was managing a restaurant. We knew that if we didn’t throw ourselves completely into it, it wasn’t going to work. I don’t think either one of us will ever regret that decision either. It enabled us to go on a month-long cross-country trip from Atlanta to California and back one year. We toured in Alaska for almost a month last summer and we’re hoping to go to Europe next year. That’s all it’s about for us: being able to create the music that we want and travel all over the world to play it for people that love music. It’s truly a dream to be able to do this for a living.
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?
Andrea: It’s definitely been hard to get to where we are, and we’re not even close to where we want to go. Most of it has been trial and error and just learning things the hard way. We do everything ourselves too. We don’t have a team. So if something needs to be done, it’s one of us that does it. And if neither of us knows how one of us learns how. We’ve gotten a pretty good rhythm between us over the years. We’re great partners. There’s always something to learn though, and touring can be brutal. Live music is still struggling to get back to where it once and gas prices are high but we will probably never stop touring. It’s what we love.
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?
Andrea & Mud is a Surf Western band from Atlanta established in 2017. We call our genre Surf Western because we don’t fit in any one category. We used to always get called a Country Band because we wore cowboy hats and cowboy boots, and yes, some of our music is Country, but definitely not all of it. Our music is influenced by so many different genres including Surf, Blues, Soul, and Bluegrass. Basically roots music. We love old music, and that’s what mainly inspires our songs. Buck Owens and Loretta Lynn are just as big of influences to us as Dick Dale and Link Wray. Most people say we sound like a Tarantino movie, and if you think about it, they always have Surf music, they have classic country songs, they have dark and mysterious ballads, so it makes sense because that’s what we’re all about. It’s a really great compliment for us when we hear that.
Andrea: The thing that sets us apart is 100% Kyle’s guitar tone and playing style. It’s really unique, and people love it. And I play a musical saw which always draws a crowd. The saw is an old Appalachian instrument, and you probably won’t be surprised to know that not many people still play it. I’m trying to keep it alive though. I even got be in a movie last year playing the saw. If you watch the Walton’s Thanksgiving (the CW), you’ll see me playing “Amazing Grace” on the saw at the Talent Show in the Harvest Festival.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Andrea: Stay true to yourself. There’s millions of people out there, but only one of them is you. Find what makes you stand out because that’s such a big part of it. And don’t be afraid of failure. You can’t let your fears keep you from reaching your dreams. You can make anything happen if you believe in it enough.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.andreaandmud.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreaandmud/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/andreaandmud/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@AndreaandMud?si=Sy3zOw3VH35-xCo3
Image Credits
1. Festiviz Media 2. Stephen Crocker 3. Stephen Crocker 4. Festiviz Media 5. Josh Basco 6. Adequate Chad 7. Rooftop Vybez 8. Aleksfoto
