Interview with Dj Andy Moor

Q. Having dabbled with different genres of music, how would you describe the kind of music you do? If there is a description of it…I make music that is mainly electronic (but can also include acoustic elements), but it is melodic electronic dance music. Im not a fan of trying to be too descriptive of my own music.

Q. Why do you work with other acts such as Leama & Moor, Tilt and Whiteroom etc. Is it more of collaboration or work as a group?
I like to work with other people as it is always great fun, and it is also good for motivation. It is not always inspiring to work on my own in a dark studio, so collaborating with others helps to break up the monotony and inject a bit of life into the studio.

Q. Having played across the globe, how different do you think it would be playing in the Indian sub-continent?
No matter where you play the essence is always the same. I am expecting enthusiastic people who I think I will warm to and hopefully they will warm to me. Ive heard so much about India and am so excited to experience it for myself.
Q. How different is your music from your contemporaries? How do you differentiate yourself?
I play 100% to the crowd and I think my main talent as a dj is being able to connect with a crowd and understand what music to play to make them enjoy their night the best way possible. I also think being a Dj is understanding people, and understand what people want. Some Djs play to themselves and play a tune that they like but it might not be what others like. My taste in music is something that I share with many people. Im also a classical musician so this also gives me an appreciation of the more subtle and complex elements to the music.

Q. What make you take to the kind of music that you do rather than you conventional classical or traditional form?
As mentioned in my previous question I am classically trained, so as a child I learnt many musical instruments and started my career in the classical industry. I always had the desire to learn more about electronic music after hearing early pioneers like Jean Michelle Jarre, Vangelis and early ScFi musical scores. I was then hooked on early house music which led me to what I am doing now.

Q. You've worked with artists like Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Paul Oakenfold, Brian Eno, Tiesto, Delerium and Arthur Baker. What is it that you bring into their own music?
I bought a different take on their tunes. I made remixes of their work and opened up their music to more people and more enviroments. For example the britney spears song was a slow love song, and the remix we made turned it into a dance tune so that all of a sudden this love song was being played in nightclubs around the world. So we put a different take on the original tune.

Q. What's your view on "remixes" taking away from the originality of musical forms?
I dont think they take anything away, they just add another outlook, another persons perception of the tune. The original tune is what the initial production was meant to be, but a remix opens this up to a broader audience and can showcase the creativity of a remixer.

Q. What's next on your itinerary beside your solo album?
Well I travel nearly every weekend to various parts of the world to Dj, so that is always something that is on the horizon. Apart from that we have another Whiteroom single planned, and also alot of collaborations with various people, mainly for my album. Also there is a new single called "So Much More" which will be released on my label AVA recordings.

Q What keeps you going as a musician? What challenges or "newer" experiences are you looking forward to?
Well I always like to experience new technology. In the studio there is always new software, hardware and techniques ready to be explored. This keeps me going, and also helps me to stay on top of my fame. I also experience alot outside of the music industry and this keeps me motivated inside the industry too. Everything I do in my life I crosscheck into music and let every experience influence me in my music.

Q. Any thoughts or expectations for your performance in India?I am extremely excited and looking forward to coming to India. It is a culture I have been looking forward to experiencing and I have only heard very positive things about the people of India and I cannot wait to meet them and also play them music which I hope they will enjoy.

Interview with Anil Chawla

Q. As resident spinner at Mongo Bongo, how different is the clubbingscene in Bombay to London or anywhere else in the world?I've only spent a short time in Bombay, and have never DJ'd there, socouldn't really compare the scene in Bombay to anywhere in the world. You'llhave to ask me that question again in a week's time!
Q. How would you define the kind of music you do? Rather how would youdescribe what you do?It's all about house for me - from the deep groovy stuff right through tothose twisted 5am moments. If I'm opening, I love the deep house/discosound. Later into the night and on a more twisted flavour; groovy tech houseand techno is what I'm about... With a splash of acid thrown in for goodmeasure.
Q. How open do you think the Indian audiences are to electronica? Orperhaps, how big is the electronica scene here as compared to Europe?I think it's certainly a developing scene. However, because it's relativelynew to a lot of people, they are very enthusiastic about the music - whichis very much positive thing. My experience in Goa (for the Sunburn festival)was very encouraging, and it was great to meet so many people who were sopassionate about house music. Also, you have groups like Submerge who areopening up the scene to so many new people and really pushing it forward.It's a very exciting development for global music.
Q. Do you think India has the potential to be a leader in the clubbingscene as much as Europe is known for?I certainly don't see why not. It will take time and the right people behindit, but I can certainly see it going that way, with more and more peoplegetting into clubbing. Also, there are some great electronic acts coming outof India like Jalebee Cartel and Midival Punditz, which will help push the
movement forward.
Q. How different is your music from your contemporaries? How do youdifferentiate yourself?That's a really good question, but ultimately it's very difficult to answer!I guess the way I try to differentiate myself is by only playing music thatI love, rather than being caught up in following trends.
Q. Can you explain what Global underground UK house music connotates?Global Underground is the record label that I put out a lot of music with,and whom I am working on my album for (in collaboration with Dale Anderson).It's a great honour to be associated with them, as they were the firstpeople to really grasp the concept of DJ mixes, putting out legendaryselections from Sasha, Digweed, Danny Howells, Sander Kleinenberg, SteveLawler, and loads more.
Q. How far with you go in experimenting with your music? Do you thinksomewhere genres get diluted in while mixing music? You think thatwould take away from the essence of its roots?I think it's healthy to experiment to a certain extent... I'm not up therewith Laurent Garnier, but I love to have a play with different sounds forsure. It keeps it interesting. But there are certainly other times when youneed to just keep it as straight house/techno and hold a consistent groove.It's all about reading the crowds.
Q. Where do you see yourself headed with your music?Right now, getting the album finished is priority number 1... Myself andDale have been working on our debut artist album for the last year, whichwill be coming out on GU early next year. We're both very excited to see itout in the shops. I've also been doing a fair bit of touring over the summer(through South America and Europe), and will be continuing with that untilthe end of the year, and beyond. Also, on the production front, I've justfinished a couple of remixes for Cevin Fisher and Redanka, both of which
will be getting their debut on the India tour.
Q. How long has it been since you got into what your'e doing? How longbefore you take a different route, if ever?I've been playing with record decks for about 8/9 years, but I've onlyreally been pursuing it properly for the last 4 years or so. As for the longterm... Well, I'm just taking each day as it comes, and I'm really happywith the way things are going right now. I have no plans to take a massivelydifferent route at the moment, but I certainly shalln't rule it out for thefuture.