Andy Stochansky
Encyclopedia
Andy Stochansky is a songwriter living in Los Angeles who was once signed to RCA U.S. 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. They did this (eventually leading to touring around the world) for 6 years together.
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 and tours were planned, but the events of September 11, 2001 brought these plans to a halt. Undeterred, 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."
Stochansky now lives between Los Angeles and Nashville writing for other artists.
He has recently written 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
Cider Sky has a song Andy co wrote called "Northern Lights" which appears in the The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn movie and soundtrack cd.
"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".
Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet, and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums, and is widely considered a feminist icon.-Biography:...
. Living just south of the border in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, she asked him to not only record on her albums but also be her touring co-pilot. They did this (eventually leading to touring around the world) for 6 years together.
Solo Recording Career
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 ByrneDavid Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
from the Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
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
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
who wanted to know if he would play 6 shows in and around Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
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 and tours were planned, but the events of September 11, 2001 brought these plans to a halt. Undeterred, 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
Tom Rothrock
Tom Rothrock is an international record producer, composer and musician. Tom Rothrock has produced albums with James Blunt, Badly Drawn Boy, R. L. Burnside, Yonder Mountain String Band, Athlete, Sloan and Roman Carter....
, but Stochansky chose Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls
The Goo Goo Dolls are a Grammy-nominated American rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, by vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik and vocalist and bass guitarist Robby Takac. Since the end of 1994, Mike Malinin has been the band's drummer, a position previously held by George Tutuska...
frontman Johnny Rzeznik
Johnny Rzeznik
John Joseph Theodore Rzeznik , also known as Johnny Rzeznik, is an American songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and producer...
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
Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
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."
Stochansky now lives between Los Angeles and Nashville writing for other artists.
He has recently written 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
Cider Sky has a song Andy co wrote called "Northern Lights" which appears in the The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn movie and soundtrack cd.
"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
Vanessa Amorosi
Vanessa Amorosi is an Australian singer-songwriter and recording artist. Her combined album and single sales have reached over 2 million worldwide.-Early life:...
(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
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series Brothers & Sisters. Singer Dewi has released 2 songs of Andy's "Neighbourhood" (single) and "Jokes On You". Australian artist Damien Leith
Damien Leith
Damien Leo Leith is an Irish Australian singer–songwriter. He was the winner of the Network Ten music contest Australian Idol 2006Damien has also guest co-hosted 'The Morning Show' on Network Ten on 18 July 2011.He was born in Ireland and now lives in Australia with his Australian wife, Eileen...
had a top ten single with one of Stochansky's songs, "22 Steps", "Summertime" was recorded by Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
winner Brian Melo
Brian Melo
Brian Melo is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Hamilton, Ontario who was the winner of the fifth season of Canadian Idol in 2007. His first studio album, Livin' It, achieved Gold Status in Canada...
. "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".
Discography
- While You Slept (1996)
- Radio Fusebox (1999)
- Five Star MotelFive Star MotelFive Star Motel is the third studio album by Andy Stochansky.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Andy Stochansky: Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Piano, Cymbals, Glockenspiel, Tambourine, Cello...
(2002) - 100100 (Andy Stochansky album)100 is the fourth studio album by Andy Stochansky. It was produced by Goo Goo Dolls front-man Johnny Rzeznik.-Track listing:# "All The Things You Are" – 3:34# "Shine" – 3:32# "Best Years" – 3:20# "That Summer" – 3:43...
(2005)
External links
- Andy Stochansky's official website
- [ Andy Stochansky] on Allmusic