If you are a fan of the alternative, indie rock sound, listen to Canadian artist, Only August [Andrew Reinhardt]. His debut single, “The Rain,” a metaphor for the care that goes into sustaining a good relationship, is already garnering attention from radio and major Spotify playlists.
Before heading into the studio, Only August chatted with ECHO about his debut album due out Summer 2020, writing and inspiration.
Congratulations on your debut single, “The Rain.” How does it feel to have your music out there in the world?
It feels great to have music released again. In the past I was in another successful Canadian band. So this is a great new journey for me. I’m excited about a lot of the music that I’m going to be putting out. I have a full length record – 11 songs – that will be dropping this summer. I’m super excited to get music out and I’m loving the feedback that I’ve received so far from “The Rain”.
How did you come up with your name, Only August?
To be honest, I struggled picking a name. It was one of the toughest choices for me. Originally, I was going to go with just August because August means loyalty – royal; so that’s why I went with the name. I just thought it sounded cool and then I was just like why don’t I just go with “Only August” like I’m only royal; so that was the meaning behind that.
For people that are not familiar with your sound, how would you describe it?
In the past, I’ve been compared a lot to City and Colour, but this new record and this new sound for me I would say it’s got a very UK alternative, indie rock sound. Kind of like Sam Fender-y. Really catchy vocal hooks and you know just a groove. I think what’s cool about my record is I did eleven songs on a record with just a snare and high hat for my drums which is super unique. I had no toms on the record. It is just straight cool delays. Lots of cool delays-reverbs. I’d say it’s a pretty UK indie, alternative sound.
Have you always wanted to do music?
Yeah, I loved music from when I was a little kid, to be honest. I grew up in Church; so music was a big part of my life from an early age. I was playing in front of 500 people by the time grade 7 or 8 every week; so I got used to performing. I fell in love with alternative music and the rest is history for me . It was always my dream to do it as a full time career. The success that I’ve had on this first single is pretty promising. I’m getting lots of attention from radio, major Spotify playlists; so I’m pretty excited about it.
Where do you draw inspiration for your music?
I think the biggest thing for inspiration for me is personal journeys that I’ve been on. I also find inspiration- and it’s a really unique thing – I tend to write a lot of music with my wife [Rachael Reinhardt]. We write together at night sometimes. For example, “The Rain” we wrote together because it’s about love and growing and how things sometimes aren’t always great, but at the end of the day the grass can be greener on the other side, like the chorus says. How a person sometimes needs space, love or guidance like shade and rain. Life experience, I think, is super important when writing because you want to connect with as many people as possible as an artist rather than just the mundane lyrics. I believe that wholesome lyrics are important in today’s society; especially with everything going on.
If you could set fans up in the perfect environment to listen to “The Rain” what do you imagine it looking like?
In the past, I’ve got a lot of love for my acoustic performances. That’s kind of something that I’m known for in Canada. I’m going to be dropping a live acoustic session of “The Rain.” It’s kind of a cool vibey way. I’m sitting in front of a fireplace- a real wood fireplace. The wood is crackling in the background of the recording. It’s super vibey and I think a lot of people will enjoy that approach to the song – a stripped back. Obviously, my dream is to play as big of venues as possible. Being Canadian, a dream of mine is to play Massey Hall. If I had it my way – to play Massey Hall and see people listening to the song and singing it back to me, that would be the place.
It’s cool that you’re bringing it back to the fireplace because it’s like you’re bringing listeners back to the place where you wrote it.
That’s exactly how I wrote it. My wife and I literally wrote pretty much the whole record together and a buddy of mine from my old project, Joey Andres, he has been a big help. I always write with my wife. She’s a great lyricist. I can write the hooks and she can write the lyrics. It’s a good team.
What can fans expect from your upcoming debut album?
A bunch of everything. I’m super excited and proud of this record. It’s turned out way better than I ever could have expected. There’s some slower songs that are vibey. There are some songs that are slower with piano. There’s some cello on the record. There’s some really synthy songs that are comparable to Nothing But Thieves. The record has a great range of music and I can not wait to share it with everyone. Overall, I think it will be a great debut record as well. I’m pretty sure I will drop another single in April.
Is there any saying that you want to ECHO out to the world?
I know it sounds cliche, but everybody love everybody. I think that is an important part of life. To love everyone equally. I think equality is a big part of my lyrics. Just learning to get through tough times and working together. I’m in studio this week and in one of the lyrics of a song I’m talking about the circumstances that we are in right now with all this pandemic and everything, the mindsets and struggles behind all these factories and corporations, and how we as human beings can strive to be better people and work together. The same with “The Rain.” The approach of loving your spouse – even though times can be tough, you’ll get to the finish line together no matter what.