Andrew morriss bio

Andrew's music has been described as "Folk music with an edge." With influences such as John Michael Talbot, Ian White and Mark Knopfler, it isn't hard to see how Andrew's music has evolved to this point, with searching words delivered with an emotion filled voice and melodic lead guitar interwoven with acoustic fingerpicking.

Andrew was born on the 28th of February 1973 in the New Zealand farming town of Ashburton. Growing up on a cropping farm on the Canterbury plains, with a mother who taught piano and a brother who was a classically trained singer, there was always music around.

"I'm so grateful to have been brought up on the farm. I think that it's had a huge influence on the way I write music. The isolation, the freedom and the landscape are all things that are still a part of me."

Andrew played the flute through primary and intermediate school before finally giving in to the allure of the guitar at the age of fourteen. By the age of sixteen he had started songwriting with guitar and eventually also on piano as well as playing guitar in church.

In 1995 Andrew was married, moving to Nelson with his wife Nancy in 1997 to attend the Nelson School Of Music's Contemporary Music Performance Course which he graduated with Outstanding Merit. This provided opportunities such as performing around Nelson and Golden Bay with regular performances at the Victorian Rose, taking part in the school of music's winter festival including singing in the choir for both the Nelson performances of ENZO as well as radio play on Nelson's Fresh FM.

"Doing music full time was what I've always wanted to do. I've had a burning inside me saying I have to do music for a long time, and the school of music gave me that opportunity. It was great to be around other people with a similar interest focused on learning and playing music. It was a real chance to grow as a musician through regular live performances and study."

Unfortunately after graduating at the end of 1997 Andrew's health took a turn for the worse with both Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and multiple allergies leaving him unable to do anything musical or otherwise for some time.

"Being ill has been the biggest challenge I've had to face. It's certainly made me appreciate what I've got now, I don't take simple things like going for a walk or being able to sing a song for granted any more."

In 2001 Andrew and Nancy returned to Canterbury to live in Christchurch. With his health slowly improving Andrew started working on music again. Now in 2003 Andrew has released his debut CD "Just Believe".