After a 21-year hiatus, Andrew Spice is back—and he’s not holding back. With his latest album, Rage Stage, the multi-talented artist delves deep into the complexities of anger, grief, and healing. But this isn’t just a return to music; it’s a rebirth. Armed with the insight of a seasoned clinical psychologist, Spice’s new work intertwines his rich understanding of human emotions with raw, unfiltered lyricism. In this candid interview, he opens up about the cathartic power of music, the transformative journey from bitterness to bliss, and the unlikely muse that brought him back to the studio: his beloved cat, Bea. From confronting a friend-turned-foe to finding love with international drag star Miss Moço, Spice’s story is one of resilience, humor, and ultimately, hope.
“Rage Stage” explores the catharsis found in anger and resentment. How did this experience transform your perspective on using such intense emotions in your art, and did it feel healing or challenging to express these emotions through music?
The transformational part was that before “Rage Stage,” I had never been so vicious in my lyric writing. I found myself expressing those emotions through words with an intensity I hadn’t reached before. It was absolutely healing rather than challenging. At the time, I was going through a situation that felt totally out of control, and creating this song became a stabilizing force that helped me navigate it.
After a 21-year hiatus, what was the most surprising part of returning to the music industry? Did anything about the process or environment feel completely different from when you began?
Almost everything about the music industry is different from how it was 21 years ago. There were many surprises. How does an artist break through and get heard in such an oversaturated market? How do you make a mark when listeners are constantly scrolling or skipping to the next thing? What remained the same, though, was a great comfort: we brought together an amazing producer and talented musicians in a recording studio and made a record that I’m incredibly proud of.
Your career as a clinical psychologist must give you a unique perspective on human emotion and behavior. How do you feel this has influenced your songwriting and how you approach complex emotions like anger and grief?
Music and psychology are similar in that both are a blend of art and science, in my opinion. To be a good psychologist, you need to know yourself very well, and that’s also necessary if you want to write deeply personal and vulnerable songs. Being a psychologist means I have a very clear view of my own emotions, whether I’m working to help people or making art.
You mentioned that ‘Rage Stage’ confronts the concept of a ‘friend-turned-foe.’ Do you see this track as a message to that person, or is it more of a therapeutic release you needed for yourself?
When I was writing the song, it felt like a message to that person because I was in revenge mode. Throughout the album, there are a few lyrical references to the film Kill Bill, and during “Rage Stage,” I was definitely The Bride in Vol. 1—roaring and rampaging against the foe. That’s just being human. Now that some time has passed, I can’t say I care if that person ever hears it. The song is for me and, hopefully, for an audience to relate to and experience that catharsis too.
How has your approach to songwriting evolved with age and experience? Are there topics or styles you explore now that you wouldn’t have touched in your early days?
I don’t think there are topics I have or would ever shy away from. I was releasing songs about gay sex in 2000, when I was 18, with no guarantee of success or attention. This album delves into deeply vulnerable topics, including surviving sexual violence. One of the primary purposes of music for me is to fully confront things I might not address otherwise if I weren’t behind a piano.

This new album covers a wide range of emotions and experiences, from tenderness and grief to a love for animals. What’s a theme or song on this album that you’re particularly excited for listeners to hear, and why?
There’s a song called “Gentle Sentinel” about my cat that is my favorite song I have ever written. I’ll tell you more about it in a moment.
You’ve cited influences like Metric and Tom Odell, who weren’t around during your first musical chapter. If you could collaborate with one of these newer influences, who would it be, and what kind of song do you imagine creating together?
Since you mention Tom Odell, that would certainly be a dream collaboration. His lyrics indicate that we both understand the depths of emotional darkness. If I had the privilege of creating something with him, I’d imagine something like his song “Money,” which seriously explores the theme of greed while also dancing through playful insults with gleeful cussing. I really think we’d get along.
You’re known for your “playfully spiky” sense of humor in your music. Can you share an example from the upcoming album where this humor shines through, even in the face of darker themes?
Humor is an interesting topic. In “Rage Stage,” I rhyme ‘interests,’ ‘Joneses,’ and ‘queerness,’ which I find humorous, maybe because it’s encased in wrath. Another upcoming single is called “Terrible Date,” with lyrics like: “We talked about our traumas and fears / Which is always what you do when you’re queer / Now this person I’m not gonna marry / Knows way too much information about me.” I felt extremely dejected during that date, but the song and lyrics have turned it into a funny experience in retrospect.
After such a long break, you started back with a one-minute song inspired by your cat. Can you share the story behind that song and what it represents in your creative journey?
The song is called “Gentle Sentinel.” At one of the lowest points in my life, dealing with intersecting traumas, I called the producer of my first album and close friend, JUNO nominee and Bowie band member Emm Gryner. I told her that I didn’t think I could get through it without making music again, but I was intimidated to try after such a long break. She gave me the prompt of writing a one-minute song about my cat. That song grew into much more—it became the first of 11 songs I subsequently wrote for the album, featuring a string arrangement by Drew Jurecka (Grammy-nominated for Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Stop Now”). “Gentle Sentinel” is about my 19-year-old cat Bea, who passed away just a week ago as of the time I am writing this. I’m wracked with grief but also gratitude for her generosity: she accompanied me through the highs and lows of half my life, made it possible for me to return to music, and gave me what I believe is the most beautiful song I’ll ever write. In the song, I sing about her “magic vibration.” It’s devastating that I will never feel it again physically, but I’ll remember it for the rest of my days.
Finally, in a light-hearted twist, if “Rage Stage” were a movie, what would the opening scene look like, and what would be the title of its sequel?
“Rage Stage” is already a movie! Head over to YouTube and check out the music video directed by Mark Pariselli and filmed by Andrew Nguyen. If it were a feature-length film, let’s return to Kill Bill: the opening scene would be something like The Bride vs. Elle Driver. Elle thinks she has defeated The Bride through a despicable scheme but is in for a nasty surprise that’s satisfying for the audience. The hatred between them is palpable, but moral superiority prevails in the end. The sequel would be called “Amazed Stage.” After writing this song, I met the love of my life, international drag queen and Canada’s Drag Race star, Miss Moço. We’re now married. A sweet detail is that my cat Bea, the subject of “Gentle Sentinel,” chose Miss Moço for me—Bea cared for no human but me, yet on our second date, she nuzzled up to Miss Moço, letting me know she was meant to be my partner for life. Even from the depths of rage and despair, it’s possible to find happiness again. How amazing is that?