Daily Inspiration: Meet Andrew Sears

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Sears.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I came to LA in February of 2022 in a 2011 Honda Fit filled with all my music gear. I had arranged to rent living space from a recording studio until I could find a proper apartment. I had no idea what I was doing or how I would be able to stay in LA. I moved from Nashville, TN, where I was born and raised. Which made moving to LA the first time I had ever lived away from home. On top of all the uncertainty, my wife had agreed to remain in Nashville to support us and allow me to take some time to find a job. She is the person who should be interviewed here. Her sacrifice is why I have been able to build a career in LA. So, after moving to LA with no job and starting a long-distance marriage that would last for two and a half years, I unpacked my car into a small apartment attached to the recording studio and got to work.

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
The answer is yes. The journey has been smooth regarding how others have helped me. It has not been smooth in terms of the mistakes I’ve made. The film and TV world is a challenging place to work. You need to be on top of your shit and learn quickly. My most difficult aspect in this career has been how isolated you can feel even when working with many people. Because the competition is so high and the margin for error is so small, you need to make sure you aren’t the weakest link, which can have the side effect of isolating. That is why having a close group of peers who understand your day-to-day is crucial. If you have that support system somehow, this career will be easier.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Like many composers in LA, I work in film and TV. My friends these days know me most for my love of synths and experimental sounds. However, my musical journey started with classical piano and a passion for Bach! I am releasing a synth album in the fall that I am very excited about! As far as work goes, that is what I am most proud of. My unique style is dark, macabre synth explorations. It is very minimalist and, by extension, very reflective.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
My lesson is summed up in the cliche of all cliches. Follow your passions wherever they go. Don’t follow the money. The hardest part of that directive is that your passions likely don’t pay your bills. There is also a good chance they won’t ever pay your bills. But that is okay. Having your main gig and pursuing your passions when you have time is fine. That is exactly what I did for the first 6 years after my undergrad. I worked every single job I could find to make ends meet and would write music whenever I had free time. To say I loved it would be an overstatement. However, to say I hated it would be an equivalent understatement. That chapter of my life taught me the discipline to write music no matter how my day went. In music, that is one of the most important disciplines. You need to be able to write, perform, produce, orchestrate, transcribe, and teach even after a 6-hour shift at a restaurant. It takes time to get used to, but you must do it because that is the gig.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewsearsmusic/
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ZkTrHjYxJJ6z9wSmjJeqI?si=iOaDmOH4R2udMDIqVz1Gvg

Image Credits
Bethany Long Photography https://bethanylongphotography.com/