Andrew Hoyt has been named the winner of American Songwriter's Sounds Like Summer Song Contest promotion for his track "Kind of Paradise," co-written with Matt Wertz and Lucas Morton. In a Q&A with the publication, Hoyt described the song as a tribute to his favourite person and favourite place, Hawaii, drawing inspiration from the relaxed, beach-side feel of tracks such as Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat's "Lucky" and John Mayer's "Clarity." He said the win felt validating and that he was grateful for the response the song had received since its release.

Hoyt traced his songwriting back to his school years, citing influences including John Mayer, Brad Paisley, The Beatles and Switchfoot, and credited his father, also a songwriter, with exposing him to the creative process early on. Looking ahead to 2026, he plans to keep opening for touring artists, having recently supported AJR, Jesse McCartney and Eric Hutchinson, while continuing to write and record in Nashville with collaborators including drummer Terence F. Clark and producers Lucas Morton and Micah Tawlks. His stated career ambitions include touring with AJR, writing with John Mayer, headlining the Hollywood Bowl and composing a theme song for a Disney film.