Andy Chester is a composer and writer with both Good Neighbour and My Computer.
M Online caught up with Andy.
1. How did you first get into singing and songwriting?
My mum bought me an acoustic guitar from the catalogue. About two weeks later, I was listening to ‘Transformer’, playing guitar like Lou Reed and had written my first song. It came as naturally to me as walking and talking.
2. You were in the band My Computer for a number of years. Will there be any new output in the future?
The third My Computer album ‘Death of a Duo’ is currently available. ‘No CV’ was recently listed number four in John Leckie’s top 10 records you must hear before you die! A fourth album ‘No Computer’ is currently being re-recorded and ‘Evil Spanish’ was recorded last year with Black Jackson. The final album ‘Regular Money’ will be out before the end of the year.
3. You also have a new project called Good Neighbour which is a departure from your previous sound. Is the writing and recording process different from with My Computer?
Good Neighbour started when I had to get a job stacking shelves. I heard a guy called Lee Doyle, who worked there talking about music. He knew what he was talking about. We got chatting about soul music and he told me he was a hip hop producer but he had always wanted to work with a songwriter. Three months later ‘There Was a Time’ was finished. It is my soul record and has about five number one songs on it, in a parallel universe where good music rules truly bad music. It is different from My Computer because it was the first time I worked with samples, a process I thoroughly enjoyed.
4. You recently set up an online label called Recreation records. What made you go down this route?
I met a guy who wanted to set up a label website and I know a bunch of musicians who have a mill with a recording studio in it. The sound of the mill is unique. I recorded ‘Evil Spanish’ there last summer and it sounds like it was recorded at Abbey Road in 1967. Sometimes, you just have to have the courage to go it alone.
5. Will you be touring this year?
If I had it my way I would do a Bob Dylan and tour forever. I have a Recreation night at The Ruby Lounge in Manchester in October. It will be a legendary evening. Think The Sex Pistols and The Free Trade Hall and then use your imagination, because The Hong Kong Blood Opera are THE best rock ‘n’ roll band on the planet right now and they are headlining.
6. You are still based in Manchester, what do you think of the current music scene there?
The only scene I know of is Blowout in Chorlton run by my friend Graham Thomas. Graham is a total music head and stays up until 5am every night listening for bands to book. He only books the cream of what he finds. He currently manages the best of a crew of bands called Frazier King. They are like the Pogues out for a good drink with Tom Waits.
7. How important do you think the social networking sites are in terms of music distribution and access?
Time will tell. I wish it was there when I was 17. I think it is a good way to get heads down to gigs and make a bit of money. You can’t beat the distribution but how do you get the traffic? It’s all about the traffic and hits mean nothing. It’s all about the views!
8. You have also written your memoirs. Why was it important to write about your experiences?
It’s a good read for anyone who is 16 and just picked up a guitar for the first time.
9. Who are your musical heroes?
I’m not being arrogant but I don’t have any. I just love soul music! Oh go on then, The Sex Pistols and The Hong Kong Blood Opera.
10. How important do you think royalties are to a musician?
Royalties are important because, critical acclaim tastes really good, but you can't eat it. In other words... royalties are what keeps a musician in trade and not a shelf stacker. I should know as I've had a lot of critical acclaim and stacked a lot of shelves.