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This timefiveyears ago, Will Andrew was justan ordinaryteenageboy with adream. Hehad mademultipletracks as a
hobby for himself and not for any financial gain. Heeven madesacrifices to get whereheis now, very risky sacrifices such
as droppingout of collegeto chasehis dream. From recordingin his bedroom on hisbudget microphoneto using
professional recordingequipment and workingwith thebest in thebusiness wesat down with theman himself to ask
him about his rapid rise to stardom.
How areyou copingwith yourrisefromthebottom to thetop that cameso fast?
I’m copingquitewell thanks, I was always expectingto havethis lifestylethemoment I signed my first professional
contract if I’m honest. Its not such abad life, it’s theoneI wanted for meand my family, wereall doingmuch better now
and thefame that comes with it is aplus if anything, I’m not phased by this at all.
How was it back when you weretold that you weregettingyourfirst majorcontract?
Thefeeling I got was unbelievable, it’s aday ill never forget. I remember it was areally hotsummersday, I mean likethe
sun pierced through thewindowsit justhad that feelingof agood day you know? Istarted it as anormal day, donemy
breakfast, work out then justwatch thebuild up for theFA Cup final that day. Then I got aletter through thepost from the
company I was negotiatingwith for thepastfew weeks sayingthat they wanted meto sign and agreeto aformal contract
offer by them! I had to re-read it then ask my best friend to read it outfor mejust in caseI read it wrongand boy Iwas in
dreamland, I put thenews on Facebook immediately and had amassiveparty, therewas no other wayto celebrateit than
with thepeoplewho believed in meall theway. It was my wayof sayingthanks
How was thebuzz when youweresat at thedesk, with theCEO of that companyand heslid over that contract toyou?Just
tell mewhat was runningthrough yourmind.
God its hard to pinpoint what emotion I was thinkingat thetime, was prettysureI could hear myheartbeat, it was about
to comeout my chest! I remember just lookingat theblank linethat said Client Signatureand sayingto myself “Herewe
go” After signingit I posed for thephoto and everythingI felt on top of theworld! Probablythebest momentof my lifeby
far, and nothingwill ever top it.
Would winningan award top that feeling?
Thedream was never to pressuremyself to bethebest of thebest, mydream was too what I loved doing, and rapping
was always my thingI just wanted to do it as ajob, I always thought to myself if I keep on doingwhat I lovethen the
benefits will come, such as awards and all that
Tell us about about your humblebeginnings then, don’t quotemeon this butI’veheard that you wereaeducation drop
out was this right?
Theway you word that soundslikeI wasafailurebut actually I want, I was prettyacademic and could havehad many
qualifications to my name, I mean how many rappers in thegamehaveyou heard who have 8 GCSE’s? I just felt like
education was somethingI was forced todo, I never wanted to do it. I always had seen myself as aperformer, an artist.
Never awriter or adoctor. Mywayof thinkingabout it is that you should do what you enjoy andyou’llnever haveto
work a day in your life again.
How was yourmum when sheheard thenewsyou dropped out of college?
Oh shewas fuming, absolutely fuming. I remember themany talks I had with her aboutit and how disappointed shewas.
It took sometimeto get used to but eventuallyit paid off. We’vemadeamends now and all’s smoothed over and now
she’s livingin a new house, away from theplaceshewas back then. Shewas probablythemostsupportivemotherin the
world, obviouslyshewasworried that it would backfireand I didn’t get therecord deal that I was destined for ajob in a
fast food restaurant. I was too academic forthat, but everythingpaid off in theend. I was living my dream.
Was thereany doubter? And fakefriends alongyour way?
Of courseevery journey has somesnags such as that and yeah I did comeacrossthem. When I was uploadingtrsacks on
soundcloud and stuff likethat id get likesomestcik from someof my lads and you knowitslikeabit of banter at thestart
but it can get worseand it did, i likeeven contemplated stoppingit which wasgonabesomethin gid do if i wasnt
determined. Likeeveryonedoubted mein thebeginning, now theyrebuyingmy music. Ignoranceis bliss.
Is thereanyonein thegameat themoment you want to belike?
I dont want to belikeother peoplei want other peopletobelikemeyou know? likeI wont makeit as far as i had by
basically beingacopy of aKanyeor aDreor someonebigas that.
Whats your next step after this right now?
Well right now i’vejust finished my first professional album with arecordingcompany. I got thewholesuperstar
treatment!
How was recordingin aprofessional studio as opposed to amic in yourbedroom?
It was amazinglikeivebeen in onebeforebut never for myself. Likethewholescenario likemeon my own with my crew
all on themixers was amazinglikethis was all for me? i couldnt beliveit at all, ill never forget that firstjam.
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Whats thenew album called?
Its called “Rags 2 Riche$” it basically speaks foritself likeall thesongs on it areareflection of my life, likemy whole art is
on theCD
Now your CD has been heavily criticised over and over becuaseyou’reanew artist, yet thereviews areamazinglikehow
does that makeyou feel likethetop dogs in thebusiness aresayingthis about you?
Even better, i already had my motivation from myself to deliverthis album and nowwithpeoplewho arepro’s in the
business and avreddited criticsto say this about mystuff is amazinglikei’m finally gettingtherecognition that ivealways
wanted and deserved to an extent.

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So Whats next for you? tours?break?new album?
I think i’ll just plan for thenext album. I’vealready got onesongwritten which i wontspoil foranyoneso don’t ask! then
im going to plan therest, about another 9/10 songs and asingleprobably willbetheplan so watch thisspace. For the
timebeing i havea few gigs booked in lowkey event places youknowlikenot exactlyworld classarenas justsmall ones,
but weall haveto start from somewhereand I can’t wait to get on that stage!
And just to finish this bit off, what music you into now?
Abit of everythingnot gonnalie, I obviouslylisten to likeall therap and hip hop stuff, old stuff that I listented togrowing
up as a kid, new stuff by peopleeven signed onto thesamelabel as me, its pretty much unreal that thepeopleI grown up
listeningto arein thecompany im signed up with! its crazy. I don’t even likeadmittingthis but i listen to all music! I get a
buzz off just listeningto any music, Indie, Alternate, Pop, R&B, Classical abit even!
To Purchasetickets to seeWill Andrew LIVE, visit
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