Andy Bassett

Born in the UK, Andy Bassett has lived in New Zealand since 1986, settling in New Plymouth in 1988. Writing songs since he was a teenager, he draws on a wide spectrum of musical influences – David Bowie, Brian Wilson, Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson, Joni Mitchell and more. In parallel to his solo work, Andy has played in several Taranaki bands over the years, including Uncle John’s Band (1990-2008), Blue Monkey Racket (2014-2020). During the 2020 Covid lockdown, Andy and a bunch of friends formed The OK Boomers, a largely acoustic band performing a mix of originals and covers.

His solo albums, including Driving At The Moon (2007) and Another Country (2012), are largely self-contained productions made in his home studio, Little Pink, with Andy playing most instruments. The Day That Peace Broke Out (2018) went to the other extreme, featuring 24 collaborators and five additional studios. His 2022 follow-up The Orchid Thief was a much more pared-down affair, with just acoustic guitar, piano and a small classical ensemble, using arrangements co-written with pianist Jarrod Bakker, recorded and co-produced by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio.

His 2024 EP Surface Noise combined these recording methods – solo recordings made at Little Pink, and strings arranged with Jarrod Bakker, recorded by Chris Foreman at Swamp Shack Studios. The title track featured timpani and French horn., and Taranaki singer-songwriter Liana Hart added lush harmonies to two songs, including airplay hit London Buses.

Andy’s new standalone single Stranger in the Room was written in response to the ambushing of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy by the US president during the now notorious staged meeting in the Oval Office in February. The track emerged over three short afternoon sessions at Little Pink in early April, with Andy playing all instruments – guitar, mandolin, accordion, bass and percussion.

The song sends two messages: one of solidarity to Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine, and another to the US regime that the whole world is watching and we know what they are doing.