SHIFTER talks with Ethiopian-born, Toronto-based R&B artist Andye about his musical journey, recent singles “Centrefold” and “Easy”, and more.
“When I write my music, I talk from my perspective…the goal for this project is to make everything about me.” -Andye
Years after his music first gained traction on TikTok, Ethiopian-born, Toronto-raised artist Andye is entering a new chapter with a clearer sense of his sound.
His latest singles “Centerfold” and “Easy” introduce a new era for the homegrown artist as a more intentional sound, a transformation he credits both to his approach to creating music and the people he has begun creating with.
“When I write my music, I talk from my perspective. Sometimes when you’re an up-and-coming artist, you get inspo from other artists, from your friends, but the goal for this project is to make everything about me,” says Andye.
From the darker, sensual, and intimate side of “Centerfold” to the looser relationship-focused 2000’s R&B nostalgia of “Easy,” Andye has stayed true to his word, creating songs rooted in “what Andye likes, how Andye feels and how Andye moves,” as he describes it.
“I think the honesty I have in me is what makes my music interesting to me as a creator.”
And while his recent music has been described in a number of ways – smooth, seductive, and intimate – Andye sums it up to one word: honesty.
“I think the honesty I have in me is what makes my music interesting to me as a creator,” says Andye. “I’m never gonna lie to you. If it’s harsh to hear or if it’s fun to hear, I’m gonna say it.”
A perspective he’s built throughout his journey with music.
Growing up in Ethiopia, music was always playing in his family home, with Michael Jackson becoming one of his earliest influences. After moving to Canada, a classmate introduced him to Chris Brown as early as grade 4, another influence that shaped his voice before eventually sharing it in a high school talent show.
The reaction and support from his classmates, friends, neighborhood and school gave him the confidence to take music seriously.
“That’s when I knew I got a chance and I just bet on myself from a kid,” recounts Andye. “It was quite a journey, a lot of figuring out, a lot of ups and downs, but you know I’m here now, so it’s okay.”
For Andye, “here” means releasing music through Universal Music Canada and having “Easy” added to iHeartRadio’s new music program, as well as hometown love from his city. It also means working alongside some of the same people in the R&B world who first inspired him.
“I just bet on myself from a kid. It was quite a journey, a lot of figuring out, a lot of ups and downs, but you know I’m here now.”
Both “Centerfold” and “Easy” were created with three-time Juno Award-winning Savannah Re and Grammy Award-winning Yogi The Producer; the latter’s credits include work on Chris Brown’s Grammy-winning album 11:11, creating a full-circle moment for the artist.
But for Andye, the duo’s importance goes far beyond their awards or credits.
“Working with legendary, talented people actually makes you want to lock in a bit more,” says Andye. “They ended up activating a side of me that I didn’t even know that I had, from my writing to producing skills.”
More important than the guidance, however, was the friendship they built before the music even came together.
“Working with legendary, talented people actually makes you want to lock in a bit more. They ended up activating a side of me that I didn’t even know that I had.”
“The reason our music was in perfect alignment is because we actually created a real friendship first before we even started to work,” he adds. “We almost call each other every other day, and not even about music, just checking up on each other.”
“I’m so optimistic and excited about the journey that this relationship is going to have with my fans going forward.”
Their work together and Andye’s evolution have been recognized outside the studio, in the streets of Toronto, his home city, with billboards at the iconic Yonge-Dundas Square, performance invitations, and more.
“This is the first time I genuinely feel like people genuinely like my music, and I feel so much confidence dropping a new song every time now,” he says. “I’m so optimistic and excited about the journey that this relationship is going to have with my fans going forward.”
Andye’s latest release “Easy” is far from the end of this new era. Looking ahead, he hopes to keep expanding his sound and show listeners sides of himself that extend beyond what they have heard so far.
“I’m genuinely so excited. I’m just ready to be consistent, to be honest.”
“I don’t want to feel like I’m only in a box of sensual or upbeat club music,” says Andye. “I actually could be very, very vulnerable and very honest. I could really speak about the confusion of love that I’ve been feeling for the past couple of years.”
With more projects still to come, Andye is focused on carrying the confidence behind his latest releases into whatever comes next.
“I’m genuinely so excited,” he says. “I’m just ready to be consistent, to be honest.”
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