Meet Andrew Isbell

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andrew Isbell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andrew below.

Hi Andrew, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I think “purpose” is a fluid thing – working in music is the thing I am the most passionate about, but calling it my purpose always feels scary. Working in the arts can be really volatile, and if I define myself too much based on how that feels, I’m often left feeling unstable. Some weeks or months can be so great, filled with tons of work and good ideas, and then the next can be a desert and you’re scrambling to make sure rent can get paid. It’s not exactly the most forgiving line of work! So when I think about my “purpose”, I think more of my family and friends, my wife and our time together, being out in nature etc.. Those things aren’t going anywhere. Whether or not I feel fulfilled from my work (which changes on a daily basis), I always have those people and those places that recharge me. For the music I make, and the role I play in other artists’ music, I don’t have much to offer if I’m not staying consistent in the things that recharge me, and remind me why I’m doing it all. So I guess my purpose is to live my life, and create art as a response. At least that’s how I’m feeling today! I try to limit the big, permanent statements about myself these days. People are always changing, I’m always changing, but I think the most important thing is to prioritize what makes you happy and fulfilled.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My name is Andrew, I’m 28 years old and I’m a music producer working in Nashville. I’m also the drummer for Judah & The Lion, and a former member of a group called The Band CAMINO. These days, I split my time between touring with Judah & The Lion and producing music at home in Nashville. Occasionally I’ll sub in on other tours where I’m needed as well. Most recently, I filled in on drums for Stephen Sanchez opening for Mumford and Sons in arenas across the US. Surrounding those tour dates, I’ve been quietly working on new music that I’m really proud of. I’m excited to share that work here. A little backstory first though:

My last 10 years of working in music has taken almost every shape it can; from being a member of an indie-pop band, to starting a solo singer-songwriter project, quitting almost all of it and working at Starbucks, finding my way back into music by touring as a tech, quitting my day jobs, working my way back to the stage to play drums for Judah & The Lion. It’s been a lot of ups and downs, a not uncommon sentiment shared by my friends in music!

Between all of these different things I’ve worked on, I’ve always written and produced music for myself and other artists. I’ve had some successes as a producer over the years; for example, my song “2/14” with The Band CAMINO has been streamed over 94 million times on Spotify alone, and one of my first releases as a solo artist has crossed 1 million streams as well. A big goal for me is to grow that part of my work, and focus solely on my studio work over the next couple of years.

So as the 2025 touring season has started winding down, I’ve shifted my focus to making more music. The goals for this new music are intentionally few; the main point is to create things that I love, collaborating with friends that I love, in a low pressure scenario. There’s not lots of eyes on this music yet, which is giving me the opportunity to make lots of things without thinking too hard about it. With that freedom has come some of my favorite music I’ve written, and now I’m excited to share it.

A few weeks ago I released my first solo song in a long time, called “Hard Work” and I’d love for you all to listen. It’s a simple song talking about how tough it can be to work in the arts, but that I wouldn’t trade it for anything. With the start of releasing this music, I’ve also starting making weekly videos showcasing what it’s like to work in the music industry. It’s an honest take with no frills, and sometimes not super glamorous. However, people seem to be enjoying the glimpse behind the scenes and it’s started some fun conversations. I’ve partnered with Shure to make some of the recent videos as well, which is my first time having a partner in the process. In addition to the weekly videos, when the next round of music comes out, I’ll be doing full length videos showcasing the process of making the songs from start to finish. I’m very excited about the music that we’re working on, and excited to give everyone a chance to see some behind the scenes stuff too.

These songs and these videos feel like a really rewarding way for me make good music and bring my friends together doing it. I’m very thankful for the help I’ve received so far, and for Shure helping out, and I’m looking forward to growing this into a bigger thing over time.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Asking for help is a valuable thing, that’s the first recommendation that comes to mind. Find areas where you need to improve, and reach out to ask for advice on that. In addition to reaching out for advice, reaching out for professional help also goes a long way, especially in music. The only reason I’ve been able to do what I have is because of my friends. They recommended me for things, talked my name up, but also helped teach me the skillsets to make it all happen. Within my friend group, it’s always felt like if one of us gets an awesome gig, we all do. Because that first person to get a leg up on the ladder reaches back and brings us all along too. So we’ve all been able to work our way up slowly as a group. Stick close to your friends and ask for help, and also give help out where you can too!

Also, there’s no replacement for practicing, really spending time becoming good at your craft. Especially on your specific instrument, if that’s your chosen route. But even as a producer or writer, the more time you spend completing projects, the better you get at using the tools at your disposal. And learning to produce new things gives you new tools to choose from and helps you refine your individual sound.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Right now I am actively looking for new artists to collaborate with – I love what me and my friends are making here in Nashville, and I’d love to include more people in it. That could mean joining up with us for whole projects, helping out with ideas for the studio videos, or writing sessions either in Nashville or on FaceTime. Anyone is welcome! If you’re interested, send an email to:

[email protected]

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Cooper Scobey, Mitch Ritter, Jesse Roberson, Harris Beauchamp

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