JDNB Interview: DJ Andy
Inbound this month on Ray Keith’s coveted Dubplate Dread imprint comes the label debut from seasoned Sao Paulo drum and bass producer, DJ Andy, with the Bad Boy Dread EP.
With over two decades’ of experience on the decks under his belt, the Brazilian drums lynchpin is no stranger to the scene. However, he’s recently made strides like never before since turning his hand to production, appearing on RAM Records’ iconic ProgRAM 100 compilation as well as inking deals with Roni Size and Krust’s Full Cycle Records, Bryan Gee and Jumpin’ Jack Frost’s legendary V Recordings, and its luscious off shoot Liquid V.
Following the recent premiere of his track ‘Only Me’ on JDNB, DJ Andy sat down to catch up with us.
Thanks for joining us. For those that are new to the production side of DJ Andy, tell us a bit about your inspiration and work flow around the forthcoming Bad Boy Dread EP. Did you write these tracks over the lockdowns or have some of these been in the locker for a while?
Let's say it started in the year 2019. End of August and September, as I was on tour in Europe, I played in Portugal, Croatia, Italy and UK. When I was in London I stayed at Ray Keith's house and showed him some songs. He liked it but he wanted something more with the face of dread. He turned to me and said when you got something like that and I like it, he was going to do a compilation and he wanted to put a possible track of mine on it.
I went back to Brazil and started working on a track, ‘Only me’. He loved it at the time, asked me to make some changes, leave it with a longer intro and that's it, the song was ready. I sent the song to him again and at the same time he heard it said, now you've done 5 more, let's make an EP. My mind exploded at the time because I did not expect this reaction. The pandemic came and from then on I started to focus and work on the other tracks for the EP.
The video below is the first time Ray played ‘Only Me’:
Let’s go even further back. You’ve been behind the 1s and 2s for over 20 years, how did it all start for you?
Wow! Let's say it started under my father's influence. Every weekend he always came home with a bag of new records. My father was always a collector of good music. In his collection he had a little of everything. Soul, Funk, RnB, Rock, Pop, Brazilian Music. When he came home with the new records, he was going to record his tapes so he could listen in the car. Ahh, let's say that my father was also the family DJ, because at every family party, everyone liked that he put on the sound and his good selection of music. From an early age, it all fascinated me. This was in the middle of the 80's. I grew up always listening to a lot of music. Then I started to go out dancing at the little parties in the garage and what I most liked to hear were the breaks. It was the time of the Break Dance. From an early age my taste for broken beats was already very sharp. It always called my attention in the songs when there was a more broken rhythm.
In the late 80's, I was already in love with acid house, hip house, hip hop & reggae culture. Then I started to make and play at little parties, those same garage parties and I started to play the songs that influenced me, but until then I didn't have the records. I ended up playing my tapes that I recorded from DJ Radios Shows.
In 1987 I started going to Clubs, at first one called Contra Mão, and I could see firsthand the magic of a dance floor with lighting and a powerful sound system, and it was also the first time I saw a DJ up close.
In 1988 they opened a club called OverNight, and it was different from anything I had seen in sound, light and decoration. The atmosphere was unique there, and on that dance floor I looked at the DJ and said to myself, that's where I wanna be, I wanna be a DJ.
I became a regular at this club. Then I was asked to work on it as a Promoter and then in 1991/92 they asked me to be a DJ and be able to run this magnificent club.
I was already immersed in the DJ universe and with that, I was already aware of what was happening in the Uk culture. When I started playing as a DJ, I started to get introduced even more to what was going on in the European dance scene.
I started playing things like Rebel Mc, Double Trouble, Frank Bones, Adamsky, Shut Up and Dance, Shades of Rhythm, T99, Shamen, Bizarre Inc, Altern 8, The Prodigy, 4 hero, The House Crew. Let's say it was the beginning of the evolution of dance music and rave music, and with that I was following this evolution of Rave music, where I was very marginalized, because I was playing songs that were not commercial and thus going more to an underground scene, and falling headlong into the breakbeat, hardcore culture, and jungle and DnB.
Tell us about your studio setup and how things have been working over the COVID period.
My studio setup is just my computer. I use an iMac, Ableton 11, one komplete keyboard m32, a pair of Yamaha s8 monitors and an ssl+2 sound card, and of course my pair of turntables and a pioneer s9 mixer to be able to do my live streaming hehe.
During this time of pandemic, I have invested a lot of time making music and learning more about production. I also started doing my live streaming show - DJ Andy In The mix, which I do every Friday at 8pm (Brazil time) on YouTube @djandybr and on twitch @djandy_br.
I also opened my Bass Music Academy production course, where I teach new producers how to get in and learn how to produce DnB.
Having been a DJ first for many years, have you used this time to accelerate your production and has the absence of gigs affected your creativity?
Yes. In this period of Covid what I have done most is this - investing time in creating new songs, working on collabs and new projects. I try to keep myself emotionally healthy so that what we are experiencing does not affect my work as a DJ and in productions. The intention to set up Bass Music Academy was also because of that. I could see that I could help other people to learn something new and pass on my knowledge.
How are things looking with the reopening of nightlife where you are?
Here in Brazil it is a bit slow. I believe that things can return in a more positive way in 2022 only. For the time being the entire event venue is closed and we are unable to hold events.
We love the sound of drum and bass coming out of South America, particularly that coming out of Brazil and Colombia. Are there any new producers you are rating that we should be looking out for?
We really have a lot of good promises. I've really enjoyed the work of DiZrupit (No Scandal), Dyn.Mic, NAsz, DJ Nai, T Allien, Phizical, Ellementhz, it's a new crop of producers that you can come to hear. Besides the consecrated ones, Alibi, L Side, Acuna,Dunk, Urbandawn, Crytical Dub, D Sign, Abstr4ct, Jam Thieves , Unreal etc.
What’s coming up for the rest of the year for you?
I'm very happy with the release of my Bad Boy Dread EP. I want to be able to work hard on promoting it. For the rest of the year I have a few more releases scheduled, and a compilation called Brazilian Takeover only with Brazilian artists.
The impossible question – favourite drum and bass track of all time?
This is really impossible ahahahah. But one of my favs of all time is: Goldie - Kemistry (Doc Scott remix):
Favourite non-DnB track of all time?
Another impossible too hahaha, but one of my favourite is Shalamar - A Night to Remember:
Thanks so much for taking the time out to speak with us, any shouts?
I would like to say thank you to you guys. Massive respect to Ray Keith for believing in my work! Thank you to all my Junglist family all over the world for always supporting and playing my tunes.
Follow me in my social medias : @djandybr
Keep safe, enjoy the life
Bless!
DJ Andy’s ‘Bad Boy Dread’ EP is out June 11th on Dubplate Dread. Check out the premiere of ‘Only Me’ here:
DJ Andy:
Dubplate Dread:
Posted By: Messenga
