ANDREW FARSTAR
“I Don’t Want to Lose Your Love (Remix)”
“Top of The World”
“Sealed With A Kiss”
“A House Is Not A Home”
“Walk On By”
“You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me”
“Cry Me A River”
Singles reviewed by Mike O’Cull, independent music journalist. www.mikeocull.com
Andrew Farstar is a songwriter, vocalist, and music producer based in Australia with a smooth and individual style encompassing Pop, Jazz, EDM, and light Classical. He also has a background in sacred music and sings in multiple languages. Farstar has been steadily releasing music for the last few years and has garnered many positive reviews of his work, received much radio airplay, and built a strong online base of fans. Today, we’re going to spend some time spinning seven of his singles, all cover songs, that are available on all major streaming platforms and that demonstrate Farstar’s ability to interpret great songs and make them his own.
“I Don’t Want To Lose Your Love (Remix)” is a gentle and heartfelt retelling of the John O’Banion original. The track shows Farstar at his emotive best and is among his most popular songs. It has that “big movie soundtrack” feel mainstream audiences love and is a fine showcase of Farstar’s vocal ability.
“Top Of The World” finds Farstar giving the Sinatra treatment to The Carpenter’s classic, infusing it with a bouncy Big Band arrangement that makes this happy song sound even happier. Andrew has the right feel for this style and, if you loved Songs For Swingin’ Lovers, you’ll find this immediately attractive. It will start your morning off right, that’s for sure.
Bobby Vinton’s “Sealed With A Kiss” is treated to an almost Latin Jazz rendering that ups the emotional ante considerably from Vinton’s version and installs a slinky, late-night vibe to the song that works well. Farstar’s voice suits this cut nicely and he shines throughout. Play after midnight to feel the full effect.
Farstar turns in a gorgeous version of the Bacharach and David gem “A House Is Not A Home” that will pull at your heart and make you feel the loneliness of the lyric. This is another one meant for the wee, small hours of the morning and it seems as if Andrew is whispering the words into your ear so as not to wake the neighbors.
“Walk On By” finds Farstar channeling Dionne Warwick’s effortless 60s pop brilliance through an updated arrangement that’s as subtle as it is captivating. He has a wonderful touch for this sort of material that includes the restraint required to let the song, itself, take center stage. Where many singers would push too hard, Farstar keeps everything in the pocket and delivers emotion.
Farstar also does fine work on a lushly orchestrated take on Dusty Springfield’s “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” that’s a bit muted compared to the Wall of Sound production of the original and again puts Farstar into Sinatra territory. This version accentuates the lyric more than Springfield’s does and makes the sentiments expressed the focus of attention.
“Cry Me A River,” written by Arthur Hamilton and popularized by Julie London in 1955, is one of the greatest torch songs of all time and Farstar keeps it burning all night long. He communicates the song’s sadness and resignation extremely well and will hold you spellbound from end to end. This is a particularly good choice of cover song for Andrew and he fits it perfectly.
Andrew Farstar definitely has what it takes to achieve mainstream pop success. He’s been compared to Josh Groban, Michael Buble, and Air Supply and fans of that kind of accessible artistry will find a great deal to like about what he has going on. Anyone who grooves on the smoother side of contemporary music should seek him out.
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY:
"I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOUR LOVE (REMIX)": https://open.spotify.com/track/1YitRl7wmG13KyKgBJvMAi
"TOP OF THE WORLD": https://open.spotify.com/track/0jJ5LaHydVEQGu5NqLbT0v
"SEALED WITH A KISS": https://open.spotify.com/album/6wernUqL0KtTfUpdbkNEWU?si=kZ1Mlf0TQRCBoIsZyoOtxg
"A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME": https://open.spotify.com/album/0mXb1E1LsYjy5O8dGvagTu
"WALK ON BY": https://open.spotify.com/album/0oOJH6FXle7hETTNnMcT6l
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME": https://open.spotify.com/album/0H9SAGE7tK4iKJQfUrHHcC
"CRY ME A RIVER": https://open.spotify.com/album/7bU7xRBs55d2QA8fgUumtH
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.andrewfarstar.net/