Musician says he hopes to change perspectives
A former soldier is using music to work through his ‘‘demons’’ and spread an uplifting message.
Andrew Steele was born in the United Kingdom and signed up for its armed forces at age 17, serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
He was discharged with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.
With a Kiwi dad, he decided to emigrate.
‘‘I moved to New Zealand to chase the dream of becoming a musician. I had been playing in bars and busked in Wellington and people told me I should really pursue it properly.’’
So he created a home music studio and so far has recorded four songs – Blackwings, How Can I Let You Go, Colourblind and Scars in the Sky.
‘‘I have a lot of demons and the music allows me to transcend those emotions and pain into something beautiful and uplifting that makes me feel good,’’ he says.
He has released songs on YouTube and Spotify.
They have accumulated more than 50,000 views and Andrew says his music has been played on Waatea FM.
‘‘Blackwings is my most popular song. I am currently recording my new single Glowing Coals. It was watching an Eric Clapton and Phil Collins concert as a child that gave me an interest in the musical arts but only after Afghanistan did I have the material to compose.
‘‘I sat alone in a room for two years straight working on my material and now I will be recording 40 songs to share with the world,’’ he says.
‘‘The only motivator I have in sharing my music is to change people’s perspectives and moods to create a feeling of love, joy and happiness, and to share the knowledge that everybody has bad days and good days.’’