Andy Mckay profile picture

Andy Mckay

About Me

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As a boy, his soft untainted ears were introduced to the guitar by an American Magpie. It was the first jolt of purest pleasure and it went straight to the brain. The Magpie, although a liitle frightening in it's demeanour, enthralled the small boy and told him tales of silver. Inspired by the stories he was told and the world from whence they came, the boy visited a secret part of the woods. For forty days and nights he tirelessly worked, fashioning a crude yet resonant guitar with which to play. Bloodied fingers began to harden and, before long, rudimentary melodies were heard from within the cable drum. He was ready.

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Recent months have seen Andy write his first novel 'Nearly', and perform for those who know. He follows the Sun. Bathes in the rain. He is element like air. Some will like this music. You can be sure of that.

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So... 2008 was great, you know... gigs and radio and Paris and stuff. This year? We lost John Martyn far too soon... Love to you all, keep hold of your dreams. Fly them proudly like kites.

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"Jazzy, folky, floaty layered songwriting" Panic Magazine.

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"Established, atmospheric, Essex-based singer-songwriter who draws on many influences. There is plenty of Jeff Buckley in there but in the end it is all Andy Mckay" The Liberty Real Music Festival programme.

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"One of the region's best unsigned artists" Essex Chronicle.

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"Songs From The Cable Drum" is still available but will be deleted in October. When it's gone, it's gone. Contact this page if you want a personalised copy.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/13/2006
Band Website: www.andymckay.co.uk
Band Members: For now, I'm just a one-man band. However, I am wanting to put a band together and seek: Bass; another guitar; perhaps some keys; perhaps some strings. Come and have a go if you think you're eclectic enough!
Influences: I love music by these people - Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley, John Martyn, Cocteau Twins, Levitation, The Wolfgang Press, House of Love, Icicle works, Dead Can Dance, Brendan Perry, Beatles, Bobby D, Leadbelly, Howling Wolf, Love, Damien Rice, Jackson C Frank, Bert Jansch, The Clash, Iggy and the Stooges, Estrella Morentes, Danny Thompson, Calexico, Gary Lucas, Serge Gainsbourg, Francoise Hardy, Julie Driscoll, Michel Polnareff, Marvin Gaye, David Axelrod, Minnie Riperton, Karen Dalton, Julie London, Ella, Billie, Sarah V, Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield, Bobbie Gentry, Frank Sinatra, Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack, Gil Scott-Heron, Richie Havens, Stephen Fretwell, Jacques Brel, Scott Walker, Radiohead, REM, Massive Attack, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Charlie Mingus, Pentangle, Erik Satie, Nick Cave, Roland S Howard, Julie London, Dif Juz, Fred Neil, Nick Drake, Syd Barrett, CS&N, Carla Bruni, Moby Grape, Jefferson Airplane, Skip Spence, Dino Valente, Scott Matthews, Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson, Catherine Wheel's Painful Thing EP, Family, Aznavour, Brassens, Fairport, Thelonius Monk, Otis Redding, Fleet Foxes ... the list is by no means exhaustive...

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Other people whose work inspires me include... Vaughn Oliver, Daniel Auteuil, Juliette Binoche, Emmanuelle Beart, Vincent Cassel, Monica Bellucci, Tcheky Karyo, Samy Naceri, Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Devos, Marie Gillain, Sophie Marceau, Audrey Tautou, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Yvan Attal, Mathieu Kassovitz, Gaspar Noe, Olivier Assayas, Andre Techine, Michael Haneke, Pascal Bonitzer, Virginie Ledoyen, Isabelle Huppert, Nathalie Baye, Depardieu, Fabrice Luchini, BB, Alain Delon, Jean Reno, Jean Rochefort, Andre Dussollier, Claude Chabrol, Belmondo, Goddard, Truffaut, Robert Guediguian, Kieslowski, Gilles Mimouni, Francois Ozon, Bertrand Tavernier, Arnaud Desplechin, Jacques Audiard, Jamel Debbouze, Romain Duris, Marianne Denicourt, Marion Cotillard, Cyril Collard, Romaine Bohringer, Catherine Deneuve, Ludivine Sagnier, Antonin Artaud, Steve McQueen, Robert Altman, Hitchcock, Jean Cocteau, Seurat, Albert Camus, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Renoir, Andy Warhol, Claude Chabrol ... this could go on!
Sounds Like: A million different colours. Examples on offer here...
Record Label: Storming Heaven
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

John Martyn / Nick Drake Tribute - musicians wanted

When: Thursday 30th AprilWhere: St. Anne's Castle, Great Leighs.If you'd like to donate your services and come and play 2-3 classics by John or Nick, please get in touch.
Posted by on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:05:00 GMT

John Martyn

So sad. I play him every day. A real inspiration.
Posted by on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:04:00 GMT

New Material

'Bury my Heart', Andy's first new song of 2007 has just been demo'd. He is now working on the rest of the material for a new album later this year.
Posted by on Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:17:00 GMT

Musicians wanted

Wishing to expand upon the textures of my live sound, I am seeking a bass player. Preferably Danny Thompson (yeah, right. In your dreams...) So if you know Danny Thompson, are Danny Thompson or want t...
Posted by on Wed, 31 Jan 2007 06:34:00 GMT