She won V.I.M.A.’s Female Songwriter of the Year in 2007 and First Place in Songwriting at the Shuswap Lakes International Writers Festival in 2005.
She has played with some of Canada’s greatest musicians including Don Thompson, Pat Coleman, Robbie King and Ken Lister. Her last cd release (Sweet Embrace) has a stellar line up including Phil Dwyer, Dave Gogo, Pat Steward, Miles Black and local favorites Todd Sacerty, Phil Whipper, Chad Geekie and Tina Jones. She’s been playing gigs and sharing the stage with a couple of the best guitar players in B.C. Rick Salt and Jim Cochran, bass players, Marisha Devoin and Terry Strudwick and drummers Paul Nixon and Dave Bouwman
She’s opened for Trooper, Dave Gogo, Powder Blues, Blue Rodeo, Shari Ulrich and Doug Cox.
Andrea is a songwriter and a singer. She is a proficient musician, guitarist and pianist and recently graduated from Vancouver Island University with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. Her other careers include massage therapist (R.M.T.) and guide out-fitting (certification).
She’s had fun, and worked hard. She continues to perform, to write songs and to teach in Nanaimo.
Her songwriting is soulful and strong, primarily roots and rhythm, she crosses, all barriers delving into jazz, blues, R&B pop and country.
“ A velvet-voiced blues, roots, rock and jazz singer falling somewhere between Bonnie Riatt and Kathleen Edwards with hints of Eva Cassidy, she certainly possesses the knack of capturing a big emotion or life event in a straightforward language that hit’s home” David Morrison - thefreelancewriter.ca.
Here's what they're saying about "Sweet Embrace"
"Andrea has wonderful instincts for crafting a great song - and the voice and the authentic spirit to deliver it in a way that is utterly captivating and delightful. I loved her."
Shari Ulrich
"Andrea Smith has a voice that goes down like freshly pulled honey from the hive. Just enough sweetness mixed with a little sting. Her songs provide a great vehicle for her voice and this ride will take you from where you've been , to where you wish you could be. Four bees out of five."
Mae Moore
"Vancouver Island's Smith has a fine expressive voice, can write solid, accessible material and has surrounded herself with great players from Miles Black and Phil Dwyer to producer/guitarist Pat Coleman. Radio will go nuts trying to categorize her but this is good stuff. B"
John P. McLaughlin - The Province, Tue, Feb 6th, 2007