elektro Exclusive Interview w/ Andrew Bayer
When did you first start producing?
I actually started producing when I was 12 years old on a program called “Techno DJ” that my best friend gave to me. Then I ended up upgrading to Logic when I was 13 and have been using it ever since.
What is your favorite piece of production equipment?
I have been really into my Profit 08 recently which is an analog synth. It's essentially a modern approach on an analog synth, is really versatile and sounds awesome. For example, if you have ever listened to James Blake he uses it on all of his shit and it’s that very classic sort of polysynth sound. It's just such a modern classic, and is definitely my favorite piece.
Who is your biggest musical influence?
Definitely Radiohead. I have just always been into Radiohead since day one. I'm also a huge fan of Bon Iver as well and he's really been blowing up in the last couple of years. Electronically, I love Aphex Twin of course, The Chemical Brothers, I’m really into the classic kind of stuff. Definitely all over the map when it comes to influences.
Your live sets vary quite a bit from your productions, can you explain that a bit?
Well, my roots come from club music, I started off by making stuff that was for the dance floor and I have kind of grown into making stuff that's for pleasure. So I feel I've split off into two different directions. One thing that I do try to do with my music whether club or for pleasure, is retain the musicality. So I would say that I really kind of crossover a bit. Even though it has a heavy club groove I try to put in a breakdown that has very musical moments in it and the type of stuff that is evocative of the type of stuff I would write for a down tempo album. I am definitely trying to crossover a bit but I also like having them separate as two distinct things.
What is the best venue or crowd that you have ever played for?
I don’t know if it is the best one, but I definitely have a favorite one. When I played in Hawaii six months ago with Norin & Rad, Oistein from Boomjinx, Soundprank and Matt Lange it was just incredible. It was an inner-circle crew of Anjunabeats and Anjunadeep and we just partied and played a show outside and it started raining halfway through the show and everyone stayed. It was just one of those moments when you are like “I can’t believe they are paying me to do this.”
What can we expect from your next album?
It's a little bit of a bizarre one because it's like the downtempo part of “It’s Artificial” but to the maximum. It's very experimental in that there is no dance music and nothing that is above like 115 bpms. But, at the same time, it's like pop music format. Stuff that like my mom listens to and people who aren't into Aphex Twin and artists like that would be able to sit down and listen to it. It will be really interesting.
When can we expect it?
April is the earliest I can say, but we have started leaking a couple clips. So if you follow me on Facebook and social media you should be able to hear some of it. I am so pumped I really can’t wait to share it.
What can you tell us about your track on Anjunabeats 10?
I have a track opening Disc 2 called “England”, which is where I wrote it. It was a track that I did initially for “Trance Around the World 450” because I didn’t really have a lot of exclusive material. I sat down and started writing this thing and it has turned into something that Above & Beyond really love as well and they have championed it in their sets which is really cool. It leaked over onto Volume 10 and I am just really thankful to be a part of the 10th Volume series, it's really amazing. It's truly incredible that they have kept it up and really kept up the quality as well.
What can we expect from Andrew Bayer this year (aside from your album)?
I do have a few other things going on as well. One of them is a project which I can’t talk a whole lot about but it is kind of my life right now and I'm super excited about it: I started a band. That is actually why I live in New York now, it’s called “Stranger.” That is about all I can say right now but we are writing, going crazy in the studio and spending a lot of time with it. I'm super amped about it and I really can't wait to share it. I also have a slew of new club tracks coming out that I did for the Australian tour and I have something that I have been doing with A&B. So those will be leaking out over the course of the next year as well. There are a lot of different factors going on and I'm just so so excited!
Purchase Anjunabeats Volume 10 HERE.