Andrew Spice Channels Grief and Grace on Stirring Indie Single, “Gentle Sentinel”
Returning to music last year after a 15-year hiatus, acclaimed singer-songwriter Andrew Spice continues that momentum with the release of “Gentle Sentinel.” Inspired by his late cat, Bea, the ballad pays tribute to the enduring love and quiet guardianship of animal companions. The single marks a deeply personal and poignant re-entry into music for Spice, whose career has drawn comparisons to the likes of Tori Amos and Thom Yorke.
Produced by two-time JUNO nominee Matthew Barber, “Gentle Sentinel” features a breathtaking string arrangement by Grammy nominee Drew Jurecka, whose strings subtly mimic a cat’s purr in an especially moving section. The track’s delicate piano and tender vocals are elevated by a graceful bassline, creating a grand yet intimate atmosphere.
Andrew shares,
“Gentle Sentinel” is my love letter to Bea, who was by my side for nearly two decades—through countless heartbreaks, cross-country moves, and life changes. Writing this song was my way of honouring her unwavering companionship. Now that she’s gone, it’s both a comfort and a grief-soaked experience to perform it, but knowing it’s part of her legacy makes it incredibly special.“
The release of “Gentle Sentinel” follows the momentum of his 2024 single, “High Park,” garnering 24k music video views, radio play on CBC, WXPN, and campus stations, and press coverage in Wonderland, Toronto Guardian, and Twisted Male Mag.
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m Andrew Spice, a singer-songwriter based in Toronto. I’ve recently returned to music after a 15-year hiatus, during which I became a clinical psychologist. I am thrilled to be making music again!
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
My new single is called “Gentle Sentinel.” I wrote it about my cat, Bea, who was 18 years old at the time and who has since sadly passed away. Although the traditional wisdom is that musicians aren’t supposed to play favourites with their songs, “Gentle Sentinel” is unequivocally my favourite. It’s a quintessential Andrew Spice song, which means a ballad with my voice and piano right up front. But most importantly, “Gentle Sentinel” makes me remember and be grateful for my incredible feline companion who gave me unconditional love for almost half of my life.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
For me, songwriting starts with opening an internal door to the muses. During my 15-year hiatus, that door was closed for a variety of reasons. But recently, several very difficult life circumstances coalesced, and I knew that I wouldn’t make it through without writing songs again. However, the prospect of starting again was extremely daunting. I called up my good friend, legendary indie musician Emm Gryner, and asked her what to do. She gave me the prompt to write a 1-minute song about my cat. That prompt became “Gentle Sentinel,” which is certainly longer than 1 minute, and opened my internal creative door again. Then the songwriting was about collecting the inspiration gifted to me from the universe and filtering it through my own composition process at the piano.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?
Folks can check out the first two singles, “High Park” and “Rage Stage,” as well. I’ll be putting out a couple more singles this summer before releasing the full album, ‘With Animals,’ on September 5th. I’m playing a show at Hugh’s Room in Toronto on October 9th.
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
Returning to music after 15 years and establishing an entirely different professional career is the highlight for me. You don’t necessarily hear that kind of story very often. Making this incredibly vulnerable record, re-entering an industry that has changed completely since the 00s, and balancing it all with my ongoing work as a psychologist has taken a lot of courage.
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward. What upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
These days, I’m more tuned in to artists who persist in music over a long period of time. In that vein, I’ll shout out my pals Emm Gryner (again) and Gentleman Reg. I’ll be lucky enough to share the stage with them at Hugh’s Room on October 9th.