Andy Squyres is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Santa Cruz California but after moving east in the late 1990’s, he’s spent the last few decades carving songs out of the foothills of his North Carolina home. Heavily influenced by the poetics of Leonard Cohen, Squyres leans heavily into the lyrical tradition of artists like Bob Dylan, The National, and John Mark McMillan, having a passion for words that are equally worshipful and honest. His live show is ache on display, a joyful protest, at once humorous and tragic, weaving together songs and tales of heartbreak and hope, tragedy and comedy. In 2016 he released his album Cherry Blossoms and most recently in 2021 he released his album Poet Priest which music critic Brett McCracken named the album of the year stating that "If people claim Christian music is all schmaltz that sugarcoats reality, they haven’t listened to Andy Squyres. The Charlotte-based (by way of California) singer-songwriter makes beautiful, brutal music that wrestles with grief, pain, and the struggles of faith." In 2021 and 2022 he also released books called Poet Priest Vol.1 and Poet Priest Vol.2, respectively. They are each compilations of essays about being content with living a small life, faithful life.