By Jeff Kollath

This Wednesday night (4/21), singer-songwriter Jill Andrews will be in Madison to play an intimate, acoustic show at a house on the north side of town. Tickets to the show are $10 – doors at 8pm, show at 830pm. Drop a line to nmsc1402@gmail.com if you are interested in attending – hurry, limited spots remain.

Jill was kind enough to take some time to answer a few questions about her busy 2009, her upcoming tour, and her future as a solo artist.

You had quite a 2009 – your old band broke up, you got married, you had a baby, opened for Willie Nelson in your adopted home of Knoxville, AND you released your first solo EP. That’s about two years crammed into one! Looking back, what kind of inspiration have you drawn or will you draw from 2009?

Well, I’ll be the first to say that last year was a whirlwind. For me it was about new life, great sacrifice, indescribable love, and hard work.  I wrote more songs in 2009 than in any other year before it.

You packed a lot of honesty, beauty, and emotion into the EP. Talk about your songwriting process for the EP – where did these six songs come from? Are you pleased with how it has been received?

Honesty is always my intention. It is what draws me to music in the first place .  The songs on the EP were written over a year’s worth of time. This year held moments of love, compassion and enlightenment, and heartache. As a songwriter, it’s a privilege to process the experience of emotion through your art. Sharing it with others is the most rewarding part.

What has it been like getting back out on the road for an actual tour instead of doing weekend jaunts here and there? Did you miss it? Please tell us a little about your current ‘duo’ setup with Josh Oliver.

I’m glad to be back on the road. Its a very challenging and rewarding way to spend your time.  I’ve been enjoying playing with Josh, I like playing my songs more stripped down as well as with a full band. He is an amazing musician with an incredible voice.

For the show in Madison, you and Josh are playing a stripped-down acoustic show to a small (but attentive) crowd in someone’s basement. As an artist, what is the benefit of playing an occasional show like this?

It’s nice to get to know the people your playing for.  House concert goers aren’t there for the pizza and beer.

After three great albums and five years together, the everybodyfields split up last year. What has it been like making the adjustment to being a solo artist?

I’ve had to work really hard at building name recognition.  There’s a little more pressure involved, but it’s  nice to have complete creative control.

It sounds like you have written a lot of new songs and have a full-length album coming out later this year. Tell us about the recording process and what we can expect from the new record.

I’m still writing for the full length album, and I’m getting really excited to head into the studio in the next couple of months.  There has been a real progression in my songwriting so you can expect to hear something a bit different for this upcoming album.

Myspace: Jill Andrews
++
Buy: Jill Andrews EP