BIOGRAPHY

Having been infatuated with music at a very young age he was encouraged to learn guitar from the age of 11. André wrote music and performed throughout his school years and into University where his love of classical music and rock led him to develop his guitar and vocal styles.

 

Previously, André split duties between lead guitar and vocals, having played both with melodic rock band Illusion for 8 years, but finally dropped guitar in 2012 to front various covers bands.

 

André spent some time studying at Leicester Vocal Tech but is currently a student of glass shattering vocal coach Jaime Vendera, also known for working with Miles Kennedy, and James Labrie of Dream Theater.

 

Looking for a new challenge in 2016, André joined Shadow of Acolyte - a melodic hard rock band from the East Midlands, and began a songwriting partnership with guitarist, Aaron Gidney. As bandleaders, André and Aaron managed the band and co-wrote songs that culminated in a four track E.P., 'Holy Ground', which went to Number 1 on Amazon's Digital Hard Rock & Metal Bestsellers Chart in January 2018.

 

The band played across the UK for 18 months before a change in musical direction resulted in the creation of Grace and Fire, focusing on progressive hard rock with soaring melodic choruses.