Andrew W.K.

Andrew W.K.’s true will is to create feelings of pure joy, true fun, total love, endless freedom, and infinite possibility. He strives to reach as many people as possible, using music, performance, visual art, lecturing, writing, nightclubs, television, and many other methods. After self-releasing 2 EPs, Andrew signed to Island/Def Jam and released his debut full-length, I Get Wet, in 2001. Magazines worldwide discussed, dismantled, and deconstructed and the point of the music, the intensity of the entire experience, and the “true” nature of Andrew and his motives. The I Get Wet World Tour would continue for 3 years and over 500 concerts. In the midst of this non-stop schedule, Andrew recorded and released his second album, The Wolf, in 2004. At the close of the year, Andrew began work on the massive WHO KNOWS? live-concert movie, where more than 300 hours of live concert footage, spanning 1992-2004, was condensed into a rapid-fire viewing experience. Due to an uncongenial parting with this manager in late 2005, Andrew was contractually prohibited from releasing CDs of his new music in the United States. Subsequently, Andrew’s third album, Close Calls With Brick Walls, was released on CD exclusively in Asia. In the US, a vinyl-only edition of the album was released on Load Records in August 2007.

Starting in 2007 he accepted invitations to speak as a free form lecturer at both New York University and the Cooper Union School in New York City. He continued with a series of solo appearances – sometimes incorporating live music and spontaneous dance – and has declared this to be a natural extension as a performer. 2007 also saw the first Andrew W.K. solo party tour, in which Andrew drove a Cadillac through the west coast of Canada and the US, all along the way stopping in each town to have a nightly party. The “High-Way Party Cruiser Tour” went to Los Angeles, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, and Calgary. In addition, Andrew appeared at blow-out parties in Boston and New York, including The Misshapes Don Hill’s party, where he gave a special solo performances. In addition to producing his own music, Andrew produces and mixes music for other artists, including Wolf Eyes, SIGHTINGS, and Lee “Scratch” Perry. In spring of 2008, Andrew and three partners opened a two-level 8,000 square foot dance club and music venue in Chinatown, Manhattan, New York City, Santo’s Party House. The club has quickly become the favorite spot for music lovers and culture vultures, having won awards like “Best Nightclub” (Paper Magazine), “Best New Venue” (Village Voice), “Best Sound System” (The L Magazine), “Best New Bar” (Metromix), and many, many more. In November 2008, Andrew and Universal Music International announced the release of three new, Japan-only Andrew W.K. collections: a “Best Of” collection, an album of Andrew’s ringtone recordings of Japanese pop hits, and a 2-CD Premium Collection, containing both of the other albums. Novemember 2008 also saw the release of Andrew’s first book, released exclusively in Japan, I Will Change Your Life, featuring over 100 questions and answers from Andrew’s 5 year long advice column with Rockin’ On magazine. In February of 2009, Andrew formed the record label, “SKYSCRAPER MUSIC MAKER,” based in Manhattan and London. The first release for the label was the promotional compilation CD, DAMN! The Mixtape Vol. 1, featuring Andrew’s work as a producer for Skyscraper Music Maker artists Bad Brilliance, Aleister X, and more. In the summer of 2009, the Cartoon Network announced that Andrew would be hosting and creating music for a new live-action TV program called Destroy Build Destroy. The show features Andrew working with teams of teenagers, competing to “blow stuff up and use the wreckage to build amazing machines.” The show premiered in late June, 2009. In the fall, W.K. released the Japan-only Gundam Rock (covers from the Gundam anime TV series), as well as an album of improvised piano pieces titled 55 Cadillac. Earlier this year, Close Calls With Brick Walls finally received a US CD release, along with the rare & unreleased tracks compilation, Mother of Mankind. This summer, Andrew W.K. will be performing on the entire Vans Warped Tour.