Swedish native, Andreas Stone has been playing the piano and singing since he was 6 years old. Continuously, developing his musical education- starting in secondary school and growing as a gospel folk pianist. This experience lead him to play throughout the afro American church in Chicago, USA. Additionally, completing a bachelor’s degree in music at the Malmo Musical University where he focused on pop/ rock courses. To date, Andreas’s music has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and has been given 40 official Japanese and Korean number 1’s and 2’s as well as several Japanese Grammy’s.
“If I Was Holding You”, is a heartfelt country song about friendship and love. Exploring the risks and barriers of trying to change perspectives. Andreas gracefully describes how intimidating it can be to let a friend know you see them as more without ruining what the bond you currently share, ultimately getting out of the ‘friendzone’. The song was created on a cold Swedish autumn day after Andreas reached out to his closest friend, Marty Dodson, asking him to collaborate on this passionate single. Together they created a song with traditional and modern elements. Beginning, light and melodic acoustics. A memorable fusion of pop and country as Andreas incorporates his soulful tenor vocals. The duo was inspired by; Rascal Flatts, Bryan White, and Lonestar while writing such an intimate and touching piece. Yet another inspirational piece by Stone and a real tear-jerker.
Listen to "If I Was Holding You" here.
Hi Andreas and welcome to BuzzMusic! Thank you for creating such an intimate piece. What made you reach out to Marty to collaborate on this song?
Thank you so much for having me and thank you for your kind words. Well, I used to go a lot to Nashville between 2009 and 2015 but haven’t been there lately. But I’m gonna go there more often starting from 2020. Anyways, Marty is a good friend of mine and we have written lots of songs together. So it felt natural to reach out to him asking if he wanted to write lyrics for this song. I absolutely love writing lyrics myself too, but country lyrics are such a craft and very specific and Marty’s one of the best in my opinion.
“If I Was Holding You”, is so emotionally stirring, was it written for anyone in particular or about a past experience?
This song is written about a past experience yes. My first ”working sketch” was done in a period when I was very sad. A lost love story like so many others, haha.
Out of all your pieces which has been the most challenging, musically and lyrically to create and why?
Wow, this is a very tough question. I believe every genre and piece has its own challenges, both musically and lyrically. I don’t think any genre is easier or harder to do. Of course, genres based on a lot of acoustic/organic instruments with storytelling lyrics are challenging and demands a lot of its musicians. But a very simplistic EDM song can be equally challenging just because it’s minimalistic and that it can be super hard to find something that sticks out. But to try and answer your question I’d say that my last single ”Never Got To Say Goodbye” that I wrote with my dear friend Ricky Hanley was very demanding and challenging. Originally we wrote it when his father passed away, as a dedication for him. Later it was cut by a big Korean group called EXO as a Christmas song entitled ”Miracles In December” that did very well. Then a few years later released my own version of it, I had a lot of expectations to live up to and also the fact that I wanted to make the song justice based on whom it was written for.
Given your focus on pop and rock genres, what motivated you fuse country into this “If I Was Holding You”?
I’ve always loved all genres. I grew up in Arlöv outside of Malmö, Sweden and was born in 1981. So when I was a kid, I listened to a lot of 80’s pop and rock stuff. Now when I’m closer to 40 I’ve come to notice that modern country very often sounds the same but without the 80s sounds, hahaha. But melodically and chordwise it’s often similar. Might be why?!
Thanks for chatting with us. We are moved by your work, all of us at BuzzMusic are wondering what can we expect from you next?
Thank you so much. I’m honored to be interviewed by you at BuzzMusic. Well, I’ve only just begun. I have so many dreams and goals ahead. I just love writing music. To sing and produce and hopefully touch people and if I’m really fortunate to leave a mark of my own. I will do my best to write as good songs as I can. What comes from the heart reaches the heart!