Andy Tongren
I’m so happy to share this new interview with singer/songwriter Andy Tongren.
I initially featured his band Young Rising Sons on my first music blog a long time ago. In fact, Young Rising Sons was one of the first bands I’ve ever featured - which is crazy to me to feature Andy with this new music blog for his debut single as a solo artist. It’s like a full circle moment for me.
For his debut single, Andy Tongren delivers a feel-good anthemic song called “So Good”. A promising debut single created with the help of Shep Goodman, Aaron Accetta & Jackson Hoffman.
I really cannot wait to hear more music from him. Very excited !
”So Good” is out now !
Hi Andy, how are you? What's your story?
I’m good! I’ve spent the last several years singing & playing guitar in a band called Young Rising Sons, touring, making records, learning a lot about myself and the world. I’m just now stepping into this new chapter, trying to embrace the unknown and make music that feels honest to where I’m at in my life.
"So Good" is your debut single as a solo artist — what made you want to embark on this solo career journey?
It wasn’t a super conscious decision at first, more so a feeling I couldn’t ignore. I started writing all these songs that didn’t feel like they fit with the band, but felt too important to me to let sit on a hard drive. Eventually, I just said screw it, I want to put this out into the world and see what happens.
What's the inspiration behind "So Good"?
Honestly, it came from a pretty dark place. I wasn’t in the best mental headspace and felt this need to write something that reminded me things weren’t always gonna feel that way. It evolved into this weirdly euphoric anthem about chasing the moment & finding the silver lining, even when life feels heavy.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this single? Who helped you create it? When did you start working on it?
I wrote and produced it with my friends Shep Goodman, Aaron Accetta & Jackson Hoffman. We started playing around with this song sometime last year. It was one of those rare sessions where we tried to not overthink and just let the song go where it wanted to go. I tend to be a perfectionist, especially when it comes to writing/producing, so it was an exercise in letting go of that and trusting the gut.
What made you want to release "So Good" as your debut single?
It just felt the most me. If someone asked, “what does this new project sound like?” I’d play them So Good. It captures that mix of hope, recklessness, and living in the moment I’ve been leaning into.
What do you want people to feel when listening to this song? What message do you want to deliver?
I just hope it makes people feel good; like a reminder to embrace the now. Even when things are messy or uncertain, there’s still beauty in the chaos.
What can you tell us about the music video?
The video’s pretty stripped-down and raw, similar to the song. We wanted it to feel warm and human and spontaneous and imperfect. For me it was less about telling a story and more about capturing the spirit of the song.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
It’s never been easier to release music and connect with new fans online, which is amazing for small artists. But I got into this because I love playing, and touring’s gotten tough. Fewer bands are going out, and fewer people are going to shows. I miss the local scenes, being able to see a different band every night at a VFW hall or Midgard Comics back in Columbus where I grew up. I don’t have the answers, ticket prices are wild, touring costs are worse, but I hope we can bring some of that community back.
What biggest lessons have you learned since the beginning of your career so far?
Nothing ever goes exactly how you expect, so resilience is key. Learn from the setbacks, celebrate the wins, and keep moving forward.
What advice would you give to artists out there?
Make art you love. That’s it. Whether 10 people hear it or 10,000, if it’s honest and real, it matters.
In your opinion, what would make the world a BETTER place?
WOOF big question. I’m no prophet, but I think a little bit more empathy would go a long way. If we spent more time listening and trying to understand each other instead of judging or needing to be right, things might suck a little less.
Connect with Andy: