Andy Fediw, co-founder of one of Kinderhook (one of New Jersey’s most enduring Americana bands), is stepping out on his own with his debut solo release Unfinished Business. The eight-song collection by the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is available through his website, including in CD format, and is available on all digital platforms.
“This album is a return to my roots: The Band, The Byrds, Poco and Buffalo Springfield are the bands that caught my attention early in my journey. Doc Watson and Earl Scruggs on the bluegrass side,” says the New Jersey native, who now resides in Bloomfield. “I write about what I experienced and observed along the way, so the songs tend to be personal at the core, but things that everyone can relate to.”
Unfinished Business features the heartfelt ballad “If I Knew”, the up-tempo “Is It Too Late” and plenty of snap, crackle and pop throughout. Fediw, who wrote all the songs, handles lead vocals, bass, piano and accordion. He co-produced the album with Kinderhook bandmate Gary Oleyar, who contributed violin, guitars and vocals. Jim Ryan, also of Kinderhook, played pedal steel, dobro and slide guitar, and former Kinderhook guitarist Joe Breitenbach contributed on two tracks. (Fediw stresses that he continues to work with Kinderhook.)
There also are two songs with a political tone: “The Wall”, which is about barriers and changes in the United States; and the comical “What the Frack” – which clearly pans the process of fracking to obtain energy.
“Some of my songs are too political for the band [Kinderhook]. Others are ballads that have been sitting on the shelf for way too long,” Fediw explains. “Kinderhook never quite got there commercially. Getting my original music out there has been the single focus of my life since my late teens. I may be an optimist, but I still have hope that it will happen.”
The industry already is taking notice: Fediw recently signed with Westwood Music Group, a publisher in Florida; and “Is It Too Late” has been accepted for licensing by Weget Artists/Music Supervisor Inc.
“I’m hoping that this release gets me some attention as a writer. I would love to have other artists cover some of my songs on their own albums, or have the songs used in TV or film,” says the affable Fediw. “I would like nothing more than writing and recording full time again.”
He certainly had help in Oleyar’s Sonoma Beach Studios in Clark, NJ, where “Gary and Jimmy Ryan really outdid themselves. We’ve been talking about putting together an acoustic trio to play some of these tunes out. Either way, we’ll be doing some videos.” And there remains more “Unfinished Business.”
“Unfinished Business is an ongoing project to bring as many of my songs that have been sitting on the shelf to the studio and to the public. Two more tracks are in the can already,” says Fediw, a Newarknative. “I truly believe there is a market for this music.”
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