Kat Harlton
East Coast rock band Andre Pettipas and the Giants recently released their new
single Homesick on June 18 via all streaming platforms. The track features Christopher
Thorn the guitarist of critically acclaimed, chart topping southern psych-rock band Blind
Melon.
The bands’ first single “Sympathy Card” from their upcoming album “No Fools No Fun”
hit #27 on Billboard’s Active Rock Chart and broke the top 50 on Billboard’s Mainstream
Rock Chart in North America. They also have three #1 singles on nationally syndicated show, “East Coast Countdown”.
We had the opportunity to chat with Andre Pettipas about the band’s latest single, his creative process and what’s next.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your latest single “Homesick”?
Andre: The initial inspiration behind “Homesick” came from a tour we were on in Alberta in 2018 when we played a Wednesday night and had maybe a handful of people show up. I went back to the hotel room and the initial chorus line was written that evening. It was the only time in my life that I questioned if music was the right thing for me to pursue. That feeling dissipated quickly.
My adult life sees me on the road more often than not, whether it be with music or sheet metal work that has seen me away from home for months at a time.
As the song developed I began to look at some light in the dark; basically through the tough times we still had loved ones at home ready to welcome us in with open arms. “When the lights fade and you’re still by my side. When I drift away into the night. Thank you in advance through thick and thin. Thank you in advance.”
This was a song that stood out in the demos we sent to our producer, Brian Moncarz during the initial song selection for our upcoming album, “No Fools No Fun.” He loved arrangement and felt many people could relate to that “Homesick” feeling. It doesn’t necessarily have to be missing your physical home. It is missing those people and things that make you feel at home.
Kat: What do you hope fans take from the track?
Andre: I want fans to feel connected and think about what makes them “homesick.” Feel the emotional baggage carried throughout the track. Since we began playing it live it was a song that seemed to catch on right away with our fanbase. So many people experience this feeling and try their best to “cope” with that feeling of being away or vacant from the ones you love.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Andre: For me, the most challenging part of the creative process currently is the lockdown. We are definitely fortunate to have access to home studios and send demo ideas/tracks remotely but we’ve been missing our weekly rehearsals where a good chunk of the mojo and magic come from in our band. Before we got locked down again we had two months straight of weekly rehearsals and these resulted in new songs and solid creativity being able to toss the ideas back and forth so quickly and figuring arrangements out on the spot. I love to dive in deep with the creative process; from designing the artwork, merchandise and image of our band to writing songs and finding new ways to interact with our fans. The creative process is and will always be something I enjoy because it never stays the same with our fast paced society. Focus on evolving your brand and changing the things that don’t seem to work for you.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far? What have you learned along the way?
Andre: This upcoming album is definitely the biggest highlight of my career. We were fortunate enough to work with so many talented individuals who either produced, engineered, or played on the tracks. The biggest highlight is having Blind Melon guitarist Christopher Thorn playing on our single, “Homesick.” Blind Melon has been my favorite band since I picked up the guitar at age 12 and to have a piece of their legacy and inspiration on this album is a dream come true.
I’ve learned so many lessons throughout my musical career. A few important ones are: that the musical community, though vast in size, is very small. You meet so many people along the way so being kind goes so far. The biggest thing that I learned is that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, it’s where you’re going. I grew up on a dirt road called Linwood Harbour Road in a small county in Nova Scotia. I got to play with some of my heroes and showcased with the Giants internationally. Your dreams are always at your fingertips if you want to work hard, do your research and get down to the nitty gritty to make them happen. This won’t happen overnight but perseverance is the biggest and most important tool to have in the music industry.
Kat: What’s next?
Andre: We will be releasing our sophomore album on July 9th and have dates across the maritime provinces this summer in support of the release. With the vaccinations rolling out country wide we are planning a trip to Ontario for mid-September to finish some long-time business we have been working on since before the lockdown. We will be touring across the country after that and planning to tour Australia this upcoming winter. We want to grow our team, image, and venture into new markets and believe this single and album will help get us well on our way.
For more on Andre Pettipas and The Giants visit: https://andrepettipasandthegiants.com