Andrew Mech

Andrew Christopher Mech is a Montreal born singer/songwriter multi-instrumentalist based in Toronto. His music is a melodic organic blend of Folk, Rock, Country, Blues and Pop.

Andrew’s career in the music business began back in 1987 in London, England at the PRS (Performing Rights Society).

A year later, Andrew returned to Toronto where he began working for music publisher, Warner/Chappell. Andrew spent 12 years working in almost every department of their Canadian operation.

In 1992, Andrew was promoted to Creative Manager of Special Projects. In this capacity he continued to negotiate the catalogue and began to pitch songs for use in motion pictures, television productions and commercials, working closely with music supervisors, directors and creatives at advertising agencies. Andrew successfully placed many songs in films and commercials.

In 1994 Andrew was appointed to head the Film & TV Music Department and under his management the company’s synchronization royalty income increased by 111% within a 1 year period and by 344% within a 4 year period.

In 2000, Andrew was appointed Director of Creative Services where he did double-duty by heading the company’s Film & TV Music and their A&R (Artists & Repertoire) Department. He worked closely with many international and domestic songwriters and recording artists including Ron Sexsmith and Moby. Andrew also recorded pre-production demos at his Toronto based studio for Ron Sexsmith’s Cobblestone Runaway album.

During his 12 year tenure at Warner/Chappell, Andrew represented and negotiated on behalf of hundreds of songwriters including such legends as: Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Sheryl Crow, Michael Jackson, Robbie Robertson, Daniel Lanois, Madonna, James Brown, Barry White and the Estates of Irving Berlin, George & Ira Gershwin and Elvis Presley.

In 2002 Andrew began to focus more time on writing and recording music and performed at many musical venues including the Mont Tremblant Music Festival. His services have also been contracted by both the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival).

Andrew has worked for TIFF for the past 7 years as an Audio Engineer/Technical Representative. While working at TIFF, Andrew has worked with and recorded an impressive group of A-list directors, actors and musicians including: Francis Ford Coppola, Sir Ridley Scott, Phil Donahue, Chris Rock, Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon, Michael Caine and Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam).

In 2005 Andrew entered the songs “Silver Wound Strings” (co-written with Lorne Ryder) and “I Don’t Know” (co-written with Derek Atherton) in the International Songwriting Competition and the Billboard Songwriting Competition. Of the 15,000 entries in the International Songwriting Competition, “I Don’t Know” went on to make it to the semi-finals. Judges from the competition included Macy Gray, Tom Waits, Loretta Lynn and LeAnn Rimes. That same year “Silver Wound Strings” received an Honourable Mention in the Billboard Songwriting Competition.

In November 2009 Andrew performed at the legendary Bluebird Café in Nashville. He has been busy writing songs and has now begun pre-production on his debut album tentatively scheduled for release in 2011.