20-year-old newcomer ANDREW CUSHIN today shares his debut single ‘It’s Gonna Get Better’. It’s a striking introduction for the Geordie singer-songwriter, whose burgeoning reputation has already seen him sell-out next month’s headline show at The Cluny.
‘It’s Gonna Get Better’immediately positions Andrew as a musician who is destined for bigger things in the year ahead. His first calling card is the sheer strength of his vocal. It’s a voice which has the power to demand your attention, yet also with the soul, nuance and character that brings his emotive words to life. Lyrically it’s an unguarded outpouring of emotion, rich with regret, romance and yearning. The overwhelming feeling, however, is one of optimism and redemption.
The accompanying video depicts Andrew’s life in and around his home city. Sometimes they’re iconic – matchday at Newcastle United alongside statues of local heroes Alan Shearer and Bobby Robson, and crossing the famous Tyne Bridge. At other times they’re more day-to-day – darts, pool and a pint at his local bar The Turbinia, strolling the city’s backstreets, and performing in Stockton.
‘It’s Gonna Get Better’ is released as part of the two-track ‘Waiting For The Rain’ EP. Both songs were written by Andrew and produced by Sean Genocky whose credits include The Who, Richard Ashcroft, Tom McRae, Roger Daltrey and more. For the recording of ‘It’s Gonna Get Better’, Andrew borrowed Sean’s Gibson J-45 – a guitar that was previously owned by Keith Richards.
Although he’s now making waves in music, Andrew Cushin’s first passion was football. He used to play as a goalkeeper for the non-league side Newcastle Benfield’s youth team, which inadvertently changed the course of his life. When his coach asked him to help train the younger players, the pair bonded over a shared interest in artists such as Oasis, The Beatles, Paul Weller, Pete Doherty, Richard Ashcroft, Foals and Damien Rice. With a background in music, the coach soon discovered that Andrew had a real flair for songwriting and became his manager – the start of a rise which looks set to continue deep into the future.
