I wouldn’t be surprised if I asked you about Andrew Roachford and you’d forgotten about him and his many successes. In fact, if I told you he was Sony/Columbia UK’s top selling artist over the last 10 years, you would probably look a little perplexed or shocked, yet this was the exact response Roachford gave me when I told him the facts. In Roachford’s life, success was merely a by product of his love and enthusiasm for music, and the therapeutic nature behind it.
During his time with Columbia, he had hits like, Cuddly Toy, Family Man and Lay Your Love On Me, but after spending much time over in Philadelphia, U.S. Roachford put together Heart of The Matter Vol. 1. The Roots hip hop collective have been long time friends of Roachford, and it was them who told him to come and check out the Philly scene. Everything worked out well as he had the chance to hear Jill Scott, Musiq, Bilal, Kindred Family Soul and other new soul acts while being immersed in a whole different, vibrant scene. The album was influenced by this new sound and is much more of a contemporary RnB album laced with Roachford’s unquestionably soulful vocals.
Roachford made a return in 2006 with Word Of Mouth. Laced with Andrew’s polished song writing and vocals it’s an album, like the artist himself, that defies boundaries set by today’s fleeting RnB pop or rock trends. Roachford has spent much of the last two years touring the globe, in particular in Australia and Europe. In Germany he regularly plays to crowds of over 10,000 and it is here where his new label Peppermint Jam is set up.
The laid back River Of Love, showcases Andrew’s ability to turn his hand to fresh sounds and new musical styles. The funky Full Intention remix of the track also provides another original and unique take on this catchy track. This determination to follow his own musical path affords us the unique listening pleasure that is contained in Word Of Mouth, an album that can only be defined as one thing – pure Roachford.
His early influences of legends like Al Green, Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye are still heard in his work, and when it comes to modern UK artists, it is Estelle and Jamelia. It’s great to find a contemporary UK artist not being afraid to collaborate and develop his own range.
