Andy Howard is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter originally from Tampa, Florida. Howard began writing music in college after being disheartened with his experiences both academically and socially at the University of Florida. He would definitely say he was most influenced by The Beatles, who reenergized his love for music. Still, he also has heavy folk influence from The Avett Brothers and recent indie-pop influence from The Walters. While Howard believes innumerable factors can make a good song, his primary focus is intriguing yet palatable lyrics and a unique but compelling melody. Howard released his debut album, Winning by Losing, in August of this year, telling the semi-autobiographical story of how, ultimately, not getting what was perceived as most important lead to a greater spiritual victory. Howard hopes people will find great relevance, as he believes and has found that most prolonged unhappiness is due to our misplaced priorities and our continually increasing expectations.
There is a familiar pop feeling when you press play on Howard’s single “I Think I Know You,” but the more you listen, the more the artist’s perspective is revealed. His nuanced approach to folksy-pop balladry can be heard in the lush horns that wrap the moving vocal performance or how the arrangement escalates into a firework show of folk-rock influences. Either way you cut it, Howard found a unique middle ground between his influences and made it his home. “I Think I Know You” takes on a lot of shapes in its two-and-a-half minute runtime, and Howard provides a connective tissue via his passionate vocals and moving poetry. He employs this vague poetry that connects with the listener yet still feels personal to the artist, bridging a gap between listener and artist that elevates the other elements of the single. “I Think I Know You” is a moving piece of sentimental folk-rock that introduces Howard as a powerful songwriter with room to explore innumerable territories.
“‘I Think I Know You’ is the opening track to my debut album. It reveals the initial infatuation the speaker has with a new woman and his attempt to play it cool while already being ready to fully commit,” explains Howard. “He is willing to go as far as the woman will take the relationship but has no control of the pace, as he must wait and follow her lead in order not to scare her away. In the context of the album, the song helps introduce the speaker’s misplaced priority, which he will eventually lose, leading to grief. However, even before losing her, the speaker in the song is already not himself, as. in this song, he has no control and is already beginning to be enslaved to his desire.”
