Hi Andy, thanks for taking the time to speak to us today! It has been a while since we have featured a live set, so we appreciate the sublime set you have put together for us. What was the creative spark or concept behind this mix, what emotions or atmosphere were you aiming to convey to the listeners?
ANDY: I had a dynamic year that covered the entire bandwidth from why-the-hell-am-I-so-stressed-and-sad-all-the-time to absurdly happy and fulfilled. I wanted to cover all of this in one live set. There are very melancholic and dreamy tracks in this set as well as some trippy stuff and fierce peak time bangers. I think you get an idea of my 2023 when you listen to the whole thing. 🙂 Can you walk us through your track curation process for a mix that reflects your unique style and sound? ANDY: In my live sets, I only play my own music. When I play at a festival or club, I usually choose songs of a somewhat similar vibe. When I play a sunrise set at AfrikaBurn, I select my dreamy, melancholic songs and those that feel like “psychedelic desert sunrise”. When I play during peak time at a club in Berlin or Hamburg, I go for my fierce club tracks. For the Flow Session, I decided I want to use this freedom and combine tracks that I would usually not play in the same set. On top of that I wanted to feature new music that I have never played before, so this kind of live set is a first-time for me.
Could you share a memorable moment or a particularly challenging obstacle you encountered during the creation of this mix that shaped the final outcome? ANDY: The live elements, especially the guitar and my vocals were difficult to nail. I use my voice and my guitar in many different ways where they have to fulfil completely different roles. The performance, as well as the live sound design was really challenging but also great fun!
Which artists or record labels have significantly influenced and shaped your style, and how have they impacted your approach to music?
ANDY: Weval and Tame Impala have been a huge influence. They often use instruments, vocals and effects in ways that are odd and extremely tasty. Sometimes vocals turn into a reverb cloud, sometimes they are heavily distorted and sound more like a synth than a human. Lots of times when I listen to their music, I don’t really know what instruments they actually use but it sounds so, so good and it is extremely trippy. Listen to ‘Losing Days’ or ‘Don’t Lose Time’ by Weval to get an idea of what I mean.
You won’t regret it. And since you rock a guitar, we have to ask about your axe: What do you play with? And who is your ultimate guitar god(dess), or the first album you bought and decided you had to start a band and play?
ANDY: I play a Fender Classic Player Baja ‘60s Telecaster at my live gigs. It’s very versatile and sounds great! I started playing guitar when I was in middle school around the age of 15. I think Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix were my favourites back then. I still love the aggressiveness of Kurt Cobain and how trippy Hendrix’ music is. There’s so much energy in their sounds. I try to incorporate some of this in my music.
What upcoming projects or releases can your fans look forward to, and how do you plan to continue sharing your music with your audience?
ANDY: I love playing in rave settings like clubs and festivals. But I would like to be able to play my own concerts in a year or two where I have full control over the stage design, lights, visuals and will have the possibility to go through the full range of genres in my music. (I tried did the latter in my Flow Session by the way. 🙂 )
Where are some of your favourite places you have played recently, and where are you headed next? Any plans for Australia?
ANDY: My highlights in 2023 were playing at Fusion Festival in front of 5.000 people, having my debut at Sisyphos, playing in the desert at AfrikaBurn and returning to my favourite club: Südpol in Hamburg. I will play a few gigs in South Africa again, starting in April and also at AfrikaBurn. I’m very much looking forward to this. The setting is incredible. Regarding Australia: I’ve never been there and this absolutely has to change! I would love to see the country and play some gigs there. I hope there will be a chance to do so soon.
Is there a special message or something specific you’d like to share with the fans who have supported your journey?
ANDY: It makes me incredibly happy to see that more and more people are coming to my gigs and some even sing along. It’s the most rewarding experience. I hope I can continue to live this dream as long as possible. Thank you for listening and dancing to my music. It means the world to me. You have had your personal challenges with mental health over the years, and have shared your struggles publicly.
What are your thoughts on the importance of mental health in the industry, and how do you feel supported (by your fans and the community?)
ANDY: The music industry is wearing out a lot of people quickly. If you don’t build resilience and look after yourself, it will take a toll on you. There’s so many obstacles that you can stumble over. I’m not only talking about the situation for artists but for everyone who’s in this. I think it’s helpful to be open about mental health, to talk about it and to support each other. To me, it was a relief to share stories about depression and anxiety and even more to get positive feedback. To know I am not alone in this. I want to encourage anyone who is suffering to seek help. There is always hope, and you are not alone either.
Finally, please share with us two tracks for our Spotify playlist created by the artists who have been on the mix series. These can be original or tracks that you admire and love to play!
Connect with Andy
www.andys-echo.com
‘Nomad / Awakening’ on Colorize is out now!
colorizemusic.enhncd.co/0478
Contact/Booking – andysecho.wordpress.com
Instagram: instagram.com/andys.echo
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/7AsYa6HcbppsUd6qcYwJew
SC – @andys-echo
