Interview – Andrea Godin

St. George, Ontario’s Andrea Godin recently released the music video for “Falling (80 Empire) Remix” via Youtube.  I had the opportunity to ask the singer more about the single through an email interview.  Be sure to check out the music video and connect with the singer on her social media pages.

First off, can you introduce yourself to Canadian Beats readers?

I am a pop/r&b recording artist and songwriter from St. George, Ontario. I began singing at the age of 11 and started writing and playing guitar when I was 14. I’m currently promoting my single “Falling” (80 Empire Remix) as well as the official music video for the song.

Who are your influences?

I’ve always taken inspiration from many different genres and artists that I’ve listened to through the years. When I was first starting out, I used to perform songs by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Connie Francis, and Alicia Keys to name a few and I feel like that had a huge influence on my music because I was able to connect with those songs so deeply on stage. Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, and Rihanna are also some of the artists that have influenced my music and sound over the past few years.

For those who are unfamiliar with your music, how would you describe it?  Are there any specific tracks that you would recommend listening to first?

I would describe my music as a smooth blend of pop, R&B with hints of dance underlying in the sound. Bullet would be the first track that I would recommend listening to. I wrote the song on my guitar and it just flowed so well during the writing process. I feel that that comes across when you listen to it and the vocals and melody are something that sticks with the listener. It feels so natural for me when I’m singing it.

What led to 80 Empire remixing your track “Falling”?

80 Empire are actually the producers of the original version of “Falling” and they happen to be very talented DJ’s as well. They decided to remix it and after listening to it we thought it would be a great fit for the UK market.

How was filming for the “Falling (80 Empire Remix)” music video?

Filming the music video for the Falling (80 Empire Remix) was definitely one of the most unforgettable experiences so far in my music career. I filmed it in a studio in one of my favourite cities,  LA. I got to “destroy” the studio with paint, which needless to say was a blast to shoot! I also shot part of the video in the desert a couple hours outside of LA. The mountains and scenery were so beautiful and really gave the video more of an artistic edge.

Whom, or what, inspired the concept for the video?

Since the remix of Falling is much darker than the original, we wanted to be sure we portrayed that in the video. The video shows a frustrated, struggling artist unable to find inspiration for her next piece of art. She ends up finding herself lost in the desert in a mysterious dream and awakens back in the studio with everything in the room painted except the blank canvas. When I was sent the treatment from the video director Damien Sandoval, I immediately knew that it fit the remix perfectly and showed a more vulnerable side of me as an artist.

How has the reception been for “Falling (80 Empire Remix)” so far?

The reception has been great so far! The fans have been messaging and tweeting me such great feedback and they seem to love the different type of sound that the remix has. DJs have also been spinning it on radio and in clubs. It feels very rewarding to see our hard work paying off with this single.

What can fans look forward to seeing next from you?

I’m currently working on an EP which I hope to release is fall/winter 2016. I’ve been in the studio working on new music and I’m super excited to share it with everyone and can’t wait to perform it live! I also have lots of shows coming up such as Miss Universe, the ROM, and the Moonstone Rising Festival.

At Canadian Beats, we like to include questions that will allow fans to get to know you a bit more.

Who are your favourite Canadian artists?

I’m a huge supporter of the Drake, Justin Bieber, and The Weeknd, but I also love artists such as Melanie Fiona and Foxx Williams.

Whom, or what, inspired you to begin pursuing music?

I’ve started performing with dance when I was 4, but I’ve always had such a strong interest in singing. Everywhere I went I would be singing so I think the inspiration has always just been in me because I enjoyed it so much. When I began writing, that’s when I really began going full force in pursuing a music career.

If you could tour with any other artist(s), who would you want to play with?

This is always a tough question because there are so many talented artists that would be amazing to tour with. I’ve seen so many concerts and one that really stands out is Miguel. I was in awe of his vocals and stage presence and I can’t imagine how cool it would be to share the stage with an artist of the caliber.

What was the first album you purchased?

I believe it was the Spice Girls. I was a huge Sporty Spice Fan!

What was the last album you purchased?

Roger Ortega – The Lottery. Not only are the songs really catchy, but you can truly feel the different emotions and dynamics throughout the album.

Finally, is there anything else you would like to say to our readers?

First of all, thank you for checking out this interview 🙂 be sure to keep up to date with all of my shows at andreagodin.com and hopefully I’ll get to meet some of you at my future events! The Falling (80 Empire Remix) is now available on all major online stores and the music video is now on YouTube so make sure you check it out, leave a comment, and share it with your friends! Thank you all so much for your support.

Remington Fioraso

Hi Everyone! My name is Remington Fioraso. I am a graduate of the University of the Fraser Valley’s Bachelor of Arts program in Sociology, Anthropology, and Media and Communication Studies. Within my program, I focused on social media, learning about contemporary and classical sociological theory (Including Marx, Foucault, Bourdieu, and Durkheim), and communicating effectively in various modes and for different audiences (including oral communication, business communication, academic writing, entertainment media, and presentations utilizing visual media). Within my program, the question arose for many courses, “What is the relevance in the real world?” Stepping (temporarily) away from being in university, I gained an interest in Latin American development, social movements, and business. Sooner than later, I will be applying for post-grad programs to dive further into LA development and social movements to gain a theory-background in addition to a personal perspective onto the topics. In my free time, I love to travel, consume media, eat, listen to music, and write. Listening to music and writing led to my interest in working with Canadian Beats! I have been a part of the team since April 2014. A few of my personal highlights of interviews include ones with some of my favourite artists – Sumo Cyco, Madeline Merlo, and High Valley. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!