In essence, Andrew's return to DJing is a deeply personal journey intertwined with his early experiences, family commitments, and the legacy of those who believed in him. His resilience is a testament to the human spirit's capacity to bounce back from adversity.
New Horizons for DJing: Longer Sets and Meaningful Collaborations
"I’d rather play fewer gigs and play longer sets, I think that gives people more value than many shorter gigs." In terms of his DJ sets, Andrew Cross shares that he loves to focus on deep house with upfront music. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to his roots while also keeping things fresh by staying current with new tracks. His current playlist includes artists such as Gorge, Dilby, Markus Homm, Mihai Popoviciu, and others. He's also interested in pushing for longer DJ sets, showcasing that less is more and allowing DJs to construct a proper set and tell a musical story. By playing longer sets, a DJ can truly connect with the audience and create a progressive journey throughout the night. A significant aspect of his musical journey involves his collaboration with Les Afrique from Household Funk. They complement each other in terms of musical taste and have joined forces to curate the Deep Revival lineups for events. Les Afrique has been a constant source of encouragement for Andrew, pushing him to play even when he was considering retiring. Their collaborative approach is built on a deep respect for each other's unique style and shared values, particularly their strong commitment to family. Andrew's evolution as a DJ reflects a deep understanding of the art form, a commitment to embracing new musical trends, and a strong belief in how he can contribute positively to the DJing scene. His personal experiences have brought depth and new meaning to his approach to music and DJing.
Music Evolution and DJing
"Playing on vinyl in the 90’s meant a DJ became synonymous with certain songs." Throughout his career, Andrew Cross has witnessed significant transformations in the music industry, from the vinyl era cherished among close friends to the CD era that was prevalent during his time at Soul Candi, and finally, the current digital age dominated by streaming. He acknowledges both the positive and negative aspects of these changes. The digital age has brought a double- edged sword for DJs. While it offers unlimited creativity and access to music, it has made it easier for artists to release mediocre tracks, as they can easily upload their content to various platforms. The ease of sampling music rather than creating unique sounds from scratch has become more common, resulting in a homogenization of tracks. However, the digital age also brings numerous benefits. DJing with controllers and laptops allows for limitless creativity, enabling real-time remixing, editing, and mashups. The role of a DJ has evolved to be more than just mixing tracks; it now includes live remixing and production.
sound press | November 2023
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