Andy Hull
The introspective songwriter and driving force behind Manchester Orchestra, crafting dense, emotional rock narratives that explore faith and doubt.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American musician·Birthday: November 7·Millennials
Biography
Andy Hull began writing songs with a novelist's eye for detail and a preacher's sense of gravity while still a teenager in Atlanta. Founding Manchester Orchestra as a high school project, he quickly established himself as a songwriter of uncommon depth, unafraid to wrestle with grand themes of belief, loss, and human frailty. His voice, capable of a fragile whisper or a cathartic roar, became the band's central instrument. Under his guidance, Manchester Orchestra evolved from raw, guitar-driven emo to a more nuanced and ambitious rock act, creating concept albums and sprawling sonic landscapes. Hull's creative restlessness also spawned the maritime folk trilogy of Right Away, Great Captain! and the collaborative project Bad Books. More than just a frontman, he co-runs the Favorite Gentlemen label, fostering a community of artists and proving that thoughtful, ambitious rock music still has a vital place.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Andy was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Andy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Released the critically acclaimed album 'A Black Mile to the Surface,' which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2018.
- Conceived and wrote the narrative folk trilogy 'Right Away, Great Captain!', a story told across three albums.
- Co-founded the indie rock collective and band Bad Books with songwriter Kevin Devine.
- Co-founded and runs the independent record label Favorite Gentlemen.
Did You Know?
He wrote the first Manchester Orchestra songs when he was only 15 years old.
Hull is a self-taught musician who learned to play guitar by ear.
He provided the voice for the character 'Swifty' in the 2019 film 'The Peanut Butter Falcon'.
The band's name was chosen because Hull liked the contrast between the industrial connotations of 'Manchester' and the refined sound of 'Orchestra'.
“I think the best songs are the ones that make you feel less alone.”
