She’s hands down the best female vocalist I’ve heard in years; knocked my socks off and then live she just has you in the palm of her hands.  Also getting into Dirty Projectors and Hanne Hukkelberg as well; she’s really cool kind of quirky folk.
I was really conscious I didn’t want to listen to a track and go “oh yeah, I want the harmonies to sound like that off that track and the drums to sound like that” because that’s someone else’s creativity – it’s great to be influenced but I’d prefer to listen to an album and feel a certain feeling and be like, wow, that’s really inspired me to then go and express myself in my own way, not “ok, I’ll nick that from there.”

You’ve been on Ninja Tune since…last year?
Yeah it was actually.  It’s been really good.  Again, probably just like an extension of working with Si – really natural, really easy, really open.  Do you know, I think it’s like a first birthday.

They haven’t brought you a cake yet or anything?!
They might any minute now…I’m waiting, I’m ready, where is it?!

They’re probably waiting outside the door!  What was the video for ‘A Town called Obsolete’ like to film?
I really love that video…it was weird; I turned up and they’d got extras in and so I sat there thinking, gosh, those people are just sat round.

Oh I bet they’re getting bored!  I kind of went round offering people cheese and snacks and stuff and tried to keep them entertained.I was really impressed when I turned up and there were balloons everywhere as well.  I felt like it was my birthday party; I think that was my official 1st birthday!

What’s been the creative highlight of the last few years?
Touring.  Ultimately, all I’ve ever wanted to do is sing and share music and just for there to be a really great vibe; for people to really be into it and to meet people or uplift them or something, but for there to be a positive thing to come out of doing music. People coming up to you afterwards and saying “it was really inspiring and it makes me want to do my music”; that’s another thing.
That’s the purpose of why I busted my arse and worked in a hearing aid shop and all those other things.  It’s sort of not about me; it’s just about sharing what I enjoy doing and making other people feel good.

Words: Ben Nicholas
Photography: Tim Ferguson

Andreya’s new single ‘A Town Called Obsolete’ is out on Ninja Tune on 26th July. Her debut album ‘Lost Where I Belong’ is out 23rd August and will be reviewed at a later date.

myspace.com/andreyatriana