DJ Andy Whitby Interview with Clubnet UK

Is Andy Whitby your real name? If so, if you had to give yourself a pseudonym what would you call yourself!?

Hi guys... yes, that is my real name, I always find it strange when people ask me that (which is quite often) as I see it as a very normal name - I think if I was going to choose a super cool DJ name for myself it wouldn't involve 'Andy' but I guess 'Whitby' is quite unique.

I think something like 'MR. MAIN EVENT' would be a good DJ name... there is no way a promoter could book you anywhere else but Main Room and headline bill with such a title!

How would you describe your DJing style?

My mixing style is very hands-on; lots of chops, effects, spin-backs, hot-cues – I like to take a track and really make it my own so the crowd know they are hearing a unique performance.

My sound is a combination of every sub-genre within Hard-dance; Hardhouse, Hard-trance, Hard-bounce, Hardstyle and whatever else I deem fit to throw into the mix and try to keep the crowd on their toes and, most importantly have a good time out there on the dance floor!

You've been hailed as the saviour of hard house but who is your saviour in the music industry?

*laughs* well... I don't really have a saviour in the music industry as I don't feel like it's ever been in so much trouble it needed saving!

Obviously sales are down, but that is due to everyone being so desperate to technogically evolve that we didn't put the correct measures in place to ensure we were protected. Now anyone can rip and upload a track for people to get for free, a great shame.

Do you have a favourite DJ which has influenced your DJ style and the way you produce?

Growing up I was a massive fan of Hardcore DJs like Sy and Hixxy. What Hixxy did for his mix on Bonkers 1 is still now, so many years later, incredible. I urge anyone who plays Hard-dance or Hardcore to listen to what he is doing on 3 vinyl decks before they begin to believe they are a good DJ - it is insane!

As for my favourite now, I like any DJ which brings something new to the table or isn't afraid to do their own thing. Since the DJ-in-a-box culture exploded every man and his dog can mix, so you have to come with something new and fresh; don't be afraid to try new things.

Over the years you've won titles such as Best DJ, Best Album and Best Resident at the Hard Dance Awards, what would be the one headline you'd love to read about yourself and what would be your ultimate award / goal?!

A good question and one I have to be careful to answer correctly and not look egotistical *laughs* - regarding awards it's always flattering to get them but what do they mean really? I base success on how busy you are and how well received what you are doing is on a day to day basis - constantly moving forward.

Why did you decide to start playing hard house as your chosen genre of music and why do you think you've been so successful when there is so much increasing competition out there?

As mentioned earlier, I was originally all about Happy Hardcore. Then one day Mixmag came with a free C.D called 'Let there be Hardhouse' mixed by Fergie. At the time I'd never even heard of Hardhouse! I put the C.D on and couldn't believe what I was hearing - it was like Hardcore but slower with a groove and more energy - it blew my mind!

The following weekend I went to HMV in Chester and bought most of the Hardhouse vinyl they sold - my addiction was born and I've not looked back since!

Why things have gone so well I'm not sure. I've worked hard, stayed true to myself and constantly pushed to be the artist that clubbers look for when they need a big dance-floor moment. My passion for the music and the scene is stronger than ever and as long as I always have that I know I'll be ok.

Are there any budding dj's which have caught your eye recently and impressed you? Who do you reckon could be the next big thing?

The new talent which is coming through now is more exciting than ever - kids are really pushing the boundaries and realising just being a good DJ isn't enough anymore; you need the full product - passion, a unique style, presented well and not spend your time getting off your head in clubs - those days have gone for the artists.

All the artists I work with closely through AWsum have got me excited about the scene; Cally Gage, Energy Syndicate, Klubfiller, Karlston Khaos, Tom Parr - they are all doing their own thing and finding success with it.

What one piece of advice would you give that person to help them along in their career?

I would give them several - all of which can be found here, on my DJ blog at (Click here to view) - hope you enjoy reading it.

Do you have an ultimate location / club that you've always dreamt of playing and what is your favourite venue to play?

I'm fortunate to play across the World each week, in the last 10 days I've been to Ibiza twice, Majorca, Holland, Ireland and have Vancouver in Canada in a few days time... all are amazing places to play and each offer something different and exciting.

I think my perfect location would be on a beach, playing to a sea of people - the sun is shining, the good times are rolling and it'll be one of those moments you remember forever and talk about for an eternity.

What's been your best and worst experience of djing and producing to date?

As a DJ you experience a rollercoaster of emotions from month to month…one day after a mind-blowing show you might be booked to play at a much worse event which hasn't been promoted correctly, instantly killing your buzz from the night before and making you question what on earth is going on *laughs*

In the 11 years I've been DJing I've had so many of each you learn to deal with them in a certain way - erase the awful shows from your mind and keep the amazing ones stored up so when it's all done and dusted you can remember back and think 'man... that was a crazy life I led'.

You've had sets both in the UK and abroad, which do you prefer and where do you get the best reaction, home or away?

One of my friends asked me this yesterday and I said I absolutely love playing in different countries as it's all about meeting new people, seeing new clubs, hearing new sounds - some weekends I play in places that don't even speak English but everyone is there for one reason; the music. That's a beautiful thing when you think about it.

However, as a wise man said; there's no place like home and when I'm on stage in the UK, in the middle of a packed club, everyone going crazy all around me - I have to agree.

Which do you enjoy more, DJing or producing?

DJing without a doubt. I am aware many others would answer differently but for me it's all about being on that stage and connecting with the thousands of people in front of you. Being given the task of ensuring they have an amazing night is so exciting to me - I love DJing, and when I'm up there I feel like it was what I was born to do.

Have you any new releases out in the near future, if so can you describe what we can expect?

I've just had a new E.P out on my own record label AWsum a few weeks ago; 'Raw Power' and 'Like It Hard?' are available at all digital music stores Worldwide now!

My next release is a tracked called 'One Middle Finger' which I wrote with rising star Karlston Khaos - it won 'Tune of the Month' in the new issue of Mixmag, has already featured on a handful of compilations and has been smashing it in my sets for months, so I'm pleased it's finally hitting stores.

Do you think you'll change your music style in the future or do you think you'll always be loyal to hard house?

I love Hard-dance more now than ever – the scene has evolved into a very exciting genre of exciting new producers and artists. I'm busier than ever, playing across the World each weekend – so unless something goes horribly wrong, Hard-dance is what I'm about.

We all know you for hard house but are there any other styles of music you enjoy playing?

I play several other genres as well – from Hardcore through to Electro and Fidget - a sample of my mixes in these genres can be found here.

I always believe a true DJ can play any style well, not just the genre they have dedicated their career too.

What is currently playing on your iPod?

I rarely listen to my iPod, when I'm on the plane I like to read - I try to finish a book a week - but, checking for you now, it appears my own 'Hardkast' podcast was the last thing I was listening to; I always download it from iTunes when a new episode is added to check it's uploaded with no problems.

When you're not behind the decks what do you do to relax?

Apart from reading, in my time away from music it's all about video games for me - I love them! I own a PS3, 360 and a Wii. Black Ops is my current game of choice, I'm just about to hit 11th prestige, which for any gamer-geeks out there translate to half-decent - if anyone fancies a game my gamer tag is 'saviourwhitby' on both Playstation and Xbox.

If you were not as successful as a DJ what would you like to be doing for a living?

I'd either be playing basketball professionally - I was about to do so when I became a DJ. I had England trials and played for a team in Manchester but as music began to become a bigger part of my life I had to choose…and here we are!

If not basketball, I'd be a graphic designer. I studied at Art College after my A-levels, gaining a HND in graphics and preparing for a life of design. Again, music stopped this!

You regularly play alongside Cally Gage, who would you say is the best dj, male or female?!

I don't believe there is a 'Best DJ' in the World as there are so many incredible talents who can do amazing things within their genres. You could spend a lifetime arguing one DJ is better than another because you prefer that style of music.

Considering everything changes so quickly these days what you do reckon clubbing will be like in 20 years time?

I think Clubbing, like many social activities will either be extinct in 20 years time or we'll be doing it at home via being plugged into some giant social network virtual reality machine.

Society appears to be getting to a point where we need to leave our houses less and less. Food, clothing, movies and entertainment are all available by the click of a few buttons on your TV or computer. If someone told you 10 years ago you could watch a DVD on the day of release in high quality and a fraction of the price merely by pressing a 'purchase' button on your TV you would say they were crazy - things are evolving fast.

Considering everything changes so quickly these days what you do reckon clubbing will be like in 20 years time?

I think Clubbing, like many social activities will either be extinct in 20 years time or we'll be doing it at home via being plugged into some giant social network virtual reality machine.

Society appears to be getting to a point where we need to leave our houses less and less. Food, clothing, movies and entertainment are all available by the click of a few buttons on your TV or computer. If someone told you 10 years ago you could watch a DVD on the day of release in high quality and a fraction of the price merely by pressing a 'purchase' button on your TV you would say they were crazy - things are evolving fast.

Where can our Clubnet UK members catch you DJing next?

This weekend I'm hitting Middlesbrough on Friday for my own show AWsum @ Arena, on Saturday I'll be at Wigan Pier playing a bounce set, on Sunday you can catch me in Magaluf in BCM for Clubland and on Tuesday I'll be in Ibiza for Clubland @ Eden.

Hope to see some of you there!

To keep up to date visit Andy's website here, or check out his podcasts at HardKast.com