Andrea Hamilton

I WAS BORN SINGING. i made up songs before i could spell, and i performed for everyone who happened by the suburban Kansas house where i grew up. during a recent visit there, i found my old song notebook and a tune i wrote in 4th grade: Do Something Great. i guess i was writing it to myself because that?s still my life goal - to make the truest, bravest, most impactful music i possibly can. i want to write songs that reach into people?s hearts and lift them from life?s hard gray monotony into the pure blue sky that is melody...
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when i was 16, i won my first music award as one of The Gospel Music Association?s Top 20 New Writers. Since then i?ve had the humbling privilege of embarking on three tours in Asia, playing at the Esplanade in Singapore, Bar Fizz in Fukuoka, Japan, the world-renown El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, the Hotel Cafe, SoHO and many others. i?ve enjoyed immensely writing songs with Kevin Fisher (platinum writer for Rascal Flatts) and Alan Waddington (show producer for Gwen Stefani), and playing on Santa Barbara?s television series ?Musical Cafe? and on Park City Television, Utah. i had the honor of singing the national anthem at the presidential debates at L.A.?s Kodak Theatre (airing on CNN) in November 2008, and have shared the stage with Jars of Clay, Universal recording artist Tyrone Wells, Sam Harris (from NBC?s The Class), Sarah Groves from The Justice Tour, Kurt Elling, Broken Social Scene, Futures of Forestry, Molly Jenson, and my good indie-folk, West-coast-touring buddy, Valeri Lopez.
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because of an increasingly burning desire to touch the world with songs of hope and healing, my most special moments have been getting to play shows for charities and community benefits. these include: The Young Artists Grant, AIDS Service Center of Pasadena, The Dream Center Los Angeles, Charity for the Poor Africa, The Hope Center of Kansas City, Meinohamma Christian Center of Japan, Serve Day, Kansas City Juvenile Hall, Halogen for Missions, The La Canada YMCA, Revolution 626, Safe Haven of San Dimas, Plumb Line, Mosaic Cafe... and i hope there will be many more. lately i?ve been teaming up with producer Sue Hall and composing the soundtrack and score for her documentary on low income adolescence called ?Pearl in the Making,? and ? have gotten to contribute songs to the charity compilations Abrazos to Fight Against Cancer (available on iTunes) and The Union Rescue Mission?s documentary, ?NIMBY Comes Home.??
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almost three years ago, i began conducting interviews with women who had been through incredible and difficult journeys. i spoke with a woman who had emerged from a childhood of abuse and become a successful leader in the music industry. i had lunch with a cancer survivor/third-world missionary/prayer counselor. i took one of the highest ranking female navy officers to coffee. i felt that these interviews could add depth to my songs, and i knew it would make me a better person just to be around them; i knew it would open up my heart. but what i didn?t know was: it was preparing me for my own difficult journey... it was encouragement for the road ahead.
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in july 2009, an illness began surfacing in my body, and i began to basically fall apart. since space won?t allow for my gigantic stack of medical records to be recounted, i?ll just tell you the worst part: i was informed i would never sing for a career again... for me, that was more heartbreaking than the nerve pain, stomach injury, immune craziness and everything else combined!
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somehow through all of the confusion and hospital visits, a small section of my soul remained brave. it told me they were wrong, that i was born to sing - that i had to, no matter what, keep believing. at one point along the journey i made a decision to stop going to doctors. my mom continued to drive me to my chiropractor and one other alternative energy worker, because they were the only ones that seemed to believe in healing. on the days that my hands would move and my and eyesight would allow, i researched nutrition and alternative health. i found testimonies online from people who had experienced miracles. and i called up naturopathic doctors from all over the country, making them explain to me why my immune system was puttering out. and i PRAYED. louder than i ever had in my life. i thanked God for all He was teaching me and i asked for strength to endure so my story might inspire someone else when i?d gotten through this. i asked for more faith, and for science-defying healing so i that could sing again.?
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since then, there have been some more ups and downs, many more prayers, and more than a few crazy alternative treatments. but i?m in Los Angeles again; i?m typing, driving, eating solid food and composing again; and I?M SINGING AGAIN. i?m in the middle of a slow miracle - a mysterious journey deep into healing and hope and bravery - all the things i?ve wanted to write music about for so long. and another amazingly redeeming bonus: through the hardest season of my life, God has been the most real and present. and now that i have this crazy second chance at a music career, I?M ALL IN. i mean, if i was born to sing, then why not put all of my melodic, nerdy, honest self into it? :)
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thanks for listening.
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LOVE,?
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-andrea