Andy Thomas

Andy Thomas
https://andythomas.contently.com

Andy Thomas is a music, culture and lifestyle writer and researcher based in London with a wide range of specialisms. He has over 20 years experience of writing long form features, always going deep into research to find the real stories behind the subjects. Writing on a wide range of topics, from music and dance to style, food and travel he has regularly contributed both long/short form and hard/online copy to publications like Jocks & Nerds (Staff Writer), Straight No Chaser, Wax Poetics, Bandcamp Daily, The Quietus, Red Bull Music Academy, The Face, Dazed, Highsnobiety, Hole & Corner, Mr Porter, Time Out, i-D.

Andy began his writing career for Straight No Chaser magazine in the late 1990s, reporting from Cuba, New York, and Los Angeles on the cultural scenes and interviewing figures like writer Walter Mosley and musician Louie Vega. As a Contributing Editor for Shook magazine in the late 2000s, he helped establish a vibrant music and culture magazine, developing content and working on creative direction. His writing during this time included a cultural report from South Africa and an interview with New York disco pioneer David Mancuso.

Between 2014 and 2018 Andy was Staff Writer at Jocks & Nerds magazine, working with photographers like Dean Chalkley and stylists such as Mark Anthony Bradley to create one of the most respected independent titles. Interviews included Jonathan Meades from his home in Marseilles, (ex) Louis Vuitton’s Creative Director Kim Jones on his fashion archive, designer Nigel Cabourn about his new clothing line, stylist Judy Blame in advance of a major exhibition at the ICA, Turner Prize winning artist Jeremy Deller, and choreographer Hofesh Shechter. He also worked on creative direction, working with editors and photographers to create innovative copy to connect culture to audience.

Working for New York’s Wax Poetics magazine, Andy wrote the first extensive feature on Chicago house music DJ Ron Hardy, an extensive feature on the late Los Angeles pianist Horace Tapscott, and an interview with the influential Detroit producers The Belleville Three. Since the relaunch of Wax Poetics in 2021 Andy has been one of their main writers, working on major features including A Certain Ratio and the UK Broken Beat scene. His work can also be seen regularly in Bandcamp Daily with features ranging from Italian Cosmic Disco legend Danielle Baldelli to Southern Soul singer Syl Johnson.

As a creative copywriter and storyteller for brands he has worked on campaigns for a variety of luxury and street brands bringing in his expertise of how culture connects to brand and audience. This includes an editorial relaunch of Lee Cooper jeans, a heritage campaign for Savile Row tailor English Cut, storytelling for British brand Chapman Bags, and cultural reports from Cuba to help rebrand Havana Club Rum under their Havana Cultura initiative. In late 2021 he worked with British heritage brand Sunspel and photographer Dean Chalkley to create a publication to support the release of an exclusive vinyl record.

He has also worked on digital communications for brands. This includes the Campari Group where he created a range of TOV themes, brand messages, and strap lines to be used across their platforms as well as content for specific marketing events, and daily Instagram posts to re-energise brand profiles. He also worked with curator Gilles Peterson, writing promotional material for Appleton Estate Rum’s Jamaican Jazz Sessions. Between 2014 – 2016 he was a freelance copywriter for Soho House, writing and editing their Time Out style US members’ magazine, writing brand copy for events, and co-ordinating marketing managers.

Andy has also written storyboards for music documentaries, sleeve notes for independent and major record labels, and programme notes for The Barbican as well as after show Q&A presentations for their cultural programmes.