Posted: Saturday 30th August 2008

Andrea McEwan started writing songs when she was just 3 years old. 'I have always made up songs. I was happy to play on my own and I taught myself a way to write down the songs. Later I became obsessed with a tape recorder.' Living on a diet of books - 'I would sit on the roof of the garage and read two books a day' - and black and white musical films in her hometown Melbourne, Andrea went on to study at N.I.D.A., Australia's premier drama institute, and on graduating was lured onto the stage working extensively in theatre and television in Australia.

Moving to Europe her successful acting career blossomed whilst behind the scenes Andrea continued to write songs. On a visit home she wrote and recorded a demo with a friend which she sent to some record labels 'but I didn't pursue it...I didn't know how'. A chance encounter whilst performing at the Derby Playhouse led to her demo reaching the desk of Dramatico chairman Mike Batt.

Signed as a songwriter to Dramatico Songs, the publishing arm of the company, Andrea's first assignment was writing with Katie Melua 'I was quite nervous. I'd not really written with anyone else before but actually we are a great pairing. Normally Katie starts with the music and I start with the lyrics but I am quite erratic in how I write songs so I had no idea how it would work out. On the first day I showed Katie some lyrics that I had written, she read them, sat down at the piano and, from beginning to end, played the song. Her music was perfect.' The song was called What I Miss About You and along with a second collaboration, Dirty Dice, appeared on Katie's third album, the multi-platinum selling Pictures.

Dramatico offered her a record deal - 'I would have been so happy just to sit in a room and write songs for the rest of my life so being given the opportunity to be a recording artist felt like a great gift' - and Andrea set about writing and recording her debut album. Recorded at Air Studios in London Andrea was initially daunted by the prospect 'I mean, Joni Mitchell recorded a lot of her songs there!' but, overcoming her trepidation, she cherished seeing her songs leaping off the page 'all the amazing musicians brought my songs, my babies, to life'.

The debut EP features three songs from her as yet untitled album. On Candle In A Chatroom Andrea writes from the perspective of ‘Romance' looking at the state of modern love. 'I read an article about cyber relationships and internet dating and, as someone who grew up on a diet of Bronte, Austen and Shakespeare, it made me sad to think that perhaps the reign of 'romance' was over.' Whilst Black Socks In The Wash is surely the first song to take inspiration from the universal laundry dilemma, Fast Train is a more personal song. 'The chorus came as I was walking in Hampstead Heath one day missing home and missing my Mum. On one level it is about someone who wants to be reunited with someone they loved that has passed away - about speeding through this life to be with them on the other side. On another level, it is about wanting to speed across the globe to be with my Mum.' Andrea will be on tour from October 2nd supporting Katie Melua. The eleven UK arena shows begin on October 29th at Nottingham Arena and conclude on November 11th at Brighton Centre.