Gem Andrews heads North with album

Gem Andrews this month releases North, her latest album.

 

Gem Andrews’ powerful new album ‘North’ is an intimate and stirring collection of songs which tackles themes of mental illness, poverty, community and destitution. In this dark country album, Andrews opens up the murkiest corners of her mind and tells stories which are in turn despairing, hopeful and furious.

Running through every song is Gem’s spiritual home; the North East of England, sometimes as subject and sometimes as the backdrop. The album is infused with the warmth and energy of the region and pays tribute to local legends, including the late, great poet Julia Darling.

Gem’s songs capture the rage of the North, railing against a political class that have destroyed the livelihood and pride of the people and left them to waste.

 Born on the outskirts of Liverpool, Gem Andrews writes Americana and folk music with an honesty and rawness that takes the listener by surprise and cuts to the quick.

Andrews’ music is deeply rooted in alt-country, which she uses to tell emotionally rich working class stories. Her fierce and independent voice carries inflexions of Patsy Cline, Lucinda Williams and Kate & Anna McGarrigle.

She is backed by full harmonies, blooming fiddle melodies, piano and accordion all supported on a seabed of acoustic double bass and drums. Gem has lived across the North East of England and is currently based in Berlin where she writes music and creates feminist theatre.

 North is released tomorrow, February 16th 2018.

www.gemandrews.co.uk