Andy Clockwise

Andy Clockwise
Andy Clockwise Performs at The Echo, Los Angeles, California
Background information
Birth name	Andy Kelly
Also known as	Andy Clockwise
Born	Sydney, Australia
Genres	Alternative dance, indie, nu-folk, new wave, post punk, folk, classic pop, rock, electronic, theatre
Occupation	Songwriter performer multi-instrumentalist producer actor writer
Years active	2005–present
Labels	ABC Music Universal Music Publishing Exhibition Records
Website	http://www.andyclockwise.org

Andy Clockwise (born Andy Kelly) is an Australian-born, Los Angeles-based musician, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for his energetic live performances and eclectic sound. Clockwise gained recognition with his EP Song Exhibition and albums Classic FM and The Socialite, featuring standout tracks like "Every Song," "Dancing World," and "Love & War." Following a Triple J feature album spot in November 2005, he embarked on national headline tours across Australia and the U.S. and performed alongside acts like Warpaint, Julian Casablancas, and Juliette Lewis. Known for his sell-out residencies at the Troubadour and Spaceland in LA, Clockwise has become recognized as an influential figure in indie music. He is noted for his innovative approach to solo production and songwriting and was a pioneer of DIY home recording. Clockwise has released multiple EPs and full-length albums, blending genres and earning acclaim for his creative work, including collaborations such as "Open Relationship" featuring Stella Mozgawa.

Early Years

Andy Clockwise was born Andy Kelly in Sydney, Australia, into an artistic family. Although little is publicly known about his early life, Clockwise has noted that his upbringing was influenced by his sisters and father, who introduced him to folk, punk rock, and classical music. A precocious talent, he demonstrated skill on multiple instruments from an early age. Clockwise attended the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he began a Bachelor of Music Composition. During this period, he regularly performed three-hour acoustic sets in Sydney’s Kings Cross. After gaining early support from Triple J, which began to feature his music, he left university to pursue a solo career.

Band history

2004–2007: Song Exhibition EP, Classic FM Double Album, and National Tour

Andy Clockwise first gained attention with his Song Exhibition EP, which he recorded independently at the house of fellow musician Bertie Blackman’s mother while Blackman was working on her own debut EP. Following this release in 2004, Clockwise recorded a double concept album, Classic FM, inspired by an imaginary radio station. He wrote, produced, engineered, and mixed Classic FM in his home studio, embracing a DIY approach. The album was selected as a Triple J Feature Album, significantly boosting his profile and leading to a sold-out headline tour across Australia. During these years, Clockwise began to build a reputation for his energetic live shows, selling out iconic Sydney venues like the Hopetoun and the Annandale Hotel.

2007–2011: Move to Los Angeles, Are You Well?, and The Socialite

After a stint in New York theatre, Andy Clockwise moved to Los Angeles following a meeting and decided to stay permanently. Describing the experience as "starting again," he said, "I bought Christmas lights for my acoustic guitar and started playing anywhere and everywhere." Within a year, Clockwise had gained traction in the Los Angeles live music scene, securing a Monday night headline slot at Spaceland in Silverlake. His performances began receiving airplay on local radio stations KCRW and KROQ, eventually leading to sold-out shows at notable venues, including the Troubadour and The El Rey Theatre, in support of his independently released EPs.

In 2010, Clockwise released Are You Well? as a promotional radio EP for the U.S. To support the album, he toured with Julian Casablancas, frontman of The Strokes. In February 2011, his single "Love and War" was featured on an episode of the CW drama 90210, and the EP also included his popular live cover of Björk's "Hyperballad."

Later in 2011, Clockwise released the studio album The Socialite, which received critical praise, with The Daily Telegraph calling him "so talented it's almost unfair." The album included the single "Love and War," which reached the top of the North American radio charts, and "The Casanova (Remember Love)," featured in an episode of CSI: Miami in May 2011.

2012–2017: Dancing World and The Good Book EPs

Andy Clockwise’s 2013-14 EP Dancing World was shaped by his experiences both on the road and in the United States. Clockwise described the EP as "a pop musical ode to dysfunctionality" and added, "It's about the wars we put each other through." The music blended elements of folk and electronic styles. To promote the EP, Clockwise toured with bands such as The Adicts and Warpaint. The singles "Steam Dream" and "Murphy's Law" received extensive airplay on Los Angeles radio stations KROQ, Alt-98.7, and KCRW, while "Hopeless," featuring Holly Valance, garnered thousands of plays on SoundCloud. The EP’s lead single, "Dancing World," circulated on specialty radio in Los Angeles and was featured on over 60 stations across North America, reaching #12 on the FMQB Specialty Radio Chart.

In 2015, Clockwise began DJing at various clubs around Los Angeles while continuing to work on new music. During this period, he recorded material across locations in Hollywood, Australia, and London for his next project, The Good Book EP, which he described as "a celebration about the lies we tell ourselves and a comment on the fleeting nature of existence."

The video for the EP’s first single, "Open Relationship," premiered in Interview Magazine in November 2015. The single, inspired by a friend's personal experience, was characterized as “LCD Soundsystem-meets-’80s disco and funk.” In early 2016, Clockwise embarked on a North American tour as a special guest for "Dance Yourself Clean," performing sold-out shows in cities such as Washington D.C., San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta, Brooklyn, and San Diego. In March 2016, he was invited to perform at an official showcase at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference. The Good Book was released on April 8, 2016, through Exhibition Records, featuring singles such as "The Best," which [Insert Source] described as "beginning with a full synth bath" and evolving into "existential and intimate utterances... illustrated among ear-worm keyboard hooks."

2018- Present: "War Stories" & Exhibition Records

In 2018 Clockwise retreated from public life after the death of his mother and started penning a musical "The Moth Requiem" and working on a 4 Volume album "War Stories" that will be released in its entirety in 2025. It was originally slated for a release with an extensive tour of the United States in 2021, but the 40 date tour was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andy retreated to his farm outside of Sydney and started producing and writing for other artists during this period.

War Stories spans several volumes and 36 tracks of classic pop/new wave/folk and 80s post-punk. Made in his Hollywood Hills studio in LA and Boulevard Recording, as well as during stints in London and Sydney, it features work by Omar Yakar, Drew Erickson, JT Thomas, Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint, Kurt Vile) and Jade Macrae. This will be accompanied by the re-release of Andy's catalogue to streaming services.

In 2020-2022, Clockwise teased songs and videos to War Stories, his new album, along with a single, “Gonna Get It (Just What We Deserve)”. He was the sole producer of this album.

Andy has announced a return to playing live in the United States in March 2023 and will return to full time performance in 2025.

Music style

Andy Clockwise cites Charlie Chaplin, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Björk, The Pixies, David Bowie, and Nick Cave as influences. Also, Dire Straits and Lijadu Sisters were mentioned as influences during an interview with Y! Entertainment. Clockwise's music has been compared to LCD Soundsystem and Nick Cave and described as "refreshingly soulful and unabashedly experimental". He came out of the nu-folk/indie rock movements of Sydney & Los Angeles.

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected details

Title	Details
Classic FM	Released: 2005 Format: CD, Digital Label: Fly Music, Warner Music Australia (5101105852)
The Socialite	Released: 2010 Format: CD, Digital Label: ABC Music (2736570)

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details

Title	Details
Song Exhibition	Released: 2004 Format: CD Label: Shock (ACW001)
Dancing World	Released: 2014 Format: CD, Digital Label: Andy Clockwise
The Good Book	Released: 2016 Format: CD, Digital Label: Andy Clockwise

Touring Musicians

• Alisha Fraher – Bass, Guitar, Keys, Vocals
• Jamie Douglass – Drums
• Mathew Gardner - Drums
• Stella Mozgawa - Drums
• Josh Norton - Bass, Guitar, Keys, Vocals

External links

• Official website