Versatile Guitarist, composer, producer and arranger Andrea Samengo was born in Lima (Peru) to Italian parents. Grew up in a family of music lovers, listening to a wide range of music styles but predominantly rock, classical and latin American.
At the age of 14 an upcoming progressive rock band from Lima called “Relax” were auditioning for a new Guitarist. Andrea was at the time playing with a school band.He had heard of Relax and decided to audition. The band loved his blues rock approach to their style and he got the gig. That same year he recorded his first album and started playing live regularly.
In 1986 the band “Orgus” (the biggest Heavy Metal band in Peru and along with Sepultura the biggest in South America ) were auditioning for a Guitarist. Orgus loved Andrea’s dexterity and musical taste and style and took him on board. They recorded an EP that included tracks like “Juicio Final” and “Guerreros del Metal” which soon became Heavy Metal Anthems for the peruvian Heavy crowd. Soon after that they started working on their new album “Orgus”.
The increasing fragility of the whole Peruvian political situation forced Andrea to start looking for new horizons. He moved to Europe where he had some relatives involved with music and who were happy to help him in his new musical environment. In his need of improvement and musical fulfillment he enrolled at the “Genova Jazz school” where he got diplomas on “Jazz Improvisation” and “Music Harmony” and then moved to London where he has been living for the past 20 years.
Andrea has since been playing consistenly and collaborating with many musicians all over Europe. Apart from performing both live and in studio he produces other artists under his own production company called “Esaurito Productions”. Andrea has produced a number of albums, among the most famous are ” Writing Home ” ( Adam S Bloch ), ” Elida&Andrea ” ( Elida Merseli & Andrea Samengo ), ” Crazy leader ” ( Jeton Band ) and ” Guitar Talks ” ( Andrea Samengo’s 1st solo Anthology album ). He is at the moment recording and producing a Blues compilation with a long time fellow musician and friend Elida Merseli and finalizing the 2nd “Hot Pistol Shrimp” EP in which he is Producer and co-writer. He has just finished the Production, Mix & Master of Stormwolf’s latest album “Howlin’ Wrath”.
He is now writing the material for his 2nd solo album which will be available in all main platforms.
Despite Andrea Samengo’s great involvement in studio recordings, which he believes are the legacy of a musician, he is also a very active live music performer.
Copyright © 2021 – Andrea Samengo
Photography by Ana Sedano