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<p>Erin McAndrew found her passion in music and her comfort zone in New York City, but her roots are in Northeastern Pennsylvania.</p><p>The Wyoming Valley native, who&#8217;s family left Mountain Top for a Philadelphia suburb when she was 13, released her debut solo album, &#8220;The Skeleton of Life,&#8221; June 2. McAndrew performed her original pop-rock songs at an album release party for a crowd that included music producers at Bar 13 at New York City&#8217;s Union Square.</p><p>The artist said she&#8217;s been singing from a younger age than she can determine, but she got serious about her vocals around 13.</p><p>She attended Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, majored in radio and became the lead singer of rock band Tiny Giant, which had the distinct honor of playing at <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/features/497064/manhattan-based-surrealist-vincent-castiglia-uses-his-own-blood-to-create-profound-visions-of-life-and-death" target="_blank">famed Manhattan club</a> CBGB before its doors closed forever.</p><p>&#8220;It was really cool to play a legendary venue at a pretty young age,&#8221; McAndrew said. &#8220;From there it was like, &#8216;OK, I have to do this with my life.&#8217;&#8221;</p><p>While New York caters to her artistic endeavors, McAndrew considers NEPA home. She visits to connect with family in the Back Mountain and friends she&#8217;s had since grade school.</p><p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s the simplicity of it,&#8221; McAndrew said of her affinity for the Wyoming Valley. &#8220;When you think of your childhood, most of the time you have fond memories.&#8221;</p><p>Bitten by the music bug and the city bug, McAndrew has lived in New York for 12 years, and with the exception of a short hiatus after college, she&#8217;s been cultivating her sound.</p><p>That sound has pulled from sources as wide ranging as the spectrum between Sara Bareilles and Guns N Roses. McAndrew writes lyrics first and then <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/features/542388/wyoming-valley-musicians-perform-in-the-raw-at-songwriters-confessional-in-wilkes-barre" target="_blank">accompanies herself with her guitar</a>, crafting chord progressions.</p><p>&#8220;Over the years, it&#8217;s definitely gone through peaks and valleys and figuring out what exactly my style is,&#8221; McAndrew said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve leaned toward rock and pop rock. I&#8217;m inspired by Alanis Morissette, but I also like Kelly Clarkson and some of the poppy stuff.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Turn the Page,&#8221; the first single off McAndrew&#8217;s album, was inspired by her dissatisfaction with her corporate job and her epiphany to make music her career.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s about starting a new life and a new chapter,&#8221; McAndrew said. &#8220;I always came back to music when there was a void in my life.&#8221;</p><p>McAndrew said the record&#8217;s songs are diverse in style. &#8220;Jesse,&#8221; she said, is more of a folksy tune, while &#8220;I Don&#8217;t Need You Anymore&#8221; has a punchy, harder-rock feel.</p><p>Dan Nelson has played with McAndrew in Tiny Giant and other projects. The Long Island-based artist produced and played several instruments on &#8220;The Skeleton of Life,&#8221; and he said working with the songwriter is a pleasure.</p><p>&#8220;She&#8217;s a huge talent, and a great person,&#8221; Nelson said. &#8220;Her drive is insane, and she&#8217;s willing to do anything short of compromising her artistic integrity. That openness is going to help here achieve great heights pretty fast.&#8221;</p><p><ins>Nelson said the AC/DC sound of the album track &#8220;Never Settle&#8221; was McAndrew&#8217;s idea, showing her willingness to step outside her comfort zone and embrace various influences.</ins></p><p>McAndrew, while excited to see where the album takes her, is more focused on how her music makes people feel.</p><p>&#8220;I hope it inspires someone,&#8221; she said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley native Erin McAndrew released her debut solo record June 2. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ErinMcAndrew1-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wyoming Valley native Erin McAndrew released her debut solo record June 2. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ErinMcAndrew2-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Erin McAndrew, a Mountain Top resident during her childhood, begins crafting her songs by writing lyrics and constructs chord progressions on her guitar. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ErinMcAndrew2-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Erin McAndrew, a Mountain Top resident during her childhood, begins crafting her songs by writing lyrics and constructs chord progressions on her guitar. </caption1><photoCredit1>Submitted photo </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ErinMcAndrew3-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Based in New York City for the last 12 years, McAndrew played an album release party June 3 at Bar 13 on Union Square. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ErinMcAndrew3-2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Based in New York City for the last 12 years, McAndrew played an album release party June 3 at Bar 13 on Union Square. </caption2><photoCredit2>Submitted photo </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ErinMcAndrew4-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">New York City-based musician Erin McAndrew played the legendary CBGB music club before moving on to her solo career. The pop-rocker still considers Northeastern Pennsylvania to be home. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ErinMcAndrew4-2.jpg</photo3><caption3>New York City-based musician Erin McAndrew played the legendary CBGB music club before moving on to her solo career. The pop-rocker still considers Northeastern Pennsylvania to be home. </caption3><photoCredit3>Submitted photo </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Matt Mattei</p><p>mmattei@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Matt Mattei at 570-991-6651 or Twitter @TLArts</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Mountain Top native launches music career in NYC with debut album