Andre Henry is an award winning singer-songwriter based in New York City. His soulful, pop-friendly, approach to R&B has been described as a cross between John Legend, Brian McKnight, and Bob Marley.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 11:00AM I'm convinced that nearly every painful mistake ever made, and every regret to be had, is somehow linked to impatience.
People sign shitty contracts, eat fast food, yell at the people they love, text while driving, and marry the wrong person, all because of impatience.
Good things will happen...
...
...
...
eventually.
Wait for it.
For Those Who Insist On Believing,
Andre
Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at 11:00AM 
We don't like being beginners.
Because "beginning" means things are gonna' suck for a while. Whether it's the daunting task of mastering the artform in front of us, or building a real friendship with someone you already know you'll fall for, beginning can somehow manage to be an exciting, exhausting, titilating, and undesirable thought all at once.
We want to begin because we can see the end--a New York Times best-seller, a beautiful new fashion store, Grammy awards, or whatever your dream looks like. But we also want the end to be at the beginning (or least to arrive shortly thereafter).
But beginning means one thing: wait.
My apologies, two things: there is also work.
When I got a new idea of how to compose "The Hope Note", I realized I'd have to start at #1.
One!?
I've been writing for years. Why couldn't I start at #377, or #519, or #46 even? After all I've done aren't I entitled?
I did not want to be perceived as a beginner--which is called pride (because how you're perceived means little against who you actually are, but this is tangental). Point is, all great adventures, all revolutionary ideas, every epic journey, every masterpiece begins at one.
Don't be afraid of one.
For Those Who Insist On Believing,
Andre
Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 09:53AM You ever TRY to be upset about something? Because you SHOULD be upset about it, but you just can't seem to focus your energy in that direction?
That's me today. I'm on my way to the studio for day 2 of producing my next EP. So I packed a bag of my only to synthesizers (each cost me somewhere between $500-$600). But I got so caught up in trying to send updates from my phone that I ran off the train, totally forgetting that I'd had a bright red bag with $1,100 dollars worth of equipment on the shelf above my head.
There's no contact info in the bag for me. It's probably gone for good. And I just can't seem to get upset about it.
I tried. Really I did. I even tried cussing a little bit (Because that's what you're supposed to say in that type of situation).
But the truth is that to be angry is to assume that no good will come of this. Perhaps someone will turn it in to the lost and found, or perhaps someone will sell it on eBay. There is still a chance that I might be the one to bid on my own equipment and get it back. Or I may just get better equipment.
All may not be ideal, but all is well.
For those who insist on believing,
Andre
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 11:00AM In response to SoulPancake's question: "What is your definition of romance?"
This is the romantic portrait of Napoleon climbing the AlpsA quick Google search for "Napoleon Crossing the Alps" can answer the question better than I can. The "romantic" portrait, painted by Jaques David-Louis somewhere between 1801-1805, is epic--conveying a stoic, yet somehow fierce, Bonaparte atop his majestic white war-horse Marengo. Everything in this picture seems to be in motion, as only a master painter could convey: Marengo's eyes show fatigue and distress as he rears back into what seems to be an isolated whirlwind around he and his master. This very same wind sends Napoleon's scarlet cape flourishing around him like a circle of fire, as the dictator points toward a horizon we cannot see--this grand gesture, no doubt, saying "forward!" to the men pushing cannons up the icy slopes in the background. Had Instagram been around back then, he could have easily captioned this picture with "#LikeABoss".
The realist portait, by Paul Delaroche some 50 years later, is much different: no rearing white horse, no isolated whirlwind, no circle of fire. Everyone just looks tired, wet, and cold.
And that's what romance is: a filter. There is a romantic way of viewing the world, of taking in all the color, motion, and passion of the moment. To believe that these things are, in fact, present to begin with and worthwhile. "What is today?" the romantic ponders. Well, today is another opportunity to continue the grand quest--whether that is reaching some life-long dream, finding true love, changing the world or even one life, creating something meaningful that will outlive ourselves. And so our feet hit the floor with a sense of urgency and excitement. 
the realist portrait of Napoleon Crossing the AlpsWe don't simply listen to music on our commute to work, we soundtrack it with sounds that inspire and energize us. We don't just finish our workout and go on with the day, Instagram a sticky after shot saying #ImAChampion--yet another victory. And we don't dare show up to the one's we love empty handed, because we're living happily ever after. Today is another scene in a hero's journey.
The truth is, it's Tuesday. The gym is not a gladiator's stadium, and your home is not a castle. There are no dragons and damsels, and few pure "happily ever afters". For the most part, life is one long, exhausting, cold, icy slope, and we've all got something to push to the top. But romance is to see more than that--to see color and beauty, meaning and motion.
For Those Who Insist On Believing,
Andre
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 11:01AM Comedy makes the truth a little more palatable.
I suppose all artforms have that power.
For those who insist on believing,
Andre
Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 11:04AM 
Here's how it went down...
Just before moving to NYC, I picked up a book entitled The Relevant Nation which featured 30 leaders, artists, and activists that are making a siginificant mark on society.
Brooklyn-based producer and hopeless romantic Kieran Kelly was among these revolutionaries. He's produced the likes of Sufjan Stevens and Angus and Julia Stone (he didn't produce the songs I posted here, I just wanted you to hear what these guys sound like, cause they're awesome). He's produced records that have sold millions worldwide. And if you hadn't googled him, you'd never know, because he's sooo down to earth.
I decided to reach out to him and see if he might be able to help me make some music. We met at a bakery near his recording studio in Astoria, and chatted about music over coffee and pastries. But, for whatever reason I can't remember, we didn't decide to get to work.
We'd check-in in the years that followed, but it wasn't until I reached out to him a few weeks ago that it became obvious that now is the time.
As I've been slowly realizing just how powerful my voice is, especially in song, I've been feeling a desperate need to make some new records. Records that will tell people about more than the ups and downs of my love life (even though I know how we love nothing more than to hear others whine about their heartaches--why is there still no font for sarcasm?). I wanted to put out something more meaningful for a world that is desperately struggling to stay hopeful. An EP for our times in history, and through another amazing process (that I don't have time to tell you about here) I came across songs that I'd already written that had clearly impacted people's lives in profound ways, but had either not been produced well or produced at all...
Exhibit A (this was long ago, so don't be all judgy judgy):
I sent him an e-mail:
Not only was he excited to work with me on making this project happen, he thought to see if his team would be interested in financing the project. Why? Well, the project brings some exciting prospects beyond making interesting musical sounds. I wouldn't even know where to begin. We just know that, as the sound of soul music continues to evolve, the substance of songs like these are an important part of the future of the genre.
"Someone may say they don't like the material, but if they say they don't like what your saying then, I'd say they have some serious questions to ask themselves," he says with a slight chuckle over breakfast in a colorful Astoria diner, "that's what I wanna' be a part of...hope...and light!" I can't even begin to tell you how exhilirating and releiving it is to find someone who shares a common vision with you from the start.
He said he could produce this project quickly and affordably--in about a month, for a few thousand dollars, and we should start right away. "start right away" was fine by me. thousand? that's the word that catches me every time. Making music costs thousands of dollars.
Either I would have to pay for it out of pocket, I'd have to crowd-fund, or I'd need an investor. Option A would leave me hungry. Option B would be exhausting and incredibly risky. Option C seemed impossible.
My pastor gave me some of the greatest advice I've recieved this year as we ate lunch at one of Harlem's favorite new restaurants. "Andre, you don't have the money to do this. So don't have the money." She was telling me not to throw my grocery money at this project. Because she knows me well, and knew that is exactly what I was willing to do.
"Just ask God to give you the money," she said.
So I did.
Every day.
And I asked all of the hopeless romantics that pray to pray with me...
And now I'm reviewing the contract to record my next EP professionally, without personal cost to me.
I'll keep you posted on what happens from here...
Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 11:01AM 
It's okay if it does.
If hope is a flame, then passion is the wind to fuel it.
Not the type of passion that moves us to say, “I want that really badly”,
but the type of passion that makes us willing to make sacrifices.
After all, passion comes from a Latin word meaning “to suffer”.
Check out this article from James Rhodes, Find What You Love and Let it Kill You.
Monday, April 29, 2013 at 03:28PM 
Failure means you've been doing something essential
...trying.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 07:35AM 
Don't you want something?
There must be some wind at your back.
Some dream, some goal, some burden.
There must be something beckoning you toward the horizon.
Calling you to some new world yet to be confirmed.
If only you could demand that you wake up to your dreams.
If only tantrums were enough.
If only destiny paid any attention to the entitled.
No. The only way there is The Quest.
Step after step.
Beginning with this one.
Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 03:50PM 
On this "good" Friday, I reflect on two things: First, the fact that AFTER sharing the Passover meal, the 12 disciples say, "NOW we believe..."
After nearly 3 years of walking with Jesus, seeing His miracles, receiving His teaching, and even performing similar works as Him, under His guidance. Some of them even saw Him transfigured, speaking with Moses and Elijah. All of that apparently wasn't convincing enough. And just before we can get excited about "Now we believe..." every one of them abandon Him in His most painful hour.
Yet Jesus was eager to share this last meal--this new covenant, kingdom-initiating meal--with those who weren't sure what they believed about Him. With those who obviously didn't really get Him, or the kingdom He was trying to build, or doubted Him, or those who had even been demonically inspired to betray Him.
Have we forgotten the types of people that Jesus is eager to table with? Apparently the guest list is not limited to those with all of their theological ducks is a row, or to those who are 100% certain of their beliefs, or those who can watch and pray for an hour. It's apparently not limited to those who would never betray a friend, or cut off a man's ear, or steal from a small non-profit organization whose only goal is to make earth more like heaven. It's apparently not limited to those with impressive occupational or religious resumes, or those who have never belonged to anarchist groups.
This day is a time of celebration, because we acknowledge that God has also invited us to table. But it is also a time of repentance, as we reflect on the many ways we have excluded others from hearing God's invitation to the table. Are we better than any of these men whom abandoned God thousands of years ago? How quickly we forget that only God's kindness has called us into His company--gorging ourselves on bread and wine, while we tell other sinners they are not welcome to join us! Why must they pass all kinds of tests that WE didn't before they can receive God's grace?
It's a good Friday, because God is eagerly inviting people to eat with Him, and the guest list is scandalous.
