Now Playing: Antonio Andrade’s "My Reward"

Antonio Andrade is readying for the release of a new album. It's titled My Rewardand has a drop date of October 27. But first, for those of you not yet familiar with the artist in question, a bit o’ background.

Antonio Andrade

According to his official website and other online sources, Antonio Andrade is a Pennsylvania-based singer-songwriter and guitarist who has released previous platters, including his first holiday-themed album, Jingle All the Way, in November 2021 on Lifeshakes Recordings. His rockin’ resume also includes co-writing with Louisa Branscomb and Freebo and years of experience as a performer. He has been on the juried showcases at both the Southeast Regional Folk Alliance and Southwest Regional Folk Alliance. Andrade also garnered “Best Male Solo Artist” for 2021 at the Central Pennsylvania Music Awards in 2022.

In a recent email, Andrade stated: “My ability to re-interpret songs might be a noteworthy skill.” His 2011 adaptation of the Talking Heads’ “This Must Be the Place,” was used in the motion picture of the same name. He added that “singing and playing, presenting songs, and connecting with an audience are more fun than anything else I can imagine.”

Signature Sound

Antonio Andrade’s signature sound is a mix of multiple music genres including blues, rock, and folk. He refers to it as “rockin’ folk.” When it comes to inspiration, Andrade said:

“I think it was fun that inspired me more than any one person. The Beatles sure looked like they were having fun, and the fans were going crazy, so music had my attention. Music seemed like fun for just about everybody, meaning the singers, the players, and also the listeners. I was about 10 years old, and I wanted to be the entertainer.”

My Reward

My Reward is Andrade's eighth record, and fifth full-length disc since 2014 when he left his career in human service work. Recorded at The Green Room in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, it is a 10-track album that features all original material. Here Andrade leads the way on acoustic guitar, harmonica, and vocals. He is backed by a few other artists including his co-producer Derek Euston on bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, organ, and mandolin; Denny Neidich on drums, congas, and percussion; Richard “Raggs” Ranaglia on saxes, clarinet, and flute; and Amma Johnson on vocals.

Track by Track

The album opens with the titular “My Reward” which serves as an effective introduction to the artist that is both self-reflective and a product of both the times. It comes complete with both blunt and clever lyrical lines too. As previously suggested, songwriting and performing are probably Andrade’s reward. He confirmed this saying: “It is my purpose these days…Having a purpose is my reward in life!”

The second serving is the dark humor ditty “Get A Little Cup”. This is a tuneful tale of a widower undertaker who has a fascination with the color black. It focuses on his glass-is-half-full advice and also includes a cast of other interesting characters.

This single comes in plenty of time to resurrect your old Halloween hit list although the message is relevant all year long. In fact, Andrades confirmed this in a post elsewhere online. He said: “There’s a difference between wanting and needing.”

He concluded his song is saying: “Maybe I don’t need a Cadillac or a girlfriend. What’s important in life? I think the funeral director hit it on the head in this song!”

The next number is “Crew Cut Hair”. This one is a biographical reflection on a long gone distant relative Andrade considered a brother. He travels back and forth through time in sharing his observations.

“Boo Hoo Hoo'' is yet another tuneful tale from the past. It has a fun underlying musical trot to it and is held together by a lyrical list of the more tearful moments which are not so much sad as meaningful and oft’times universal.

He slows things down with “I’m Not Giving Up”. It is another personal piece and yet his observations have a sense of universality when it comes to parents and parenting. The lyrics are laced with numerous statements any well-raised person will find familiar.

“You Don’t Until You Do” is about spurned love and a failed relationship. If you’re lucky, you won’t fully appreciate the musical message here. In other words, you won’t “until you do.”

The seventh selection is “When I’m Angry”. This is a thoughtful, interesting self-revelatory song injected with a bit of humor that, much like the previous piece, at least half the world’s population should truly appreciate, statistically speaking It is quietly clever and meant to entertain despite the subject matter.

Also included here is “Memory”. This track reminds us to put bad memories in their place. Are you surprised how a song can help you put things in proper perspective?

When it comes to Andrade, you shouldn’t be. As is the case with most of his songs, the message means more than the music, even though everything works together as one. (Is that a musical nod to NBC at the end of the track?)

“Tie Dynamite To Moose” The Monty Python-like intro is but the beginning of this fine, fun tribute to Bullwinkle Moose, star of the 1961-born animated show “The Bullwinkle Show”. Need to hear anything else?

The closing cut is “Sing”. Musically, the song has a nice, steady 1950s slow-song feel to it. It’s time for the last dance, ladies and gentlemen. Enjoy this apropos album endnote.

Overall…

A recent e-communique notes that Andrade “has laughed that he averages about a song a year.” He is reportedly “making up for a couple of years with no songs with” My Reward. He commented: “I like these new songs. I’ve been working on my stories.”

His hard work has paid off. Overall, this is an album that while often said to focus on themes of loss and death, is more than that. It is also an entertaining compilation of simple yet memorable tunes.

His unpretentious vocals and love of songwriting have resulted in a playlist of pieces that are innocent yet experienced and oft’times whimsically wise. It is, in essence, a collection of “kids’ songs” for adults. So, check out Antonio Andrade’s "My Reward" and “Sing” along with him!

(Images courtesy of Antonio Andrades)