ANDREW MCGRATH

Andrew McGrath makes Americana that reaches beyond the genre's standard tropes to incorporate elements of soul, alternative rock, country, folk,and classic rock. With a bit of Jeff Buckley's gritty purity and Tom Petty's loose, lighthearted delivery, McGrath's voice and style reflect his eclectic background. Raised in Alameda, California, McGrath grew up listening to pop country, developing a love for acoustic twang and heartfelt storytelling that still informs his writing. As a lyricist, his rhymes are tight but never forced, his language beautiful but direct. His songs often bridge the gap between the alternative cool of California bands in the 1990s and the polished yet sincere emotional substance of pop country radio in the same era. Along with a love for soul singers like Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding, McGrath's sound is influenced by his Irish family background: Elements of traditional Irish folk music, from spirited drinking songs to ethereal vocal harmonies, infuse his music with a depth that sets him apart from other Americana artists.

His debut single “Hang Me” takes traditional folk ballad content (love, death, a story of pain that’s both genuine and tongue-in-cheek) and sets it on fire with a backdrop of stark electric guitars tempered by gentle falsetto harmonies.