Andy Z has been a source of music and joy for kids and families for almost 25 years. But his path to becoming a well-known children’s musician was a bit of a surprise. As a young man, he simply wanted to be a musician who wrote and sang his own songs. He studied music in college and played in different bands, putting out his own music. To make a living, he also worked in the computer world.
However, when the computer business slowed down, he lost his job. Instead of seeing this as a bad thing, Andy saw it as a chance to focus on music full-time. It was during this time that a friend asked him to teach a music class at a preschool. On that day, the kids, parents, and teachers were all taken with his warm, fun, and easy musical style. In that moment, Andy found his true calling. He realized he could bring together his love for music with his talent for telling stories and doing character voices. This is how the “Andy Z” we know today was born.
His latest album, “My Voice,” is full of the spirit, fun, and honest feeling he’s known for. The album is a great mix of brand new songs he wrote himself and old songs that people love. The music on the album goes from playful and lighthearted to deep and thoughtful. It shows all the different sides of Andy Z’s musical talent and heart.
This album has many very personal songs. He wrote a sweet song for his son when he was born, which shows the deep love a parent has for a child. Another song was written to help his son deal with being bullied, giving a strong message that some things aren’t your fault. There’s also a peaceful song meant to be a lullaby. These songs aren’t just music; they are Andy sharing his own life and feelings, which makes the music feel very real.
Besides the personal songs, the album is also packed with numbers that are both clever and fun. There are songs that teach in a simple and fun way, like one that celebrates the simple joy of starting a new day or another that explores the fascinating world of bees. Andy also adds his own silly touch to old, well-known songs, making them fresh and new for a new group of listeners. Other songs are like little radio plays, using different voices and sounds to tell a short story with the music.
The album also shows that Andy Z has many musical friends and heroes. He worked with a group called 123 Andrés on a lovely Spanish version of a song about a butterfly. This song brings people together across different languages. Another talented friend, Dana Cohenour, sings along on the song about feeling comforted. Andy also included a song by his own hero, Fred Rogers, showing his great respect for a man who believed in simple kindness and connection.
In the end, “My Voice” is a strong and moving album. It truly tells Andy Z’s life story, from his beginnings as a young songwriter to the happiness he found making music for families. The album brings together different feelings and ideas, from the deep love for his family to the simple beauty of nature and the fun of a good story. It’s a collection of songs that really shows who he is and what he believes in. It’s an album where his voice is truly heard in every single song.
For more songs like this, follow Andy Z on Spotify, Andy Z on Bandcamp, Andy Z on Instagram, andyz.com
