elektro exclusive interview with Shermanology

Having sat down with a number of prominent artists in the EDM scene, there are many that come from a family of music. However a sibling duo and a cousin, reaching this level of success is truly unique. Tell us a little about your growing-up and how you settled aside your differences and focused on your common interests instead to make music.

- Andy: Our families were always into music. My father and uncle are singers, so we just copied what they were doing in the 70s and 80s and made house versions of it. They had a group of four called the Sherman Brothers. Since we were young they were rehearsing in the living room and stuff like that. We were sitting there, taking notes without us even knowing. So we are pretty much using all that we learnt right now.

How did EDM come into play from Soul and Jazz?

- Andy: In Holland, House has been a prominent genre of music for decades. When I moved to the UK to work with Artful Dodger, that’s when I came into contact with this music. We just took all the influences over the years and incorporated it into house somehow.

On the single “3 minutes to explain”, you collaborated with Fedde La Grand as your breakthrough project. What do you think helped you in subsequent success projects? Was it the confidence or something else?

- Andy: It was the first house track we wrote. At the time I told Dorothy that we need to get some records out, without records we aint gonna get anywhere. So a friend of mine had a vinyl of Fedde Le Grand’s “Put You Hands Up For Detroit” and it had an email on it. So I said you know what, Im just gonna email Fedde and see what happens. I wrote him: “My name is Andy Sherman and I use to do this and this ...”. He got back to me and said “Yeah I got a track that we could try it on...”. And Dorothy was moving to Greece for 6 months, so I asked her to stay andsee how this goes before you leave. That’s pretty much how it happened.

Tell us a little about your relationship with Afrojack. How did that come out and how did it affect your success?

- Andy: I’ve known Nick since he was like 15 or 16 and we both started out playing for empty clubs. Back then we always thought we are gonna get bigger haha. I was an MC back then and he was the DJ, so that’s how we became friends. Our careers took off around the same time.

No doubt that Bigroom music is infused in the Dutch blood. But what you see happening for the future of EDM? How do you think will the scene shift in 5 years time?

- Andy: I think so. I think it’ll become more mixed with other genres. Very much like Avicii did with his new album. It’s just a door opener.

Leon: it just created a whole different genre in the genre-tree.

Andy: It’s now an excuse for us to bring all the Soul music into EDM haha. I mean we were already doing a lot of tracks with live instruments and we believe the dance floor is not completely ready for a softer sound so its important we keep it solid but make it more musical. For new upcoming artist is both a good thing and a bad thing. With the heavy kick drops, you don’t need to be a musical genius but a really good technician to mix it well. But with more musical elements I think it’ll be a great challenge for a lot of people now.

Leon: Vengeance will just drop a musical sample pack and everybody will be fine. [Everyone laughs]. At the end of the its about your own creativity and who grabbed it first and who used it the best way.

Andy: These are all tools. Like a piano, its there but what you gonna play with it? We have several instances that we got only the inspirations from a Sample.

Leon: Yeah, like when we started a track but at the end of it, the sample was completely out.

Dorothy, I'll ask this question from you since you seem to be the quiet one. You have the advantage of going on tour as a family, so you’ll never miss each other like many other artist do when they go on tour. So what other aspect of touring do you have to put up with?

- Dorothy: Sometimes you don’t get to sleep as much as you like to. In my case I got the flu right now, but the show must go on. Food too.
Leon: We don’t function together on an empty stomach.

When you sit down to make some new music, how do you work together and what inspires you the most while in the studio?

- Andy: In the beginning we always use to go to my studio to write. Then after a while we were like this is not the right vibe to be writing every time. Lets go outside to the park and the beach and write the songs.

Does that mean you start your tracks musically every time?

- Leon: Every track has a different beginning.

- Andy: Sometimes even a voice note. Like many times Dorothy had an idea and recorded it. And found that this fits on this track and so on.
What are some of your Go-To music tools?

- Leon: Obviously the Sylenth, Nexus and Massive are like a given. The Waves bundle too are like the first thing you grab. And of course sample packs. And Logic.

Who do you look forward to collaborating next?

- Andy: Would love to do a track with Calvin Harris. He has great vocals and still the tools to make a great club track.

Favorite movie/TV Show?

- Leon: Hmmm...that’s difficult. Braking Bad, Californiacation.

Dorothy: Scandal, South Park haha...

Check out their new track with Amba Shepherd, "Who We Are," below!