Jamaica Star Andon Talks Festive ‘Beside Me At Christmas’
Jamaican pop singer-songwriter Andon is having a moment right now, and he’d love nothing more than for you to be a part of it. Raised on island vibes, Tori Kelly, and Disney Channel, it’s this man’s literal job to entertain. After gaining notoriety on a nationally broadcast talent show, Andon landed a regular gig performing for international audiences in the destination town of Negril. With infectious and unrelenting energy, he quickly attracted the attention of resort guests who brought his music home with them. Now, his stellar performances of his heart-wrenching and smile-inducing songs are gaining more international traction. Music listeners everywhere are adding Andon to their list of feel-good favorites and are bragging to their friends about listening to him before everyone flocked to this sincerest of songwriters.
You know you’re good when your Christmas tune is charting up with Mariah Carey. So for Andon, “Beside Me At Christmas” was not just an absolute killer Christmas song (which it is), but a songwriting milestone moment. What really pushes this joyful vibey take on the holidays over the edge is the sincerity of Andon’s writing and performance. With his inner child shining through, Andon balances innocent joy with a yearning for companionship during the holidays.
We’ve been highlighting our hottest holiday drops from the heavy hitters from Gospel to R&B and so Andon brings that international star flavor to our mix this season…He weighed in on his new song, creative process, and of course, how his Jamaican roots have contributed to the fabric of his music…this young dynamo is on our ones-to-watch list…get to know more about Andon below:
Who are your biggest music influences?
My top 5 biggest music influences are Tori Kelly, Ariana Grande, Chris Brown and, Usher
What made you want to become a musician?
I think what really solidified my wanting to become an artist was when I was younger and I would watch Camp Rock, High School Musical, and all those Disney classics, and, I would just picture myself doing that and nothing else.. just singing and performing.
How has growing up in Jamaica influenced your songwriting?
The drive to be different, when you hear about the country Jamaica you ultimately think about Reggae and Dancehall without even thinking. I want our country to not only be known for that musically. So growing up here has influenced my songwriting to be “different”
Could you tell us about “Beside Me At Christmas”?
Beside Me At Christmas is a Christmas song that speaks about being with the one you love during the holidays you know? And possibly doing a proposal because you and your partner have been together for a while and it just seems like the right time to “pop the question” and it’s bringing out your inner child asking Santa to help this happen.
How do you approach writing holiday music like “Beside Me At Christmas”? Does it differ from your usual creative process?
The creative process was a bit different. I’ve honestly never thought that I would ever write a Christmas song. I remember before I wrote it I asked myself what does Christmas mean to me and what do I want to say.. the first thing that popped into my head was LOVE. I wanted to make a Christmas song that couples can relate to and express how they feel to their partner.
What was it like working on the music video for “Beside Me At Christmas”?
Doing the video was so much fun! A lot of bloopers I can tell you that. I’ve been working with Steven Bernard since the beginning of my career and he always makes each video interactive and relatable.
What advice would you give to newer artists looking to take off?
Keep working, keep practicing, keep making your craft better. ITS HARD! ITS DIFFICULT! But it’s worth it! I thank God every day for my manager he keeps me grounded all the time because I wanted to give up a long time ago. Because I wasn’t getting the attention I feel like I deserve but it all takes time and like my manager says Rome wasn’t built in a day. Look back on your work and see how much you’ve grown and how much better you’ve become. Somebody will hear you! Your time will come! If you don’t believe in yourself who else is gonna?
What is next for Andon?
Andon has so much planned for the new year! A little surprise is in the works. You’ll be seeing a whole new me, and I am excited about that!
And if you’re ready to really get in the holiday spirit, soak in the energy of the music video for “Beside Me At Christmas”. Pure, unadulterated joy is the proper way to describe the vibes coming from the flick directed by Steven Bernard. It’s nearly impossible to resist bopping along with Andon’s playful and passionate presence amidst the merriest of holiday trappings. We’re now in a new era where the best way to spread Christmas cheer is playing Andon loud for all to hear.
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About the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
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