How can you reconcile a life of busking with the studio dynamics? We have had the chance to talking to the breakthrough talent Andi Liòs, who accompanied us on a marvellous journey, by answering our questions about his new album.

Your artistic path is peculiar. It seems as if it was necessary for you to get lost in order to find yourself again. Can you tell us how you started with your idea of using crowdfunding?

I have always been fascinated by the idea of launching my own crowdfunding: planning, sharing a project before releasing it, gathering people to support you. I don’t remember when the idea was born, but I can easily say I started something I had been dreaming of for years. Furthermore and just for a laugh, I’m reaching 30 and I think there is no time to procrastinate, it is now the time to move.

During the months you spent on the road, what did you learn and how did you change your artistic perspective?

I learnt to rely on my strength only. I learnt to follow a path from beginning to end, even if this means you can change it meanwhile, in order to achieve your goal, and nothing can stop you. I learnt to take care of myself and my luggage, being it a bag or a problem to solve. I learnt to put on a show in the streets. This means to be here now without thinking of anything else, because you can’t hide with everybody watching you. For this reason, you need to escape your own judgement. Once I reached that goal I started doing something that made me happy, improving the way I play and sing, getting nearer to my artistic identity. At the end of the journey, I felt like I found myself relying just on my guitar, during those three months! I understood there was something or someone inside me who was ready to get out, regardless of other people’s opinion or of my own judgement. That journey was just the beginning and I still think I’m at a starting point after three years. I carry on doing what makes me happy, regardless of all obstacles.

What should we expect from your current album, after such a challenging period?

This is certainly a huge challenge for me, as I waited a lot to record it, therefore I’m the first person to expect a lot from it. I have many experiences to tell and I have had the chance to improve my vocal technique, my writing skills and my music. I have spent a lot of time studying, researching and facing the audience, in order to find a musical identity and the right people to realise my work with.

You have been performing covers on the road for a long time. What were the challenges of working on your own material?

The songs I have chosen are the ones that represent me better. It is essential to be able to ‘talk’ to the listener, having a limited amount of time to do so and it isn’t always easy. There are rules to follow and you need to know them. I always check my lyrics so that they can reach different types of people. Each person is unconsciously linked to one of their senses, and you need to find the right note to stimulate one or the other. Working on my own material means finding the right words giving the song the atmosphere I believe is the most suitable. A cover is already well known, while a new song must talk about itself, its emotions and its life with its own words. It isn’t easy, but I hope I’ll be able to succeed with the songs I have chosen for my first album.