Heading up the big new Balearic live shows
What would you do if you were sent 800 new underground dance tracks a week to listen to? Well you would listen to every single one of course. At least, this is what Andi Durrant does religiously every week – an action that goes some way to explaining his status as a lead tastemaker in dance music. With his constant search for new tracks and remixes to play on his national show on Capital Radio and in his DJ sets, he always makes sure his selections are as fresh and upfront as can be. Andi has earned his place as one of the foremost DJs around. First making his name as the resident at Gatecrasher, then at Privilege in Ibiza where he used to set things up for Tiesto, he is now moving on to celebrate his epic new residency at Ibiza and Mallorca Live, at Eden and BCM respectively.
Welcome to DMCWORLD Andi. Your radio show just received new rajar stats to say that it is now one of the most listened to dance music show in the UK, things are going well…
“Hi Dan. Yes it is, we’ve been fortunate enough to pull in some incredible figures over the last 6 months – which is testament to how popular the dance scene is and how people are really excited by new and underground music right now. In the last set of numbers the Saturday night show just sneaked past my main rival Mistajam on Radio One, which was pretty mind blowing, but he’s also smashing it which is brilliant – the two biggest networks in the UK are playing electronic music and pulling in big crowds.”
How have your shows changed over the last twelve months?
“Well we’ve just tried to fine tune and tweak the Friday and Saturday night shows to make sure we’ve got the balance of big A-list guests, new unsigned talent, massive tracks and underground music.”
How many new tunes are you receiving a week?
“I get between 700 and 800 tracks every single week, so it’s a big job to keep on top of it all, but I make sure I listen to every single one. I also keep my eye on Twitter, youtube and various blogs – as well as listen to other DJs and radio shows in case there’s something I’ve missed.”
How does your DJing sound and track selection differ to that of your radio show?
“When myself and Nick Riley play as Riley & Durrant we play a more house, tech and progressive sound, and when I’m out as Andi Durrant doing solo sets I play a wider genre-busting style – everything to drum n bass to dubstep, house, breaks, classics and anthems.
How did the whole Crasher residency start…
“We started out as residents at the infamous Gatecrasher in Sheffield in the early 2000s where myself and Nick met in the DJ booth. We went on to start making tracks together and flew the flag for Crasher around the world – from St Petersberg to Kuala Lumpur BCM Mallorca. Around 2006 we began to move away from the trancier sound and wrote our first artist album ‘Research & Development’. Since then we’ve spent two years as Privilege residents in Ibiza warming up for Tiesto every week, playing both the main room and Terrace at Amnesia, and guesting at Space and Eden. In the UK we currently hold residencies at Ministry of Sound in London and Forward in Sheffield.”
You are about to embark on a new residency at ‘Ibiza Live’ at Eden and BCM Mallorca. Tell us about it…
“This will be the first time I’ll be taking on a residency solo and it’s a really exciting concept – it’s nothing like the show’s we’ve been involved in before and it’s nothing like Ibiza or Mallorca has really seen before either. We’ve got some of the biggest a-list artists playing live club shows – from Example and Tinie Tempah to Professor Green, Rizzle Kicks, Dizzie Rascal, Dj Fresh, Run DMC, and Labrinth…and a couple of HUGE stars that we’re not allowed to announce yet – but they’re guaranteed to turn Eden and BCM into the busiest places on the islands.”
Who are you looking forward to hooking up with?
“I’ve met Example a few times and he’s co-hosted the show on Capital with me before…he’s always good for a party and an incredible performer. But I’m also looking forward to seeing the legendary Rev Run from Run DMC – it’s rare you get to see or meet true pioneers.”
How do you think Ibiza and Mallorca are going to differ?
“Ibiza has obviously always been the place to see the worlds biggest DJs and dance music acts, and Mallorca is known for its party atmosphere. But this will be the first time you’ll be able to see proper platinum-selling artists playing live in some of the planets most famous venues.”
What will be your DJ sound this summer and who else will be joining you on the decks?
“I’ll be playing everything from House, Drum & Bass to Dubstep. There will be a selection of special guest DJs throughout the summer and every week Scott Page will be playing the full-on party closing set.”
And can we hear it on Capital…?
“We’ll be recording loads of the headliners from both Ibiza and Mallorca through the summer and playing them back the week after on the Friday and Saturday night Capital shows from 11pm – from June until September.”
Ibiza Live at Eden Ibiza, every Tuesday June 5th – Sept 11th
Mallorca Live every Sunday at BCM 17th June – Sept 9th
Mallorca Live matinee shows Tuesdays at BCM Square from June 4th – 31st July
