Massive interview today with Galaxy's 'Andi Durrant'! Take notice, wise words from an icon in the music industry. 128DJ's would like to say a big thanks to Andi for his time, co-operation, and support.
For those who don’t know you (if any?!) who are you?
''Andi Durrant – Radio Presenter, DJ, Producer, Remixer, Music Geek, and one half of Riley & Durrant.''
How old were you when you got your first gig? And where was it?
''I was 15 and it was at a legendary old venue in Leeds called The Pleasure Rooms. I was playing house downstairs at a drum n bass night and got turned away at first – not because I was too young but because I had the wrong kind of shoes on!
Which venues have you played at and which is your favourite?
We’ve been lucky enough to play all over the world in some incredible places, but some of the stand out ones are doing a live set from the worlds largest man made beach in Kuala Lumpur on New Years Eve (where a massive pretend volcano erupted at midnight!), playing at an disused military fort in the sea of St Petersberg in Russia, warming up for Tiesto every week at Privilege in Ibiza and playing Cream at Amnesia is always special.''
You are now known as the DJ partnership 'Riley and Durrant' rather than individual DJs, how did this come about?
''We started working together in 2003 after meeting in the DJ booth at the infamous Gatecrasher in Sheffield. We were both residents playing separately but decided to work on some music together.. it all seemed to click and 8 years on we’ve got our own production company alongside our DJing, radio shows and music.''
Plans for the future?
''Except for remixes for other people like Chicane, we’ve not had any real tracks out for about 6 months, as we’ve been busy working on a load of new projects, which should be ready for release over the next couple of months. For 2011 we’re looking at really building on the success of our Electrik Playground record label. We’ve got some very big tracks signed and ready to come out, including an electronic side project from a HUGE international rock band.''
Who are your main musical influences?
''Hard to choose as there’s too many – but everything from the Pet Shop Boys and Prodigy to Laidback Luke, speed garage, early Oakenfold and 90s trance.''
Top 5 tracks of the moment?
1. Backyard Orchestra – Smiling Faces (Riley & Durrant Remix)
2. Feliz Lieter – Sunchyme (Riley & Durrant Remix)
3. DJ PP – Miami Vice (Zoltan & Jerome Robbins Remix)
4. JD Miller & 2Rullo – The Bell (Original)
5. El Zzzup – Africa vs Balkans (Original)
When Djing as 'Riley and Durrant', what distincts you from the rest?
I think the fact that we always try to play a big cross section of music. We might start the night playing chunky house and breaks, and 3 hours later we’d be pretty deep techno. When we go out, we don’t just want to hear the same music all night long, so we like to mix it up a bit. Expect the unexpected!
Upto now, what is your greatest achievement DJ wise?
''Probably getting such huge audience figures on my Galaxy network radio shows. On both Friday and Saturday nights we’re the most listened to show on the dial – even though we’re playing underground electronic music.''
How did you first get involved with the Galaxy network?
''I started as a tea boy aged 15, worked my way to working for free helping edit shows and do the technical stuff, then as a producer and finally got my own regular show.''
If you hosted your own party, which 3 DJ's would you have play?
''We actually run our own Electrik Playground parties every month at Nocturnal in Sheffield and 4 times a year at Ministry of Sound in London, so we do book a lot of people we really like. Right now if money was no object it would probably be the Swedish House Mafia (for the party vibe) Eric Prydz (because everything he does is pretty incredible) and a live set from Magnetic Man.''
Any big productions to look out for?
''We’ve just signed our new band Backyard Orchestra to CR2 Records, so we’ll be busy working on an album over the next few months. The first single “Smiling Faces” should be out in the autumn.''
What advice could you give to up and coming DJ's / producers wanting to get there name out there?
''Do something different – take inspiration from other people’s music and style and sound, but don’t try to copy them. Stand out from the crowd, and be prepared to work really really hard. Most people wont make any money out of the music industry for the first 10 years unless you’re very lucky.. so make sure to spend every waking minute living and breathing music.''
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