"Magnetic, compelling. People are just drawn to the sound of her voice. She's the real thing." -- Bob Power, multi-platinum and Grammy-winning record mixer/producer
“This imaginative pop maestro's delivery and message are so delightfully refreshing that it's hard to remember she's working from the pop music playbook.” SHAWN TELFORD, Seattle Sound Magazine
"Incredible! Her songwriting sensibilities are the ilk of Edie Brickell, Carol Bayer Sager, and Joni Mitchell. And her voice just soars! You've got to invest your time to hear this."
-- Q-tip, A Tribe Called Quest and solo Artist
Common wisdom in the entertainment business dictates if you can't describe it in two sentences, go back to the boards and refine your pitch. However, those experienced and well traveled in the business know that in truth, it's the ones that you can't describe easily that are the true and lasting artists.
New York City-based alt-pop artist Andrea Wittgens is surely one of those artists. Armed with witty yet disarmingly honest lyrics and a voice that simply soars, Wittgens creates songs that are refreshingly unique and infectiously accessible. Compared to artists as varied as PJ Harvey and Rufus Wainwright, she is a sonic shapeshifter. Over the course of her career, Andrea has written and released over 150 songs, toured extensively throughout North America, recorded with Grammy-nominated producers, and had her songs woven into Disney movies and network TV shows. A passionate teacher, she is committed to spreading the joy of songwriting and recording with her young students.
Originally from small town Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Andrea's earliest stage training was in classical piano and modern dance. She followed her studies all the way to a Music degree at Queen's University but always felt the pull to the noise wafting out the coffeehouses and basement clubs. Eventually moving to Seattle in the mid-90's, she cut her teeth as front woman or pop band Sugartown with whom she released EP “Blue-Eyed Fool” and critically acclaimed album “How Do You Love, Aquamarine?”
By the new millennium, Andrea was ready to step out on her own. She had also caught the attention of Grammy producer Bob Power (Erykah Badu, Tribe Called Quest) and in 2006 he produced her first solo album “Alibi”. The EP and Andrea's instantly arresting voice garnered excited reviews both in the Northwest and in her new home of New York City where she performed to packed houses on the lower east side. Shortly after, in 2008, she followed up with “In The Skyline”, a 12-song ode to escapism in a more visceral live band setting thanks to rock producer Johnny Sangster (Young Fresh Fellows, Mudhoney). The album also includes fan favorite “Comme tu veux” an original song written in her second language of French.
In 2010, Andrea was invited to Sturgeon Bay, WI by Grammy-nominated songwriter pAt mAcDonald (Timbuk3) for an ambitious annual songwriting festival. Steel Bridge Songfest, along with its sister festivals Dark Songs and Love On Holiday, drew artists from all over the world including Jackson Browne and Jane Weidlan (The Gogos). Over the next decade, Andrea was a major contributor, co-writing and performing on over 100 tracks and 30 compilations. In 2016, drawing heavily on her collaborative writing, she released two EPs. “Girl In A Box”, produced by Grammy-nominated producer Geoff Stanfield weaves darker lyrical material into cinematic soundscapes while sister EP “Grace”, produced by longtime collaborator Vincent Gates, explores the spiritual realm with more lush gospel-infused instrumentation.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected creative isolation and for the first time in over a decade, Andrea re-immersed herself in deeply personal solo writing. The result was a remarkable canon of new works to be released over several projects in 2023/2024 including a much anticipated full length album recorded in Joshua Tree with vocal producer Ainjel Emme (John Legend, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs). Concurrently, she is finishing an EP of solo piano recordings from live sessions in Milwaukee as well as a boisterous album with Atlanta rock darlings The Steady Wicked. Lastly, Andrea recently teamed up with artists Kate Vargas and Eric McFadden to score short film “Little Mouse” which premiered the Dances With Films Festival in December of 2022 and won Audience Choice award.
For a complete Discography and Recording Resume click HERE