1. Hi there. Tell us a few things about You, involvement in the UK EDM scene and also how were You exposed to it ?
Andy Richmond: Hey, I got exposed to the dance music scene at quite an early age, listening to the likes of Carl Cox, Carl Craig, Tall Paul, Dave Clarke and Allister Whitehead. A few years on and I was listening to pirate radio religiously along with collecting vinyl and playing them on old record players. A few more years later and I had a weekly radio show on a pirate radio station called Kiss Fm. This opened up many doors and upon meeting Jay Pidgeon at a Planet love festival he supplied me with my first tour of events. 9 years on and my involvement in the EDM scene is as strong as ever, Monday to Friday running dance music portal HarderEdge.net and also co running record label and brand Dirty Stop Outs.
2. With so many names within UK (look at the actual DjMag.com (TOP100), do You reckon the UK EDM scene could ever have as much success as the European (Dutch, German etc) industry ?
Andy Richmond: I reckon the UK has had it's best years. I think the UK clubbers know too much about what goes on backstage and behind the scenes for events these days, especially in the harder styles. Where as in places like Holland, the UK clubbers don't know what's going on behind the scenes so it's more exciting to them. I also believe that when running big events like the dutch do, they run them with next years event in mind and put the extra effort into production and cater for the wider audience. They also push new talent far more which is something the UK scene is lacking in recent years.
3. Do You think being from outside of London makes progressing in the EDM scene more of a challenge nowadays ?
Andy Richmond: It certainly doesn't help, especially when the cost of a flight is on the cards.
4. Can You tell me about the way EDM is represented in Dublin in particular and, in general, Ireland ?
Andy Richmond: It's a very close and small scene with a lot of new promoters and Dj's appearing all the time. Dublin is busier with trance, techno, house nights while outside Dublin it's the harder style events which seem to be more successful on a regular basis.
5. Switching to Your production area, what can You tell us about the track "RAM it" and why the name ?
Andy Richmond: That is probably one of my most enjoyable tracks I have done and that suits my style these days. I aimed for it to be a crossover tech dance track and to highlight my tech dance sound. The name is quite strange I know but I find it hard to name tracks I have done especially when they don't include a vocal.
6. What can You tell me about You music, in terms of style and unique sound ? How is it received here in England and also around the world ?
Andy Richmond: My main sound is tech dance, it's an energetic crossover of tech trance and hard dance but quite regularly sampling old skool or hard house samples. In the future I feel it has a lot more to offer and will soon be more accepted and played by more Dj's. It's at an interesting stage right now and I feel all the best tracks are coming from Japan. I have been playing tech dance for over a year now and I am enjoying it more than ever.
7. Can You give the readers information on when Your future project will be out and what will that be ?
Andy Richmond: My next set of releases will be on R135 Tracks, which is a Japanese Tech Dance label. I have a remix of Shusei & Ryoji takahashi's "Revolver" and also a remix of Roji Takahashi's "Breeze". I also have a few other remixes lined up for some new labels.
8. What equipment do You use to produce Your music and as a Dj, what Your studio consists of ?
Andy Richmond: I use Acid 7. I have tried other programs and even bought a Mac for Logic but I have always ended up going back to Acid.
9. Where is the strangest or most memorable place You have ever performed so far ?
Andy Richmond: The most memorable would probably be Heaven in London, It was my 16th birthday at the time and we were brought over to play for a night called "There" which was run by the guys at Fevah.
10. Within a few weeks from now, it seems that You will take part to the annual Planet Love Festival in Ireland, tell me how do Yo feel and what do You think about it is there anything special about the playlist You will try to play there ?
Andy Richmond: Planet Love is the main festival for dance music in Ireland. This year is my first to play at the festival so I am really looking forward to it. Over the years I have been touring the Irish club circuit but I have never had the chance to play a festival so this is extra special for me. I have a lot of new material lined up for this and have also dug out some tracks that have received big responses from the Irish crowd over my years of playing out.
11. Looks like You have a lot of support from Slinky.fm what can You tell us about it ?
Andy Richmond: Yes I do a monthly radio show for Slinky which is really good to have. Each month I bring in guest Dj's also. My show is the last Friday of the month at 10pm Uk time.
12. You have met quite a lot of interesting people in Your career, are there any chances You might get a little bit closer with them in order to get something done, as in djing back 2 back, tracks, remixes or anything else ?
Andy Richmond: Well I am working quite closely with Ryoji Takahashi in Japan, at the moment I have no sets lined up there. I have had a couple of back to back sets with Lee Haslam who is a good friend of mine. Our styles.
13. I have seen that You do hang a lot with Ryoji Takahashi nowadays, what's the story, how did You two met and when ?
Andy Richmond: Ryoji is a really humble guy, he is pushing the tech dance scene in Japan quite heavily. I got to know Ryoji when I first heard his track "Revolver" which he produced with Shusei. This track was one of the most unique sounding tracks I have heard this year.
14. What can You tell me about Your collaboration with Robert Doherty of New-Wave Management ?
Andy Richmond: Rob is a really nice guy, he's onto big things with New Wave Management which I could see from the start.
15. I reckon we come up to an end, any special words to the TranceSound.net community or anyone else reading this exclusive interview ?
Andy Richmond: Cheers for having me on guys and keep up the good work on the website.
Interview made by Cosmin Lukacs (TranceSound.net admin/founder)
Links:
Andy Richmond official website
Andy Richmond @ MySpace
Cosmin Lukacs official website
Cosmin Lukacs @ MySpace
New-Wave Management official website
