Snow Caps - Notes (SM062)

Snow Caps is the musical project of Philadelphia songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Keller (they/he/she). Andrew's deeply personal lyrics and bizarre, beautiful melodies combine to create music that transcends genre. Writing songs is a tenet of Andrew's daily life that has helped them learn more about themself: they consider Snow Caps "diary music." A friend once said that Snow Caps is music for anyone who has ever had a feeling.

Andrew has contributed deeply to various musical projects in the Philadelphia DIY scene over the years. She played guitar and viola in the band Hermit Thrushes for 14 years. He also collaborated with songwriter Emily Bate in the band Jonagold. They have performed with Folklore, Scott Churchman, Will Henriksen, Foxy Doxies, and most recently, Shanda. They are influenced by many fellow artists on the Philadelphia record label Single Girl Married Girl, who has put out four prior Snow Caps releases. Moondog, Philip Glass, Arthur Russell, and Kate Bush are also pivotal influences.
Andrew's first ideas for "Notes" came during a weekend trip to the beach with some friends in September 2021, the first time that they left the house for more than a few hours after receiving their first covid vaccination. The titles for the songs came to him while drawing, a recent addition to his daily art practice. The song "Lemon eye" was originally intended to be part of a correspondence project with Pittsburgh musician Brian Hecht (Radon Chong, Skinless Boneless) and although "Notes" eventually evolved into a solo venture, Brian's musical influence remains evident in the compositions. In a somewhat dream-like state, while on walks along nearby Cobbs Creek, Andrew processed the ideas that would comprise this album.

Andrew started playing piano on their own at age 3, violin at age seven, and guitar in middle school. She learned more about avant-garde and experimental music through playing in the band Hermit Thrushes with friend and songwriter Yianni Kourmadas, which influenced Andrew to start writing their own songs. The first Snow Caps album, Baby Bird, was released in 2008, bringing together the pop sensibilities, atypical rhythms, and odd time signatures and soundscapes that would define the project through the next five full-length albums. An English major in college and avid reader, Andrew's music has been influenced by literature, notably authors like Gertrude Stein, Virginia Woolf, Edmund White, and Elena Ferrante. Andrew held the position of senior editor at the literary journal Painted Bride Quarterly for almost a decade. Their approach to live performance was shaped by completing a Pochinko clowning workshop with Donna Oblongata in 2016. This month-long intensive showed Andrew how to have more fun in creative pursuits, leading to a more playful nature in viewing trauma and life in general. Mental health has always been an important theme in Snow Caps: Andrew was diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder (bipolar type) shortly before starting the project. Her music also deals with personal feelings on sexuality and gender along with ongoing environmental and societal collapse.

Written and recorded by Andrew Keller

Mixed by Lucas Knapp

Drums Refinished by Caulfield Scnug

Mastered by Dan Angel

Artwork by Emily Royer (emilyroyer.net)

Proceeds benefit Hook and Loop a
Philly-based, accessible artist collective led by Disabled people.