Center Stage - Ingrid Andress

Hailing from Highlands Ranch, CO, USA, Andress is a remarkable young artist who displays a depth of talent and versatility, stretching out into the Country and Pop genres with a unique sensibility that is creative and current.

Andress received the grand prize award for her song  "Footprints" in a recent songwriting contest hosted by our friends at Unsigned Only: "A great artist doesn’t need to have a lot of production or full instrumentation on a song. In fact, it is when a song is stripped down that you can really hear the raw, honest talent of an artist. This year’s Grand Prize winner, Ingrid Andress, achieves just that with her song “Footprints,” which the judges noted for being flawlessly performed and deserving of a standing ovation." 

We're pleased to have her on board as a Radio Airplay artist, as she's already proven to be making a big impact among Jango listeners. 

Get to know Ingrid, what inspires her, and what she's got cooking for her promising music career.

What was the inspiration behind writing and recording the winning Unsigned Only Contest song "Footprints" ?

I have 4 siblings, so I’d say that’s pretty self explanatory! We used to be around each other 24/7; from being homeschooled to taking 15 hour family road trips in an old chevy suburban. They are a huge part of who I am as a person, and I wanted to express how much I cared about them. My co-writer Michael Pollack (basically my writing husband) really helped me bring the concept to life and helped put into words what I’d been feeling for most of my life.

Describe your sound in one ramble-on sentence.

If Taylor Swift had a baby with Lady Antebellum, but then decided the father needed to be Ed Sheeran.

What's your earliest music-related memory growing up?

Singing “The Hills Are Alive” from the Sound of Music in the woods near my family’s cabin in Grand Marais, MN.

If you were to cover another band/artist's album, which would you pick and why?

It would definitely be John Mayer’s “Continuum.” He inspired my brain. Everyone can be a singer/songwriter; we all have moments in our lives that are worth writing about. But my goal is to write and sing something that resonates with everyone. He made me want to be a more authentic, raw, writer.

Do you write/compose your own songs? Briefly describe your songwriting process.

I write ideas and melodies by myself all the time, but I absolutely adore co-writing. I have a notebook of titles and concepts that I want to write about, but I LOVE getting other people’s perspectives on what I’m feeling...because that’s what music is about: describing something someone has already felt. I’ll usually have melodies I want to sing ready to go, but it’s nice having another person in the room saying “Yes, I feel that too.”

What has been the highlight of 2016, either for you personally or for the band? What was the low point?
The highlight of 2016 has definitely been winning this Unsigned Only competition. It happened at just the right time when I was deciding whether or not to pursue being an artist. I don’t think people realize how difficult it is to keep putting your music out there even when no-one is listening, so this competition was a wonderful reinforcement of what I’m trying to do as an artist. The low point was probably just the “music grind” in general: the shows you play that don’t seem to matter, or the songs you write that no one listens to. But honestly, this entire process has been amazing, and it makes me focus on things I actually believe in and want to sing about.

What is the rest of 2016 looking like for you? Can you give give us a little hint on what's to come in the near future?
The rest of 2016 will be me working on music/videos that will be released in January 2017! I’m also planning a Jan/Feb tour to promote those new songs. I love playing live, so I’m very excited to play and share all of my new stories.

What do you like more: Performing live or recording in the studio?

GAH this one is hard! I feel like they are two different emotional states of being that I love equally. In the studio, it’s super personal and intense. You have to be very aware of what you want to say and how you want to sing it. But when you’re performing, you want to connect with as many people as possible to see if they feel what you feel. So they’re opposite emotions, but both very essential to why I love music.

Any embarrassing on stage moments you'd like to share? C’mon, don’t be shy.
What's one thing people should know about you?
Oh lord, the list is endless. I have a tendency of talking a lot on stage and sharing personal stories about my songs that most people probably don’t want to hear about...aka. explaining all my ex relationships in detail, which probably make people never want to date ever again.

What do you enjoy doing outside of music? Does your hobby rejuvenate your creativity?
I love playing sports. All of them. I come from an athletic family, so both music and sports hold a big place in my heart. Being able to switch from a mentally creative state to a full on physical competition is very much rejuvenating. Like if I’ve had a frustrating music day where I can’t really put into words how I feel, it’s nice to be able to get out on a court and let your body take over.

What do you like the most about Radio Airplay?
I like how worldwide it is! I don’t know anyone who lives in Kansas, but Radio Airplay does. When I see that people are listening to my music from states I’ve never even been to, it’s such a gratifying feeling as an artist to have a radio station backing you, even if they don’t know you.


Keep up with Ingrid Andress by visiting her Website and Facebook Page.