Andy Caldwell

5 Magazine Interview with Andy Caldwell

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:49:00 +0000

Always restless, always innovative, Andy Caldwell (website, label, facebook, myspace, twitter, discogs) is on the verge of reinventing himself again. His latest album, Obsession, debuts in October and represents yet another shift in a zig-zag evolution that's passed through Deep House, the funky West Coast House sound and now into something wholly different.

"My sound has been changing over the last few years," he says. "I got more into the electronic sound with the European House scene and wanted to express that in an album. I was really feeling stagnant creatively and broke out of the soulful House shackles about a year ago."

Many are characterizing the sound as some cocktail of progressive and electro, but what's undeniable is that behind the gloss is a core of polished hooks and songs that qualify Caldwell as one of the best songwriters in dance music today.

Andy first came to prominence as a member of Soulstice, the live House band with a sound at least a decade ahead of its time. By chance, I'd just recently picked up Soulstice's Mixed Illusions album again for the first time in years. The voice of Gina Rene is unmistakable and I was surprised to hear it again on "Fear My Pride" - easily my favorite track on Obsession. Which was our point of departure...

Soulstice in my opinion was way ahead of its time, and seemed to be on the verge of really breaking through just before the demise. I'm glad to hear you back at least for one track with Gina Rene! Do you ever think about reforming the group?

We had a lot of momentum going, and in some ways I really do miss that creative energy, but ten years later, I think everyone's in a different place. We still work together, though. Gina did a few tracks on my last album, Universal Truth, as well. The song on Obsession with her vocal, "Fear My Pride", was also co-produced with Gabriel Rene [of Soulstice].

You're featuring a few vocalists on here, as well as singing yourself. Can you tell me about some of them?

Well the first single is "It's Guud" featuring Mr. V. We met in Miami - he was MCing at Opium, I think, and we just got to talking about working together one day. "It's Guud" came out of that. I sent the music to him and he completely worked out the vocal in New York and sent it right back, and it just worked right away. We're releasing Part 2 of the remixes in October, which includes the instrumental and a remix from Andy Callister.

I performed lead vocals for several of the songs, which is a big difference from Universal Truth or in the past when I was acting primarily as a producer, musician, songwriter and so on.

"Black Diamond Sky" has vocals by Storm Lee, "What Do You Feel" features Femke and Alexander Sky is the vocalist on two tracks, "Don't Go Home Tonight" and "Time After Time".

He sounds almost like Robert Smith of The Cure on "Don't Go Home Tonight"; the second is just straight-up soulful. And when I first heard his stuff with the Groove Junkies and your track "I Believe in Dreams" with his voice, I actually thought he was a girl!

Yeah, Alexander's amazing in that sense. He can emulate just about any style that a producer could want. If you hear him sing on record and he sounds a certain way, it's probably because that's how they wanted him to sound!

Universal Truth was released on OM. What label is Obsession coming out on?

It's coming out on Uno Recordings, my label which I recently re-launched. I signed a distribution deal with Tommy Boy. Distribution can be really time consuming these days with both physical CDs and distribution to all of the online shops that have popped up, so it's good to have someone to help take care of that.

I noticed you're giving away a free copy of the first single, "It's Guud" featuring Mr. V.

Yeah, and in some ways I've been giving away so much music these days that I'm surprised anyone buys anything anymore! [laughs] But I noticed something on the road, and that's that the more music I give away [on andycaldwell.com], the better the turnout when I play. I've definitely seen the correlation between the two.

I think things are wide open with the way the industry is today. There are so many opportunities now that weren't there years ago. I'm still testing what works and what doesn't but I haven't been unhappy. The only thing that really gets to me is that some people don't even wait until a song comes out to share it. I know other people have said this before, but it's true: if nobody pays for this, nobody will make it.

I mean, it's funny to think of now but when I first got into music, I didn't even care if I sold a single record. Then you get into the songwriting and all the work you put into it and then your income is based on selling records. It's hard not to take that personally sometimes. But generally I try to keep a good attitude towards it.

Obsession is out now and available everywhere; watch for part 2 of the "It's Guud" remixes, followed by remixes of "Black Diamond Sky" and "Scream". For more info, check out andycaldwell.com and unorecordings.com.

Original Press Article: 5 Magazine Interview with Andy Caldwell

It's Guud Part 2 featured on Traxsource

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:51:00 +0000

Coming off the massive success of Andy Caldwell's It's Guud, Uno Recordings brings you the follow up remixes as well as a dub of the original. Andy Caldwell thought it might be nice to do a dub version of the original mix. Simple, clean and techy, this one is sure to catch the ears of many tastemakers. Neon Stereo goes all fidgity on us! Awash in Electro overtones, this remix is firmly at home on the main floor, dubby and fat. Mr. V's vocals are interwoven with Neon Stereo's signature bassline and thick beats. Andy Callister (Holland) offers up a wicked interpretretation of the orig.

Click here to view on It's Guud Part 2 by Andy Caldwell on Traxsource.com

Promolift.com Interview with Andy Caldwell

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:23:00 +0000

Andy Caldwell is a man who wears many hats - producer, remixer, singer, songwriter, DJ and label owner to name just a few! Jenn at LIFT just serviced the new album Obsession by mail this week. While you college radio DJ's wait to get your hands on it, check out our interview with Andy where he talks about his music background and the new album!

PRO MOTION Interviews Andy Caldwell from PRO MOTION/LIFT on Vimeo.

Original Interview on Promolift.com

OC Weekly Review - Obsession Album

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:11:00 +0000

Euro Tracks - His board-short days behind him, onetime smooth-house DJ Andy Caldwell toughens up his sound

There must be something in the water in European clubland these days that's turning otherwise straight-and-narrow DJs into twisted, devious party monsters. Ben Watt of the late pop act Everything but the Girl is known for his tuneful, deep-house DJing. But lately he's gone to the dark side, telling us how much he likes the new "druggy" European sound. Dubfire, one half of accessible house music duo Deep Dish, is spinning dubby, mischievous tunes for the 5 a.m. crowd in Ibiza and Berlin. Even Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, on a recent mixtape with DJ Felix da Housecat, is getting in on the Euro-madness, rapping about clubbing in Paris and his allegiance to "13-minute versions" of dance tracks.

Southern California has also lost an otherwise sane soul to the devilish sounds of Europe. Andy Caldwell was a poster boy for the smooth-house grooves that put other West Coast dance music and the likes of Miguel Migs, Kaskade and Jay-J on the map. The sound, often featuring calming female vocals, while accessible and tuneful, often feels like Kenny G is being remixed for a late-dinner crowd. Kaskade got a clue, and has since tranced up his sound for a whole new audience (he recently headlined for 4,000 at a capacity Hollywood Palladium). Jay-J moved to New York and embraced a tougher, more drum-heavy sound, too.

Longtime Bay Area resident Caldwell made his own move—to L.A. But he's also been spending time in Europe, and it shows. His new album, Obsession, is nothing like his smooth-house past. There's not a sax sample or sad vocal in sight. Instead, the DJ has infused his sound with alarm wails, rap (Mr. V sounds Diddy-like on "It's Guud") and dizzy, trancey elements that are more at home in a sweaty super-club than in a cocktail lounge. "Black Diamond Sky" seems to share some DNA with a Calvin Harris track. "Put Me in the Mix" has trippy echoes and twisted elements that give way to syrupy vocals and boastful rhymes. And on "Funk Nasty," contributing vocalist Gram'ma Funk asks, "Are you nasty baby?" For Caldwell, the answer is yes.

"I was stagnating creatively," Caldwell explains. "Then I lived in Barcelona for about six months in 2004, and I toured and traveled to Europe on and off. It definitely had an influence. People there just have a more intense kind of energy. There's a lot of really great music coming out of there, and I seem to be drawn to it."

Like Migs, Caldwell is a Santa Cruz native. He ended up at Sonoma State University, where he studied communications and minored in music. About the time he graduated, he started spinning.

"I realized early on that I had a knack for putting on a set that takes people on a journey," says Caldwell, now 36. "I always go someplace with it and tell a story."

In the mid-1990s Caldwell began recording for Bay Area label Om, which was also home to releases from Migs and Kaskade. At about the same time, Naked Music, a New York deep-house label, established a beachhead in S.F., and locals Jay-J and Chris Lum built an epicenter for California house music recording, Moulton Studios. It was a scene, man. Caldwell became a headlining DJ as the West Coast house phenomenon spread across the world. From 2003 to 2006, he even attracted the sponsorship of surf-wear maker Op, which was relaunching some of its old-school looks (corduroy walking shorts, striped polos). Both Caldwell's music and his breezy, clean-cut appearance were a perfect fit, and you couldn't pick up a music or surf magazine without seeing him modeling beach duds in Op ads.

As his board-short era faded, Caldwell moved to Los Angeles and opened a new chapter. No longer would he promote the image of a laid-back DJ living the beach lifestyle. "I think I had enough of San Francisco," he says. "I kept doing the same thing over and over, and I wanted change."

Don't take his tougher sound too literally, though. One thing Caldwell misses about the Bay was its sense of community among digital music-makers. He's trying to re-create that in L.A., asking other area dance producers, such as Morgan Page, over to his studio to exchange ideas and talk music.

"We're all kind of getting together, swapping remixes and collaborating in the studio," Caldwell says. "I'm trying to recreate what I was doing in San Francisco eight years ago. I think Southern California has the best electronic music scene and fan base in America if not the world right now."

So much for Europe.

OC Weekly Origninal Article

Beatportal feature - Weekend Weapons

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:56:00 +0000

Los Angeles' Andy Caldwell is unafraid of the limelight. A permanent blip on the American house music radar, he has pushed the sound forwards, both in the underground as a former king of San Francisco's deep house scene (he was the goldenboy of OM Records and Naked Music for a while), and in the mainstream, where he has produced pop friendly house, won Grammys, and shared a stage with the late, great, James Brown.
As a classically trained pianist, trumpeter, songwriter, and producer, Caldwell's approach to house is very musical and song-based - quite different to the club-centric, beats heavy grooves that dominate much of the scene. This can be heard on his brand new album 'Obsession', which has its feet firmly in the pop world.

As a DJ, Andy plays over 100 gigs per year so we asked the pretty boy to share his current crop of Weekend Weapons.

Original Article on Beatportal

OC Weekly Press: Andy Caldwell @ CODE

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:09:00 +0000

Evolution is a beautiful thing. While it has been nice to see California smooth-house artisans such as Kaskade, Jay-J and Andy Caldwell gain international clubland acclaim, their Kenny G.-like dance music often lulled us into a deep siesta. But artists change. Kaskade has moved on to trancier climes, Jay-J is now a New York big-room spinner, and now Caldwell has found a tougher voice.

The Los Angeles-based Andy Caldwell, once the spokes-spinner for laid-back OP clothing, has been such the quintessential, lazy-day DJ that we half expected him to be recording barefoot with Jack Johnson by now. I know, we get it -- house music doesn't always have to be about dancing. And digging into its jazzy, soulful roots should be commended. It's just that, well, we'd always prefer a little more cowbell. With Obession, Cadwell's studio album due Oct. 20 digitally from Uno Recordings/Tommy Boy (the hardcopy version comes Nov. 3), the jock has found a grittier, more tribal voice. "I got more into the electronic sound with the European house scene, and [I] wanted to express that in an album," the DJ states. "I was really feeling stagnant creatively and broke out of the soulful house shackles about a year ago."

Change is good. From Calvin Harris going on a DJ tour of super-clubs to P. Diddy taking on electro influences, we say bring it on. Just don't put us to sleep. Caldwell will be rinsing his new, more-energetic flavor tonight at Code in Newport Beach. Good thing. If we wanted to be lulled into a stupor we'd turn on the radio.

Original Press Review on OC WEEKLY

Top 10 Hottest cuts for September 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:56:00 +0000

Check out Andy Caldwell's Top 10 hottest cuts on Traxsource.com for September 2009.

Top 100 DJs Poll: Cast your vote!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:54:00 +0000

Click here to VOTE today! http://www.top100djs.net/

Check out Andy Caldwell's Music Video for "IT'S GUUD"

Traxsource Interview with Andy Caldwell

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:30:00 +0000

You've recently relaunched your Uno Label with It's Guud" feat. Mr. V ... how did this project come about and why the sabbatical?
Well, I've been working on a ton of new music, I think I just needed a break to gather myself and focus on a new artistic direction. I tend to get bored doing the same thing (same style) of music so I like to mix it up every few years! Might not be the best thing to do, but it works for me.
What's your favorite experience as a DJ?
Traveling to cool and interesting cities and locations. I love to explore and Dj'ing has literally taken me all over the world. I've been very blessed to have had this opportunity, it's definitely a perk to the job!
Where are your favorite places to play & why?
Currently LA and San Francisco! I'm doing a residency in San Francisco at club Vessel called Play. It's a ton of fun and the people are crazy. In June of 09 I'm starting up Play as a monthly party at club Ecco. Again, great club, amazing crowd and how nice is it to just get in your car and drive across town for this? I do love to travel, but sometimes I love staying home even more!.
What do you listen to in your "free time"?
Lately a ton of Jazz and be-bop... albums like Giant Steps by Coltrane are hugely influencing me. Also, classical... don't laugh but Vivaldi is probably gets the most plays in my ipod. Great for walking around strange cities and airports.
Do you prefer the studio or the road & why?
For me there's a fine balance of both. I get really worn out if I'm constantly on the road touring. And conversely, I get pretty bored just working away in my studio 24-7. I'm still trying to find that perfect balance though as I tend to become completely absorbed in one or the other... almost addicted! When it rains it pours.
Who would you love to work with at some point in your career, You got the opportunity to open for James Brown…what was that experience like?
Being on tour with James Brown was kinda surreal for sure. We all suspected he was likely on his last tour but little who knew it really would be only a few short months before he passed away. The man was working harder than anyone else even in his 70's. That was really inspirational. It made me realize, hey, I can do this as long as I want! I think at this point, I'd like to work with someone like Cia. She's got an amazing voice and really draws me in.
You're a classically trained pianist & trumpet player ...how has this influenced your sound and do you still use these skills?
I believe in order to make music, you have to actually know a little bit about music. Learning the piano was a very important step in my career path, as important as learning the engineering and technical aspect of creating music.
House music & its sub-genres used to be much more clear cut then they are today…how do you feel about this criss-crossing of styles & what do you see for the future?
I think the fact that we're hearing house music pop up on mainstream radio these days is awesome. My feeling is let's get this music out to as many people as possible! You hear house music in every swanky boutique or hotel from Paris to London to LA and beyond. I say blend away.
How's the house scene on the West Coast these days?
It's great, while it's changed a bit the past few years, there's a whole new crew of fans coming up.
Is there a "West Coast" House sound? If so what is it and how does it differ from the East coast or Chicago sound?
Typically "West Coast" house has been a bit funkier and organic sounding, often times with full vocal production but lately that seems to be changing and becoming more techy and glitchy. Very cool!
Who are some of the House Producers to watch this year?
Alex Kenji, Tom Flynn and David Tort are rocking it!
Digital downloads have been around for 5 or so years now...how do you see the next 5 years of the digital music age?
Growing immensely! People are totally abandoning the CD format, just like they did cassette and vinyl. It's the natural progression of an industry. Demand drives the format war, so as long as there is an increased demand for digital files, the format will continue to grow to become the predominate way to distribute music.
What should we look out for from Andy Caldwell & ?
Well, I've got a new album coming in September called "Obsession" feat. Mr. V, Gram'ma Funk, Storm Lee and many more! I'm releasing it on CD, Vinyl and Digital via .
Do you have a radio show or podcast where people can check out your DJ mixes?
Yes! Check out http://andycaldwell.podbean.com.
Tell us something we might not know about Andy Caldwell?
I'm an avid Basketball fan!!! Go Lakers!!!

Traxsource Interview with Andy Caldwell

"IT'S GUUD" - International DJ & Radio Support

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:32:00 +0000

"It's Guud" featuring Mr V -- Was released Tuesday May 12th via UNO Recordings only on Beatport!

Key DJ support:

Ashley Beedle, Bob Sinclair, Danny Howells, Rocky and Diesel, Dirty South, Fedde Le Grand, Basement Jaxx, Hector Romero, Jimpster, Mark Knight, Nic Fanciuli, Copyright, Junior Jack and more!

Spins on the following National radio shows:

Galaxy Network - UK
Radio 105 - Italy
NRJ - Austria
Fierce Angels - World Wide syndicated
BBC Radio One - UK
Goodhope FM - South Africa
Gaydar Radio - Europe
Radio One - Dubai
Radio FG - France
XM Satellite / The Move - US
40 Principales - Spain
Club246.com - Canada
Radio 105 - Italy
5FM - South Africa
Kiss - London
Kiss FM - Melbourne

Andy Caldwell in the mix B.P.M. Session Show

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:53:00 +0000

Check out Andy's DJ Mix on B.P.M. Session Show!!

FREE Download of his complete DJ Mix by clicking here!

Or LISTEN NOW BELOW!

DJ Andy Caldwell in the mix B.P.M. Session Show 11 Part 1...

B.P.M. Session Podcast

Facebook Fan Box Widget! Become a Fan!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:33:00 +0000

DJ Andy Caldwell on Facebook

Facebook Live Stream Fan Widget! Become a Fan!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:36:00 +0000

Traxsource Features Andy Caldwell "It's Guud"

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:35:00 +0000

Andy Caldwell and Mr V - Its Guud!!!

With spins from heavy weights Bob Sinclar, Erick Morillo, Hector Romero and many more, Andy Caldwell's latest release continues to garner a stellar response. Featuring the vocal talents of Mr. V and remixes from Matteo Dimar, Tim Weeks and Bale & Voltaire, this one is already lighting up the airwaves and dance floors worldwide.

A simplified, stripped down production approach led Caldwell to create the bed to which Mr. V would later add his distinctive vocal styling. Collaborating via email in separate studios, 3000 miles apart, it's clear that Andy and V were perfectly in step.

The sexy interplay between Mr. V and the voice of Michelle Belegrin, Andy's muse, is repeated almost hypnotically throughout the track. If I didn't know better, I'd think V was trying to hit on my girl!” laughs Andy. Though Mr. V had never met her, it's clear that he was inspired by the words Belegrin had laid down in the instrumental.

Evidently others have been similarly inspired as the track has gone onto the top play lists of DJ's throughout the hemispheres.

Press from Traxsource - Original Post

Andy Caldwell Interview with CityPages.com

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:59:00 +0000

For a time throughout the late '90s up to more recent years, Andy Caldwell was a favorite son of San Francisco, DJing and producing deep and up-front house for the city's cornerstone house label, Om. And then Caldwell did the unthinkable in 2006: He moved. He left Om. He joined forces with trance behemoth Ministry of Sound, of all labels, proclaimed he was going solo, and moved to LA. When we found out Caldwell was about to bring his happy-vibes house music to Minneapolis for a night this weekend, we wanted to check up and see what his new life has brought him.

Gimme Noise: First, the question we always ask: What are your current projects and what are you excited about?

Andy Caldwell: I'm currently supporting the release of my forthcoming studio/artist album Obsession. The second single, "It's Guud" is out now and has been getting hammered on the radio and in the clubs! I'm releasing the album on Uno Recordings in September 2009 so stay tuned! Did I tell you I'm also really excited about this whole frozen yogurt craze that's sweeping the nation??? Also, basketball... I play it at least 3-4 times a week!

GN: Yes, frozen yogurt is teh yumz. On another note, we were suprised to hear you moved on from Om to go solo. How's this arrangement working out?

AC: Well, it's as you might have guessed, it's bittersweet. I really miss working with the Om family, they nurtured my career for the better part of 10 years. It's somewhat scarry going it alone as I've really got to build things on my own and invest my own money into the releases. I feel that it's the right thing to do, though. As music becomes more availbable digitally, it makes a traditional record label somewhat less important than it used to be. Plus, now I own my masters and all my publishing, so i've got that going for me, which is nice! (Caddyshack anyone?)

GN: Where is home now? Tell me a bit about your environment.

AC: I'm currently residing in Los Angeles and I love it. I spent 12 years toiling away in San Francisco, getting intimately familiar with every nook and cranny. I woke up one day and decided I'd done everything I needed to do there... next stop LA! I pretty much moved straight down here in the summer of 2006 and have been greatly enjoying the gems of Southern Cali. The weather is so amazing here, you've got skiing 45 mins away in the winter, the beach is right here nearly year round plus all the great hiking and outdoorsy stuff. Don't even get me started on all the great restaurants and nightlife! I could do without the small minority of plastic people that populate this great city, but honestly they keep to themselves, plus they really aren't so bad :)

GN: What was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you at a gig?

AC: There were a couple of times when I used to use CDs (I now use Serato), that I accidently ejected the CD while it was playing!! The first time it happened I didn't even realize what I had done and I was looking around the dj booth in a panic. It took a good 30 seconds for me to realize what an ass I had made of myself and hastily shoved the CD back into the deck! Meanwhile the dancefloor stopped, the lights came up and everyone was staring at me in a sorry chorus of disbelief. LOL. Well, head down in shame and a couple shots of Tequila later, I repeated the entire sequence of events! Oh what a mess. Another reason to hate CDs.

GN: What is your favorite track to play at peak set time right now?

AC : I'm going to shamelessly plug my single here... My favorite peak time track is "It's Guud" featuring Mr. V!!! Also love the remix by Matteo Dimarr, you can peep it here.

CityPages Interview with Andy Caldwell

Andy Caldwell Interview with Deep House Network

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:24:00 +0000

Andy Caldwell Interview

DHN: Which people have influenced you the most both musically and personally?

AC: I was a 70's kid living in Mexico so when my family moved to Santa Cruz, CA in 79' I was immediately turned on by what I heard on the radio and what all my friends at school were listening to. I'd have to say that 80's pop culture as a whole, had a tremendous influence on me. As silly as it might sound, I still find myself taping my foot to early Madonna and Michael Jackson cuts! Musically though, I've been influenced by everyone from Reggae greats like Peter Tosh, Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff to soul and r&b singers like Michael Jackson, Al Green, Sade, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan the list goes on. I'm also very into bands like Depeche Mode, Nirvana, Coldplay, The Cars, Police, Kraftwerk, Yellow etc...

DHN: Which producers do you most admire / respect both contemporary and otherwise?

AC: I love Quincy Jones, the man is god in my book. As for Dance producers, Martin Solveig, Trent Moller, Kaskade, Jay-J, Gabriel Rene the list goes on...

How much importance do you place on the opinions of fellow producers and / or journalists? Does this influence you creatively?

I'm fairly influenced by my producer friends. They usually give me quality feedback, no fluff. I don't pay too much attention to the press, one minute they love you, the next minute your dog food.

DHN: Which labels do you consistently look out for?

AC: I'm not really a label-orientated person. I usually look for artists and producers whom I know can consistently push the envelope.

DHN: What do you think of the worldwide deep house scene as it is today? Are there any hotspots that you love to play?

AC: It's pretty healthy. A few years ago it was tough to play deep house to large crowds, they didn't really get it, but I think as people seek more out of the music they listen to, they tend to begin to appreciate the deeper sounds. One thing that has been frustrating for me is knowing what to play, where. What might work for one crowd won't work for the other. As for hotspots, Spain, Australia, Latin America and the UK seem to be bumpin' right now.

DHN: You have your second mix album out soon for the Inspirit Music label. How did you choose the tracklisting for InHouse Perspective 02 and how did you first become involved with the label?

AC: Well, I produced as many new and original tracks as I could for the release, then I assembled my favorite tracks from the past year and put them together with my own material. It was a laborious task. It's easier said than done to put a mix CD together, you have to clear the license, make sure it works in the mix and then choose just the right tracks. I spent a lot of time working on this mix cd, I really hope people like it. In terms of how we hooked up - it was through Ryan Raddon (Kaskade). He was licensing a track from Inspirit for an Om lounge compilation and he told me he had been commissioned to do a remix for the label. It sounded like they had a good foundation for a label so I asked to be introduced. One thing led to another and now we have a very solid relationship.

DHN: Do you have plans to release an artist album at any point?

AC: I do, 2004 is going to see the release of my first artist album. I'm going to take tracks that I've already produced, remix them and add some new material to it. It will feature vocalists Lisa Shaw, Omega, Gina Rene, Latrice Barnett and others. I'm planning on releasing the album through Inspirit Music.

DHN: If possible what would you say is the common thread throughout your productions?

AC: HA! That's a tough one, I'd have to say that I always include a solid groove with plenty of musicality and strong vocals.

DHN: What do you enjoy most DJ ing or producing? And why?

AC: I think I like both about the same. I couldn't just do one or the other. To me it's very rewarding to be able to play my own tracks during my DJ sets. I love being in the studio, writing, producing etc. But the real reward comes from performing your music to a live audience. It's really that cycle, the feedback that I enjoy most of all.

DHN: When you do play out, what styles can we expect to hear?

AC: You never know! I have a hard time playing the same style every time. I like to mix it up a lot and play music from different sorts of generes within the house music umbrella. I'm not one to only play "deephouse" or "electro." I'm more the type who mixes everything together, more of an old school dj really.

DHN: Can you tell us about a particular favourite gig of yours?

AC: I played a gig with Ryan Raddon (Kaskade) last year in Cork, Ireland that was incredible. We flew in for a Sunday night to play the Half Moon Theater, it was cold and rainy and we got stuck in traffic on our way to the hotel. I wasn't expecting much from the gig and I was pretty tired from a long weekend of gigs and travel. But that night ended up being one of the best and most memorable of the year for me. The crowd was crazy, the music was on point and I even got into it with the bouncer when he forced me to stop playing!

DHN: Do you have plans to Tour this year?

AC: I do, I've got every weekend booked through the end of April already, it's looking to be the busiest year to date for me. I'd like to try and slow down a little, but I don't think my fans are going to let me.

DHN: What plans do you have for Miami this year?

AC: I'm launching a label called UNO and I'm putting together a launch party there. I'll be playing along with the Soulstice Crew, Migs, and Kaskade.

DHN: You were an integral member of the band Soulstice. Is there more Soulstice material planned for the future?

AC: Actually yes, we are planning to release our second album on my new label Uno later this year. It's a bit different than our last outing, we've tapped into more of the electro sound and fused that with our solid, soulful base that we are known for.

DHN: Describe the process of working with other Soulstice members...

AC: We are like family. We've all known each other for many years so we're very comfortable working together in the studio. It's great to be able to bounce ideas off each other. Usually if we can all agree on something it's probably pretty tight.

DHN: There seems to be a trend towards live dance music acts of late. What do Soulstice offer their audiences that set them apart from other live acts?

AC: Talent! Gina Rene, our lead singer is one of the most talented artists I know. She can sing, write and perform. She's got it all. We back her up with keyboards and beats, it's really funky. We don't just hide behind a rack of synthesizer's, there's a real interaction with the audience.

How do you see the deep house scene developing over the next few years?

AC: It's probably going to continue to grow and reach more people. However, it needs to evolve. There are just too many producers and dj's out there producing and playing the same stuff that we did 3-4 years ago! My problem with the deep house scene is that people many of the fans don't really have an open mind to music. So for the genre to succeed and progress, there needs to be some change.

DHN: What forthcoming productions should we look out for from Andy Caldwell?

AC: I have a new single coming out on Naked Music in January called "Give a Little" featuring the vocals of Latrice Barnett, also a single coming in February on Inspirit titled "Pushin" featuring Omega. There are a couple of remixes dropping as well on my new label Uno, one of which is the Mei-Lwun single "Too Late" featuring Gina Rene.

DHN: Tell us something about Andy Caldwell that we don't or shouldn't know!

AC: My right leg is a centimeter longer than my left.

Interview by Deep House Network

MUSIC2 Interview with Andy Caldwell

noreply@blogger.com (Chuck) — Sat, 23 May 2009 17:59:00 +0000

An Interview with Andy Caldwell, who's single "Funk Nasty" with Mr. V is out now!

Good day chap, I trust you’re well?

I'm doing quite well, thanks! I'm on my way to the store to pick up some toothpaste and dish gloves. But the weather is fine and it's nice to be out of the house!

Your single, "It's Guud" has just been released, what can we expect from it?

Right, back to the music! Well Its definitely not what you or I would expect from the Caldwell camp. Gritty minimal tech house infused with a dirty and sexually suggestive vocal, this is uncharted territory for me... But it's sooo much more fun that way.

The remixes from Tim Weeks, Bale & Voltaire and Matteo Di Marr are fairly contrasting pieces, and complement the original in very different ways. Was this planned in the choosing of mixers, or are you just fans of theirs?

I just wanted to cover all bases with the remix package. I knew the original wouldn't suit everyone so I wanted to create an opportunity to have the essence and vibe preserved in various different formats. I'm consequently very pleased with the result!

How did the collaboration between the two of you come about?

First off, I've been a huge admirer of mr v for quite some time and have played a bunch of his work in my sets over the years. So when I first met him I was really impressed at what a mellow and laid back person he was. Mind you I met him at wmc right before my set at Nocturnal and I still got this great vibe off him. He went on to informally MC the night and his vocals really took everything to the next level. After the show he told me to send him some tracks that he could rhyme over. I just happened to have the instrumental with Michelles vocals which I sent him straight away! The rest is history I guess! LOL

Are their plans to work together again in the near future?

Absolutely! I've promised him a track for his upcoming album release and I'd love to do some more live shows with him as well... I'm sure we will have plenty of opportunities for that in the near future;)

Andy, this is a strong single and, as such, a good release for Uno recordings and yourself. What brought about the starting of your own label?

Well, thank you for that! I started the label five years ago out of a desire to have an outlet for my creative little side projects and also as an avenue to release music that I my friends created. I really wanted to build a sort of extended family of artists. To some degree that has been successful although with everyones busy schedules it's sometimes difficult to achieve! We released a track from my good friend Ryan Yoshimoto back in 2004 with an absolutley smashing remix by Trentemoller. The single went on to sell well over 100,000 copies and was licensed to dozens of comps. I kind of went quiet after that and didn't release anything until 2007. Anyway, we are back after a relaunch in 2008 and are coming up on the 10th release this summer!

And, what do you have lined up for the label in the coming months?

Well, a fresh remix package of "Funk Nasty" with mixed by Hidden Cat and Youth Attack as well as a new single off my forth coming album titled "Obesession". The single is called Black Diamond Sky and we've got Morgan Page, Alex Kenji and Grey Area turning in some HOT mixes!

Are their any plans in the pipeline to maybe tour with a live show, given the collaborations on new material?

I've always been a big fan of touring with friends and performing with amazing and talented people, it's something that can really take a club night to the next level! My forthcoming tour will be no exception to that rule!

April 26th - ROOM SERVICE @ The Standard

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Libutti, Social Media Specialist) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:38:00 +0000

ROOM SERVICE
The Standard Downtown
Sunday, April 26th / 1pm - 8pm

Andy Caldwell

Los Angeles based Andy Caldwell wears many guises: Songwriter, producer, classically trained pianist and trumpeter, remixer, DJ and label owner (of the recently re-launched Uno Recordings). The journey of his 14-year and counting recording career has brought many accolades and honors, from writing Grammy nominated songs and sharing stages with legends like James Brown to making the tunes of choice for countless top DJs worldwide. Flying more than 200,000 miles and playing more than 100 shows a year, Andy Caldwell is a preeminent fixture on the global dance music scene.

The last few years have been both productive and immeasurably fun for Caldwell: he headlined the 25-city House of Om tour, recorded the exotic Om Dubai mix collection as well as a double-disc of jamming electro for Bargrooves. He led a float at the Berlin Love Parade, played Ibizan superclub Pacha, rocked 70,000 at the Los Angeles Coliseum for Electric Daisy Carnival and opened for James Brown at the massive Good Vibrations festival tour in Australia.

Opening sets by
DJ KAM & OMAR CASH

Every 4th Sunday of the Month
The Standard Hotel, Downtown
550 S. Flower St, LA, CA 90071
(click here for directions)

UNO RELAUNCHES WITH GRAM'MA FUNK

noreply@blogger.com (Squeekygirl) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:03:00 +0000

http://www.unorecordings.com/

Uno Recordings, founded by Los Angeles based DJ & Producer Andy Caldwell, burst onto the dance scene in 2004 with Trentemoller's remix of Yoshimoto's massive 'Du What U Du'. Picked up first by international tastemaker Sasha, 'Du What U Du' was licensed around the world to Italy, France, Holland, Spain & the UK and remixed over a dozen times from artists including Paul Woolford, Markus Schultz & Claudio Cocolutto.

The unexpected explosion on the first single put the label under intense pressure and the original partners disbanded leaving Andy in control. With a schedule that included an artist album for Om Records, two major mix compilations and a tour across 25 cities in the US & Canada; it's only now that Andy has found time to concentrate on Uno allowing the label to re-emerge with renewed vigor!

Bouncing back in 2008, Uno marks a return to form with a plethora of strong releases! Look out for new single 'Funk Nasty' from Groove Armada collaborator, Gram'ma Funk featuring a remix from man of the moment, Wolfgang Gartner plus releases from Andy including 'It's Guud' with vocals from Mr V, a reworking of Andy's classic track & Pete Tong favourite 'Warrior' and Bass Construction's 90's club hit 'Dancing Together'.

With a promise to release quality electronic dance music pairing edgy, experimental sounds with lyrically strong, soulful song writing; Uno is a name to watch!

WATCH 'DU WHAT U DU' VIDEO:
http://www.ryanyoshimoto.com/y_dwd_qt6.html

CHECK ANDY'S MYSPACE HERE:
http://www.myspace.com/djandycaldwell

MORE INFORMATION:
Tania von Pear tania@unorecordings.com