Andrew Neil’s aspirations for music did not emerge in the way he originally intended. Born on August 9, 1988, Andrew Neil was originally a high school athlete, as well as a US Military Academy recruit. It seemed as though his life was meant to take a different direction—at least until a traumatic head injury in 2009 led him to pen original compositions and set him on the path to music. Now the head of Andrew Neil & Code Purple, the alternative rock band is set to release their latest single, “Houston,” on March 29, 2024.
The anticipated track showcases Andrew Neil & Code Purple’s signature trend of using imaginative storytelling and raw emotions, in which science-fiction, personal turmoil, and romantic entanglements are woven into a captivating narrative. The lyrics—which were penned by Neil himself—offer a poignant exploration of the human condition, all set on the backdrop of the cosmos and introspection.
The lyrics—which begin with lines such as Houston, we have a problem / pretty girls their hearts I rob them—illustrate the unfortunate end of a relationship, which Andrew writes kept him “higher than outer space.”
“But what goes up must come down, and it came down,” he goes on to explain.
With Andrew Neil’s distinct vocals, and Code Purple’s dynamic instrumentation, their single “Houston” is a fresh perspective on the complexities of not only human emotion, but a quest for emotional longing. With “Houston,” Andrew Neil & Code Purple travel beyond the realm of the ordinary, in which they use themes of science-fiction, personal transformation, and the cultural mythology of the American West to create a narrative that connects with the listener on a deeper level.
Andrew Neil’s evolution from his traumatic injury—which further shows the testament to the transformative and healing power of music—to a successful alternative rock bandleader shows that passion can carry someone further than they could have ever thought possible. With a musical journey that began with “Code Purple,” a lo-fi piece that was recorded within the walls of a psychiatric hospital, Andrew’s subsequent studio albums—such as Merry Go Round (2018), Freak (2019), Sunny Side (2021) and Alien (2022)—reveal a resilience and creativity that transcends not just ambition, but illness, especially amid his battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2019.
Though the band initially experimented with their sound by recording and releasing the lo-fi track “I Like,” two former members had to step down. However, by the time August 2023 rolled around, Andrew Neil & Code Purple—now with a refreshed lineup—spent four days at White Star Sound Studios in Louisa, Virginia, during which time they recorded twelve original tracks. From those twelve, nine were selected to be part of their debut album Resurrection, which marked a significant milestone in the band’s musical narrative.
Beyond the music studio, Andrew’s forthcoming book chronicles his battle with mental illness as well as cancer, offering fans of the band an even deeper glimpse of the artist and his creative process through his enduring battle with illness. Andrew Neil’s remarkable journey, marked by resilience and an unwavering passion for music, illustrates how even the most profound challenges can be transformed into avenues of creativity and success.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
