In Partnership with SXSW
Making her Australian debut at the TAICCA Presents Taiwan Beats Showcase on Thursday 17th October at The Abercrombie Hotel, Andr brings a fresh energy to this year’s SXSW festival.
The event promises to highlight the talent and creativity emerging from Asia, with Andr leading the charge.
“I’m just really grateful to be a part of this showcase,” Andr tells Rolling Stone AU/NZ, ahead of her performance. “It’s my first time performing at a festival abroad.”
With over 200 artists set to perform across multiple venues, SXSW Sydney is a music playground, and for Andr, it’s the perfect stage to connect with new audiences and other international artists.
A rising star in Taiwan, Andr’s journey to SXSW started, of all places, in her bedroom. Born in 2000, she’s part of a new wave of ‘bedroom musicians’ who’ve taught themselves the art of music production and composition.
Image Credit: SXSW
Her influences are eclectic. She draws inspiration from icons like Frank Ocean while fusing Indie Pop, Alternative R&B, and Indie Rock into a style that’s completely her own.
“The reaction I crave when people listen to my music is probably, ‘What kind of music is this? Where can I find more?’” she says. “I rarely think about what genre my music fits into. So far, my focus is mostly on finding interesting sounds and ideas and then building upon them.”
“I try to expose myself to different genres and let my instincts guide me through the creative process. This way, I don’t have to think about blending genres; it just happens naturally.
Andr’s ability to blend sounds isn’t just a product of her musical influences, but also a reflection of her own personal evolution. Her stage name, Andr, is a clever twist on her real name, “Chen De-An.” It’s a metaphor for the way she turns her inner world outward through music.
“I tend to write about feelings that are hard for me to express,” she explains. “Writing about them is a way of letting go and letting those feelings find a purpose.”
Image Credit: SXSW
2024 has been a whirlwind year for Andr, who’s already celebrated career highlights including her feature in Spotify’s Best of Radar and the Jury’s Choice award at the StreetVoice Awards.
Now, she’s preparing to release her debut album on 25th October, and SXSW will be one of the first places fans can hear her unreleased tracks live.
“Experiencing those songs live for the first time is a special experience, and I can’t wait to share this with you all,” she says.
The Taiwan Beats Showcase reveals the breadth of talent coming to this year’s festival, with a lineup of other Taiwanese artists, including YenTing Lo, Scattered Purgatory, and I’mdifficult.
“The lineup is very exciting, with lots of different talents that draw nutrients from the same land,” Andr says. “I hope you enjoy my performance and keep an eye on all the Taiwanese talents that are bursting onto the scene.”
See Andr perform live at the TAICCA Presents Taiwan Beats Showcase on Thursday 17 October, 7pm to 11.30pm at The Abercrombie Hotel, Main Room. Visit SXSW for more info.
Music Badges are on sale now, and Music Wristbands ($140) give you access to over 200 artists across multiple venues throughout SXSW Sydney.
