Tag Archives: Andy C

Event, inthemix.com.au, Review, Writing

Andy C @ Hifi Bar

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When I first moved to Melbourne one of the first shows I went to was the traditional Andy C show on Australia Day eve. I had a fantastic time, as the HiFi bar was ram packed and Andy C lived up to his name of “the Executioner” as he simply killed it.

This year, I was more than a little surprised to turn up and find the HiFi bar almost deserted. There were maybe 40 people there, grooving away to Keir’s dark and rolling beats. I really like Keir, but I felt the overall vibe of the majority of his set was just a little too moody for 11pm. It didn’t make people want to wander to the dance floor, with most standing like wallflowers, and although it was filling at a steadier pace, this made the room seem sparser than it was. But like any good DJ Keir recognised this, and shifted things up a bit towards the end, playing much more dancefloor orientated stuff which finally got people out onto the floor.

Beatski stepped up next, dropping one of my favourite tunes ever – the Nu:Tone remix of Lenny Fontana’s Spread Love. This got more people up and dancing, and he continued the vibe for a while as the HiFi got more and more packed. I’ve not seen Beatski before, and enjoyed what he played. Safire stepped up after him, and played some wicked tunes, although like Beatski, didn’t play much that I knew. I generally appreciate hearing stuff I don’t know, but this time I felt so out of touch that I’ve decided I need to get out more!

MC Lowqui jumped on the mic for Safire, and really helped hype the crowd. I must admit I’ve not been too keen on Lowqui in the past, but the times I’ve seen him recently, he’s really impressed me. I know there’s a conception that Melbourne people don’t like MCs, but Lowqui knows when to hype and when to chill which is perfect for this city. By the time Safire finished the HiFi was full, but not uncomfortably so.

Then Andy C stepped up, with GQ on the mic. Oh my gosh! Many DJs lay a claim to being the best, but it is my professional opinion that Andy C is better. First of all, he plays dancefloor tracks that get everybody moving. Second of all he plays on 3 decks, superbly mixing 3 records in time, with his now infamous double drops which amplify the intensity of the already frenzied dnb tempo. Thirdly, he plays all vinyl. None of this time coded, played off PC which has been keyed and bpm matched beforehand stuff – just straight up practice, skill, and knowledge of his music.

Andy dropped some amazing tracks, mixing Konflict’s Messiah with Trace’s Babylon, teasing Racing Green under Jenna G’s In Love, and even dropping fresh stuff like the new Pendulum track. GQ would call out for rewinds, and Andy would spin back both records; drop one, then the other, and the crowd would cut sick every time. Andy had just as much fun as the crowd, waving records about, clapping, waving hands and dancing along with everyone.

There is one thing that annoyed me about this night – the fact that more people don’t head out to see someone like Andy C. Everyone is so caught up in their own scene, they rarely go out of their way to see good DJs out of their preferred genre. I’m positive if more people saw Andy C play like he did at HiFi over the last two years the “Top 100 DJ polls” so many websites and magazines run every year, Andy C would be rated much higher. He certainly deserves to be.

24Seven, Interview, Music, Writing

Andy C

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Drum and Bass is dead. So says the UK music press every few years. However, it’s a sentiment that gets a chuckle when I mention it to Andy C, one of the biggest drum and bass DJs in the world. Not only has he been voted the no 1 drum and bass DJ in the world for the last 6 years, he’s a regular in all the magazine ‘best DJ’ polls. “Those journos were ever coming out on the road with us,” he says, “and never saw what the DJs were seeing – the packed clubs and vibe of the crowd. And the facts that one label, well actually a few labels, are still going strong in 2007, show them up time and again.”

The label he is talking about is his own – Ram Records. Initially funded by a kindly uncle, the record label has risen to be one of the most successful labels in the dance music scene. “The biggest accomplishment is we’re about to celebrate 15 years. We started in 1992 and we’ve gone so far, done so many things and gone to many places, and it’s great that all the crew here and all the artists we’ve signed up are still going strong and still feeling a hunger for the scene.”

Drum and bass’s relevance and longevity comes down to the people involved. “Everyone within the scene is working hard, everyone is discovering new acts and doing their best when they DJ to the crowds. I’ve been out to lots of different music shows and I’ve never seen music touch people like drum and bass does,” he says. “It has never overtly relied on commercial success. It’s very hardcore, and the people who come out and feel the vibe are hooked in. There’s a massive internet following, regular clubs around the UK and it relies on its self really. I think that keeps it healthy.”

Andy’s accolades are well deserved. Every performance Andy C has done in Adelaide is talked about in glowing terms. In fact, read any of the reviews of Andy C and you’ll get the notion that Andy kills it every time, hence acquiring the nickname “the Executioner”. One review from Japan, a place not really known for its big drum and bass scene, likens Andy to Neo from the Matrix, in total command of the people on the dance floor.
I was wondering if the accolade’s he received have given him a big head at all. But Andy is quite humble about it. “The accolades are wonderful, but for me it’s more the drug of going out and playing records to people. Like right now I’m enjoying a couple of weekends off before I come to Australia but I’m just sitting around wondering what I’m gonna do! I’m already dying to get back on the decks really!” he chuckles. “If the accolades come then that’s all good, but fundamentally for me it’s all about being out there, being part of something that’s so loved around the world.”

Part of Andy’s appeal is his devotion to the dance floor and turntables. “For me it’s all about records, decks, vinyl and dubplates. It suits my style of DJing and it’s what I’m the most comfortable with. It’s all about the visual aspect, I love whacking the record down, slamming the needle onto it, seeing the grooves and knowing where to cue from.” The crowd feeds off his energy behind the decks, and even when he’s composing he’s trying to capture the vibe of the dance floor. “You look out to the crowd and get lifted by their energy and want to capture that connection with the people,” he says of making music.

Speaking of composing music, whilst Andy’s done more than enough tunes to release more than a few albums, he’s yet to do a fully fledged artist album. “Watch this space!” he laughs when I mention it. “I’ve got a few ideas down, some tracks done, but we’ll see how it goes. Fingers crossed for 2007!” He laughs again.