escXtra.com:ย First of all, thanks for doing this interview! It’s just a fewย days before the final now. How are you generally feeling?
Andy McSean: All good so far. I’m really looking forward to go on stage. Actually,ย I’m going through the whole performance once a day to get a littleย routine. If there is much automatism – there’s more space to enjoyย the moment and to act a bit spontaneous.
X:ย Can you tell us a little bit about yourself so that our readersย get to know you?
AMS: I am a singer-songwriter, born and raised in Switzerland as one ofย two sons from a Swiss father and an Italian mother. Iโm a proudย father of two boys. If Iโm not traveling around with my music, Iโmย working as voice-over artist, audio producer and creator of radioย commercials.
I feel honoured to be a part of the Eurovision world
X:ย Why don’t you tell us a little bit about your music style,ย influences? What other artists do you draw inspiration from or admire?
AMS:ย I grew up with radio-pop from the 80s/90s and the rockย viynil-collection of my father (Journey, Queen, Nazareth and more). Soย – I was always into both worlds. In the teenage years, the rock-sideย predominated. But it switched more and more over to the pop-side. If I’m writing songs I don’t think about the style it should fit in. Iย love catchy melodies completedย by chrunchy sound. As a singer,ย songwriter and performer I really admire Ryan Tedder and Gavin DeGraw.ย They both have that fullย package.
X:ย Why Eurovision, and why did you decide to go for it now?
AMS:ย It just seemed to be the right moment. After so many years inย countless bands I was starting my solo-career in 2011. I was buskingย through Switzerland and a few other countries all over Europe. A guyย from an Austrian record label discovered me busking and offered aย record deal. That was lifting the project in 2013 to a higher level. Weย produced the debut-album, formed a band for touring. So far, so good.ย But still the hardest part is to get booked for live-shows, becauseย your name isn’t that well known. So it seemed to be the perfect moment toย join the competition. My whole environmentย was ready – and there isย the ESC as the biggest Songwriter-Contest in the world.
X:ย Tell us a little bit more about ‘Hey Now’.
AMS:ย It was a great experience as a songwriter writing a song targeted onย an event. I’ve tried to imagine the moment of performing the song inย front of the ESC-crowd. It was my wish to create a happy song with theย power to start the crowd moving, clapping or sing along. Lyrically itย tells the story of life’sย magic little moments, catching somebody’sย eyes on the dancefloor – overwhelmed by this character.
X:ย You also released your debut album, Passenger, earlier in theย year. Tell us a bit about the style.
AMS:ย It is a pop-record with rock-influences. I’ve tried to arrange theย songs to be radio-friendly without stepping away fromย the original versions, the product of theย writing process. It’s an album that works -listen to it by the way –ย but it goes deep with a closer listen. What I love the most is to play the songs live. It’s like letting them out of a cage and allowing their whole character to unfold.
X:ย Will you try to use Eurovision to promote Passenger? How do youย think being in Vienna can influence your career?
AMS:ย The ESC is an incredible platform to present me and my music. But itย isn’t something like a marketing-gag to me! I take it seriously and loveย the origin-idea of an international songwriter-contest. To get moreย publicity is a welcome effect, which is the goal of every musician. Iย really appreciate it, to be presentedย nationally an internationally. It’s a kind of payoffย for all the efforts during the pastย years.
X:ย Are you a Eurovision fan? Any all time favourites? And fromย Switzerland?
AMS:ย I grew up with the ESC. It’s one of these great childhood-memories toย have dinner in front of the TV with the wole family, watching the final. Mostly, I fell asleep during the award for points ๐ There areย many favourites like ABBA – they created music history. The greatย Celine Dion launched her career by winning the ESC for Switzerland. Iย still love “Standing Still”, performed by Roman Lob. I’m a big fan ofย the song’s co-writer Jamie Cullum!
X:ย As the time of the final approaches, do you have any rituals orย lucky charms before going on stage?
AMS:ย Half an hour before entering the stage I need to have a few quietย minutes for myself. I try to come down an get focused. After that, itย tips over to the string-up stage. Playing guitar and singing with theย bandmates bakstage brings everyone in a good mood. A good thing: Iย cannot forget my personal lucky charm – because I wear them in form ofย tattoos under my skin ๐ All of them stand for important persons orย defining experiences in my life.
X:ย What are your expectations for the show? Anything you’reย particularly looking forward to? Who do you imagine to be your biggestย competitor on the night?
AMS:ย I prefer to stay grounded and take it step by step! The next goal is the national final itself – and then it is in the hands of the juryย and the audience. I think that ff you take every step seriously and stay positiveย and believe in yourself – there’s always the chance to reachย everything. I’m looking forward to the overall ambiance with theย big stage, the crowd and the lightshow.
X:ย Imagine that on the night you are announced as the winner. Whatย comes next? (after a massive celebration, of course).
AMS:ย I think – pretty much media-dates. As I know myself – I would getย focused on the next steps in Vienna immediately. And it would be greatย to get as much live-gigs as we can.
X:ย Finally, do you have a message for the readers of escXtra.com?
AMS:ย I’m absolutely overwhelmed of the dimensions of the ESC-World. Thereย are so many people loving this event and everything around it. I wouldย like to thank you for welcomingย me so warmly in this scene. It isย full of love and respect – and I feel honored for being a part of it!
