Get To Know: AMY ANDREWS
Posted: September 18, 2012 Filed under: Books, Brilliant Folks I've Interviewed!, Feminism in Action, Humane Organizations, Music, Random Cool Things, Southern Musicians - Georgia, Veg Restaurants I love, Vegetarianism | Tags: Amy Andrews, bookstores, feminism, feminist, Feminist Bookstore Tour, kickstarter, The Grit Leave a comment »
Amy Andrews is a Baltimore-born, Decatur GA-transplanted, fierce feminist singer-songwriter. She is about to embark on a Feminist Bookstore Tour of North America to raise funds for the few indie feminist bookstores and community centers still in operation. She wants you to know about her many furry friends, and her encyclopedic knowledge of musicals, but MOSTLY about the Kickstarter campaign she just launched to get herself on the road to do good.
Name:
Amy Andrews
Occupation:
singer-songwriter
My companion animals (names and personality traits):
Lillian A. Cookie – “Lillian A. for ‘Angelic’ Cookie”
Freckles – “The Loveable Curmudgeon”
Hazel(le) – “The Maniac”
Lexi – “The Skittish Hedonist”
Louise – “The Big Ol’ Baby”
Magnolia – “The Misunderstood Misanthrope”
Ripley – “The Senior Stateswoman”
The movie that best represents me right now:
Tommy Boy – life on the road is just one adventure after another.
Obviously, my favorite musical of all time is:
As a kid I would sing “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” Mary Magdalene’s piece from JCS, “Aldonza” from Man of La Mancha, or “As If We Never Said Goodbye” from Sunset Boulevard for auditions. Auditions for kid roles. Totally age inappropriate audition material, but it was what I felt most natural performing. I think I’ve always been a bit on the mature side. And intense.
And with that I say, favorite musical? Maybe a tie between RAGTIME, TITANIC, & GYPSY? I could also throw in The Last 5 Years, Songs for A New World, Jesus Christ Superstar, Mame, Chicago, Cabaret, Evita, …
Bucket list item that would surprise my friends:
I don’t think I have a bucket list item that would surprise anyone, and I can’t really think of anything that would.
I’m an introvert, but I’m a performer (I think that’s a lot more common than people imagine), so I suspect people would assume that I have a desire to do something wild or ostentatious, but… I would just love to travel the world, live in many places, experience different cultures, but… probably just spend a lot of time alone in beautiful, natural landscapes.
Well, I would also love to sing Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy alongside Bette Midler, but I don’t think that would surprise anyone either. I grew up with a, well documented, desire to become Bette Midler.
Here’s another, and maybe I’ve never said it aloud: I would love to host SNL. (Gosh, I hope Lorne Michaels is reading this.)
My favorite road trip so far in my life:
The last one always seems the greatest, doesn’t it?
Well, nothing exotic here, but, I recently went on a drive just through north GA for the day – passing small-town churches, withering buildings, seemingly long-forgotten cemeteries. Stopping at roadside antique shops, leisurely taking in historical markers, dropping in a small diner tucked away just off the road, taking an impromptu hike through the woods. It was unexpected, and beautiful.
My biggest fan:
The aforementioned Lillian A. Cookie, and my mom, of course.
My most favorite veg food or restaurant:
The Grit, in Athens. I’m going there this weekend, and I intend to get some delicious nutritional yeast goodness, sweet potatoes, and strong coffee.
The best music while cleaning house is:
Today? Karmin, Pink, Jackson 5, …
I am most passionate about this cause:
While I am passionate about a number of issues, I would have to answer “animal welfare.”
I think that most people are unaware of the abhorrent living conditions, lives, that animals endure at the hands of humanity, in its effort to satisfy demand for animal products. It is despicable. I hate to overuse this phrase, but, “if you aren’t outraged, you aren’t paying attention.”
If I could afford it, I would want a painting or photograph by:
This may be a strange approach to this question, but, if I could afford her, I would want Emily Winfield Martin to create original artwork for my music. I think that what she does is just so lovely, dark, Romantic, …
My (s)hero is:
My mother. She is an incredible artist, amazing woman, and she is incomparable as a parent, and a friend.
Most of my daydreams are about:
Being out on the water, or deep in Appalachia, or in a beautifully overgrown cemetery. Always I have a ukulele. Which is odd.
My latest and most awesome project is:
Barely a dozen of self-identified feminist bookstores and community centers are still in existence in North America, and I am touring and performing benefit concerts in the towns, often in the bookstores and community centers themselves, to raise funds and awareness for their benefit.
To follow Andrews and her Feminist Bookstore Tour to 9 cities and 2 countries, follow her on Twitter, like her Facebook musician page or Feminist Bookstore Tour page, and back her Kickstarter campaign to get lots of magnificent feminist swag.
