"Even If You're Not Sure, It's Worth a Shot!" Taiwanese Rising Star Andr on International Collaborations　

Less than two years after releasing her debut album, Andr has already made her way to SUMMER SONIC, SXSW and Clockenflap—but for her, every international stage is also a chance to connect.

▴Andr on New York Times Square billboard. (Photo: Andr)

"Platypus!"

When asked about the differences between how overseas and Taiwanese audiences respond to her music, Andr uses this wonderfully strange creature to describe her work: a slightly odd, yet somehow harmonious hybrid.

"Platypuses are so bizarre. They look like they were pieced together. At first glance, they kind of make sense, but when you really think about it, you wonder: Why do their mouths look like that? Why are they mammals that swim and lay eggs? It just gives you this very 'huh?' feeling. I think my music is kind of like that too,"she says with a laugh.

Her quirky, unpredictable personality is evident in her music. Rising singer-songwriter Andr blends indie pop, R&B, and indie rock. Her debut album "shhh, it's under my bed" made an immediate impact. Since her 2023 debut, she has been nominated for both the Golden Melody Awards (金曲獎) and the Golden Indie Music Awards (金音獎), and has performed at international events such as SUMMER SONIC, SXSW Austin, SXSW Sydney, and Clockenflap.

 

 

 

 

 

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▴"SUMMER SONIC was a blast. I'll be back someday with more music. See you soon!" Andr shared.

Ideal Collaboration Means Preserving Each Other's Differences

Following collaborations with Thai musician mindfreakk! on "Swapping Socks" and Japanese producer A.G.O on "Cat & Mouse," Andr has continued to broaden her international collaborations. She teamed up with Korean musician Whys Young on "night night," featured on her latest mini-album "SKIN, " released this past July.

"When we first met, I immediately liked her as a person. We had light conversations and deeper ones." At the time, Andr had not thought about collaborating with her. It was only when she began writing the song that Whys Young was the first person who came to mind.

"To me, making friends takes time. So making a friend through this kind of opportunity feels really rare and precious. With mindfreakk!, REJAY, A.G.O, and Whys Young, I've felt like our personalities clicked really well. That's interesting to me. Maybe what people reveal through music goes beyond the music itself."

Earlier this year, she also released "Hangover" with Japanese musician REJAY. Looking back on the production process, Andr laughs as she recalls that she and producer Gummy Bear Man (韓立康) are both known for coming up with a lot of "weird ideas" in their work. She therefore felt a bit nervous about sending over their ideas.

"Our styles are actually quite different. REJAY and her producer Jeremy Quartus have a much cleaner, more concise style. They don't really over-layer things. But Gummy Bear Man and I are usually the kind of people who throw in all kinds of audio files and try every experiment we can think of." Once they reached a version they were happy with, they bravely sent the files out, hoping the other side would accept them as they were. "They were actually very chill. All the strange vocal parts and weird effects we wanted to do — they accepted all of it. I was really happy about that."

▴Andr performed with REJAY in Japan. (Photo: Andr)

The song's theme originated from REJAY's initial demo, to which Andr contributed her own perspective. REJAY described the dizzy, almost hungover sensation of falling for someone, while Andr's lyrics brought in a more detached and rational point of view. "The two verses are set in the same situation, but they feel different. I thought that was really interesting."

For Andr, ideal collaboration is not about minimizing differences, but about enabling both parties to express themselves fully. "If you can find a balance within that, I think that's the best. In short, it's about approaching collaboration with an open mind and welcoming whatever might happen."

A Showcase Is the Best Place to "Hand Out Your Name Card" and Say Hi Through Performance

To Andr, showcases — where industry professionals, agencies, and musicians gather — are the best places to "hand out your name card" and make a first introduction.

"After performing, I talk to people, ask what they thought of the show, discuss whether my music could fit their local scene, and exchange experiences about promoting music overseas." She actively seizes every opportunity to have conversations and build connections, using performance as a way to say "hi" to people.

In contrast, headline shows allow her to express herself more authentically. She has greater control over venue selection, team collaboration, and sharing production details and album concepts with the audience. This freedom also shapes her setlist.

"I like imagining the state of each performance. For me, the setlist affects the first impression you give when you step onto the stage, so the flow of every setlist I design is very different."

Showcases are often crowded and noisy, with audiences moving around during performances. Since the performance time is also limited, Andr typically avoids intimate or quiet songs. Instead, she creates a lively, joyful atmosphere suited to the setting. She cites her previous solo show in Japan as an example:

"I especially chose 'Shakya (釋迦),' a song that feels free, rich, and organic. It's relaxed, but also has exciting syncopated rhythms. I thought Japanese audiences would really like it!"

What tangible benefits have these international platforms brought her?

"Having the chance to perform is already an achievement, but actually putting on the performance takes real effort too — hopefully, it'll lead to more interesting things." Andr laughs a little shyly. "As for me, the greatest reward of international collaboration is the opportunity to travel; it gives me a reason to go out and have fun. On one hand, it opens up new possibilities; on the other, it's about meeting new friends. I am fortunate to have local friends who show me around, and when they visit Taiwan, I am happy to return the kindness."

While these overseas journeys may seem fulfilling, Andr admits that she sometimes feels lost and uncertain about whether these exchanges will truly lead to opportunities.

"But that's generally the way things work. You think nothing is going to happen, and then six months later someone you met suddenly mentions you to a friend — and an opportunity appears."

Watch: https://www.instagram.com/p/DO0uJkQjEhQ/

Even If the Outcome Is Unknown, Take the Leap: "If One Thing Works Out, It's Worth It."

Looking back on her international collaborations over the past few years, Andr feels Taiwanese musicians can be more confident.

"I think Taiwan's compulsory education has done some things right. On average, Taiwanese people's English is honestly insanely good." She hopes to encourage more Taiwanese musicians to take that first step.

"A lot of the time, people are more ready than they think they are!"

She laughs as she shares that she "randomly DMs" musicians she admires. "Basically, no one replies. This method has not worked for me so far, haha. However, the music scene is quite small. IIf you keep reaching out and trying, you may discover mutual connections."

As long as you have sufficient time, mental space, and resources, it may be worthwhile to take the leap, even if immediate results are uncertain. "A lot of the time, there may not be any follow-up. But if even one of those attempts works out, it's all worth it!"

Additionally, Taiwan's vibrant music festival scene and diverse live performance opportunities are valuable resources when inviting others to collaborate.

"Some countries may have large-scale music festivals, but there are very few performance slots, and the competition is intense. Taiwan now has many performance opportunities, and that can be a great opening line when inviting overseas artists to collaborate."

▴Andr held the Taipei stop of the listening party for her new mini-album "SKIN" at THE SPOT, an indoor skatepark. (Photo: Andr)

Andr's musical experiments are far from over. Next, she hopes to collaborate with Balming Tiger, SE SO NEON, and BIBI. As more musical elements collide within her work, this unique "platypus" will continue to grow organically, transforming into even more unexpected forms.

While not every initiative yields immediate results, Andr continues to step into the unknown with pure enthusiasm:

"As long as I still have the energy, I want to keep reaching out to different people. Even if a performance doesn't lead to new business opportunities right away, the process itself is already really fun!"

Author: 劉韋琪 Yuki Liu / YSOLIFE