see you around ANDY
There’s a lot of “lasts” going on right now - my last year at Mac, my last year in Hamilton, and my last week as an editor of ANDY. But instead of dwelling on the last times, I’d like to talk about my first time. My first time meeting ANDY, that is.
Two years ago I noticed ANDY’s annual music issue among a pile of newspapers strewn across the living room table of my student house (coincidently, this year’s music issue is also out this week). I curiously flipped it open, unaware that hidden within the many folds of the Silhouette was a place for music nerds to express their nerdy opinions. I remember being really excited that someone had written an article about Women, a great post-punk band from Calgary. I thought, ‘holy heck, there’s actually a place on campus to write about music?’
The start of the next school year I nervously attended the first ANDY meeting. I remember a passionate argument breaking out about whether Doolittle or Surfer Rosa is the better Pixies album. I remember feeling like I had found a home. I also remember thinking that maybe I was being a bit dramatic.
The first article I wrote for ANDY was an album review, and I spent hours agonizing over the short 200-word piece. Though it took me forever I loved trying to figure out and explain why I found music important, meaningful or terrible. After a few weeks of reviews I started writing longer articles, and the first artist I interviewed for ANDY was Kardinal freakin’ Offishall. I was really thrown into the deep end with that one. I remember feeling so nervous and that I turned to beer for help. I probably won’t try that again. But everything else about the experience I loved.
I mention my first memories of ANDY because they were what I hoped to recreate this year. I wanted everyone to have the same experience I did. I’m not sure if that happened but I can hope. I also hope that I’m not getting too sappy.
I’d like to say thanks to everyone who has written this year for ANDY. The album reviews, band interviews and pop culture musings have all been great. Thanks to everyone who has made ANDY meetings so fun. But more than anything I’d like to say thanks to Hamilton for making amazing art and music to write about.
See you around, ANDY.
Nolan Matthews
