Andromeda's Galaxy: Centro’s Guest Entertainer Andromeda Turre

Born in New York City to musical parents, Andromeda Turre developed a love for the arts at a young age. At age five, she started to play piano and began composing. However, she first started at dancer. At a studio in Harlem, she studied classical dance and moved on to Alvin Alley to study world dance. She decided to make music her career when she received a call asking her to perform backup for Ray Charles. From there she became involved with Grammy nominee J.C. Hopkins. She has also dabbled in the performing arts; from acting in Woody Allen play Murder Mystery Blues to working as a makeup artist in Phantom of the Opera. After spending a year and a half performing with a big band in Tokyo Disney, Andromeda decided to give Beijing a try. We sat down to chat about her past endeavors, future aspirations as well her experience at Centro.

How did you end up in Beijing?
I have an agent that I work with and she called me and she said, “How would you feel about going to Beijing?” I was previously working in Japan and I had wanted to come visit during the Olympics and just couldn’t. I’ve always wanted to come to China so when she said that I said, “Yes, make it happen, I’m there, I’m on the plane, I’m ready to go.” I’ve been all over the world but never to China. I’m happy to be in Beijing as my first city.

What were your first impressions of China’s capital?
I fell in love with Beijing right away. I found the people so warm and inviting. The staff here has been really wonderful at making me feel comfortable and at home and welcome here. If I get lost walking around the city people are willing to help you. Beijing is beautiful. The architecture here is incredibly visually stimulating from the modern skyscrapers with unusual shapes to the colorful traditional buildings. It’s a really beautiful city and I’m enjoying it.

When did you first develop an interest in the arts?
I first developed a love for the arts from my parents. I remember going to my parents concerts when I was a little girl and just dancing around to the music. There’s something about music that has always touched me. My Mom is a cellist and she told me when she used to play her cello when she was pregnant I used to kick the cello and she thought I was dancing inside her stomach. It’s always been that way for me with music.

What first launched your singing career?
Because of my parents I was able to do professional work at a young age. I sang my first television commercial when I was eight years old. However, the Ray Charles tour was really made me decide that I’m not doing anything but music. Music is my career. It made me take myself more seriously. Before that I was doing a lot of other jobs and I hadn’t 100% committed myself.

What was it like working with Ray Charles and Woody Allen?
He was incredible. I saw the movie, Ray, and I felt it was a really different depiction of the Ray Charles than the Ray Charles I knew. He was a lot older when I met him. He was more subdued by then. He was just such a sweet and sincere man. I really enjoyed his general energy. He was very supporting and loving. I only did the last tour so I didn’t get much time with him but it was a wonderful experience.
Working with Woody Allen in his play Murder Mystery Blues was a great opportunity for me to do straight acting. Before that I had been doing more musical theater. I was trained in theater at the Boston Conservatory so it was a great experience to use those skills I had learned.

What are your hopes for the future? Where do you plan to go next?
Right now I’m really busy working on lots of different project. My second album is due to come out this summer so I’m working on that. My management team is great managing most of it for me since I’m here. I’m as involved as possible but its hard being here. I’ve also been writing a novel so I spend a lot of time writing.

What had been the highlight of your career thus far?
I really think it is yet to come. I’ve done so many wonderful things but none can outshine the other. I’m still waiting for that. I’m really excited about my next album because it’s different. My last album was a jazz album. The new album is more pop electronica dance music. Based on music from this album, we’re going to create a Vegas style stage show. In addition to all the glitz and the glamour I think it’s going to be a perfect opportunity to put all of my training, experience and passions together into one venue.

Will you be performing in any other cities besides Beijing? Will you be hitting other venues besides Centro?
Not during the next four months. I’ll be here at Centro. Centro is a really unique place aside from a lot of other venues I’ve performed at in the past. It’s not just a jazz bar; there is a vibrant energy here. People are laughing, they’re having fun, and they’re socializing. It gives me the opportunity to not just to do jazz but to also throw in some more modern music like Cindy Lauper, Alicia Keys, in addition to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Aretha Franklin. Anything goes. I just have so much fun on stage and I think it translates to the atmosphere here.

What kinds of music/bands do you enjoy listening to? Have you given any Chinese groups a try?
I love all kinds of music. I’m not loyal to any particular genre. If it sounds good, I like it. I have music in all different languages, most of it I can’t even understand but there’s always something about the music I fall in love with. Some of my favorites are Sting and Bjork. Betty Carter is my favorite jazz musician. I also like some of the contemporary jazz divas, Mariah Carey and Beyonce. Everything.

Andromeda Turre performs at Centro from 8.30pm Monday nights until July 31. Entrance is free.