A Conversation With – Andrew Meller

Hey Andrew, welcome to Dance Rebels, how are you? Please introduce yourself too; where are you from, and what do you do in the music industry? I’m great, actually, I have never felt better in my life. My real name is Andrija Antic with alias Andrew Meller and I’m coming from Yugoslavia, born and raised in Pozarevac, Serbia. I am an artist and creator, DJ and producer, with many other passions like filmmaking, welding, woodworking and many other creative activities that keep my brain alive.

Who or what inspired you to follow your career in the music industry? What sacrifices have you had to make to enable you to pursue your rise to stardom too? Culture, music, people gathered around it, and freedom. From the very beginning music just obsessed me, because I am coming from a small town i had to create my own world. In that world I have freedom, I’m telling you this because it is hard to explain, you have to live in Balkan to get the whole picture. For over 15 years I was doing side jobs to earn enough so I can have my freedom regarding music. The last hustle was so intense and it lasted for 11 years, working in a power plant by shifts, day – night, in a toxic environment, and playing music in clubs and festivals. By the data that I have gathered, I was in minus 40 days with sleep every year. I don’t drink and I don’t do drugs which makes my focus clear and I can recover fast the day after.

This is one part of the sacrifice that is hard to handle but there is one more that we take for granted but is really important. It’s called life. Investing time in learning to produce music and discovering music is essential and there is never not enough time to accomplish everything you want. I have worked tirelessly every day on making music which if you divide 24 hours in one day leaves no time for socialising or time with your partner and family. I have dedicated my life to this culture and I’m living it, have done and will do side jobs if needed to survive but I will not sell my soul, music comes first and freedom doesn’t have a price. One more thing I’m not complaining nor regretting, everything I have done was a journey full of lessons that made me wiser, stronger, and experienced.

As you mentioned, you hail from Serbia, what is the music scene like there? What is the more favoured music genre of choice there? Also, what is nightlife like there too? Serbia and generally Balkan is passionate about music. It is a small market and the current situation doesn’t allow much manoeuvres. So there are many big parties with different genres but no clubs. In Belgrade, you now have only 2 clubs that gather approximately 1000 people. That is not enough to keep the culture alive. The last club that left a strong mark in Belgrade was my second home, The Tube. By the way that was the first place where I have listened Solomun, what a magical night that was. Trancy melodic sound as the main mainstream genre gathers a lot of people around but there are also house and progressive parties that stand out. I think in recent years people are more connected with the brands that promote parties and DJs that sells tickets then specific genres. More about the hype, less about the music.

As a DJ/producer you’ve released on labels inc. Glasgow Underground, Saved Records, Sola, Stereo Productions, Diynamic and more, do you feel it is important for an artist to have their own recognisable sound? Of course, it is but not in a matter of pattern that the artist will use in every track for years. Developing and growing and shaping your sound is a process which i personally enjoy for years. There is a specific signature that we all have, mine is the hook. I was never focused much on sound design, instead, I have developed hooks and some tools and ways to find them. Maybe one day I will be interested more in sound design but that is another part that needs to be learned through experience. Every producer has his own signature and if you listen to their discography and focus on it you will find it.

On Friday may 3rd you’re also set to return to Solomun’s ‘Diynamic’ imprint to unveil your ‘Summer Of Love’, tell us about this EP? What does it mean to you? What’s your favourite track from the EP too? I’m thrilled that these tracks will be released on Diynamic because i can feel them there. I had pictures in my head while I was making these tracks and every one of them has their story. Nera is dedicated to our dog that we have adopted from the street. In that period I couldn’t make music while she was in the apartment, one happy soul that changed our time. That one day she was sleeping in my studio and I took that hour to make something and the hook just came out from nowhere. I was like how should I call this track and my wife told me Nera because she marked our time, so I just had to add one spice on that wild reckless track, those child vocals saying “Hey Hey Hey”. This track is 1/1 Nera.

YAME is short for You Are My Everything and this is dedicated to my wife. We both love the sun and for that particular track, I had just two of us on my mind and big gratitude to the universe for sending her to me and changing my life to 180 degrees. (because of her I have quit my job in a power plant and dedicated 200% of myself in music).

Balkana, now this is a special one. Track inspired by Valkana Beach festival that held back in Croatia. I have never been there because I was very young in the time, but I had recordings of Marko Nastic sets in my computer that I have listened as a kid tirelessly. And if you pay attention it is the old-school tribal track just adjusted to this very moment regarding the speed. So I was like let’s call it Valkana and my wife said Balkana which instantly hooked me.

Finally Summer of love. I just love piano and house combined and those type of tracks will always have a special place in my heart. When i played last year in Ada Bojana I put in my head that I have to make something like that for the next summer. Listing all the videos from the beach during the winter period created a complete picture so I just made a music that connects that picture from my head. Summer and Love is all we need :)

The EP features multiple genres inc. Tech House, House and Indie Dance vibes [according to Beatport], how do you draw inspiration to create tracks of multiple genres? What is your current go-to plug-in for music production ATM too? Well, the thing is I have never limited myself to a specific genre and I don’t look at music in that way. I just sit down, create, and enjoy the process. Putting my soul, mood, and inspiration out in a particular track and when I finish it I leave it for some time so it can be processed properly. The inspiration comes from different places, it sounds weird but I can feel it just hits me, some energy from above. Digging different discographies for example Turkish psychedelic rock and some other music styles always helps, actually listening to music. Regarding plugins, I use Arturia and Roland mostly but there is a plugging that I miss the most because they haven’t updated him for M1 processor and it’s called Sigmund so if someone from D16 groupe is reading this please make an update I miss my buddy.

As a label, how important has Solomun’s ‘Diynamic’ been for your development as an artist? Will you be planning a third outing on the label following the release of ‘Summer Of Love’ and your original EP ‘Demention’ via the label? From my perspective, Diynamic is an institution for sound and trendsetters if you ask me. Most of the music that I would like to play out I found on Diynamic, so it is. Firstly it’s an honour and of course, it lifts your profile as an artist, new people will approach you because it is a very credible label with a long history and a great selection of releases. And the big thing is when Solomun plays out your tune in front of thousands of people it just spreads all over into people’s ears. Of course, I would like to get back to Diynamic anytime, also I would like one day to release an album on this imprint as I feel this label as my home. Solomun is the first on my list for sending exclusives and it will remain like that. He recognized something and the universe had aligned.

If you could give one piece of advice to any young artist wanting to pursue a career as a DJ/producer full-time, what advice would you give, and why? Dream, vision, persistence, hard work and one thing without all of this is worthless, love for the music.

Also, what fun stuff do you have set for the summer? Any exciting gigs booked? Or releasing more exciting music? How do you balance touring and studio life to maintain health too? There are many stuff going on but I always try to keep some balance. For this year, for the first time in 18 years of my career, we are starting my brand of parties called HEAT. The concept is a revival of the dance floor and focus on music. Start and hustling on Balkan with everything gives us more motivation to make something to fill our souls and to be proud of. The first party will happen in July at Ada Bojana. I’m looking forward to playing with Solomun at one extraordinary venue which i can’t announce yet haha but this will be one for the books definitely. Also I’m working on new music and there will be some releases too with tracks that i have made before. Next in cue is a remix I did for my good friends IDQ that will come out on Circus Recordings, then single on Altra Moda, and 2 EP’s on Rafael Cerato’s label Ritual.

Regarding mental health, come to Macedonia I will show you how we handle that, I’m not joking haha. There are many things that I learn every day and balance is the hardest thing ever. Here are some tips from me

• Spend time with loved ones and with people that you have something to learn from
• Sports and exercise to keep your body working
• Find another creative thing to do because not every day you can make music
• If something doesn’t go don’t push it, listen carefully to what the universe has to tell you
• Never give up and mind your own business
• Go to “kafana” whenever you can, it fills your soul and it is some sort of meditation
• Connect with nature and take care of it
• Help someone who needs help and do good things as much as you can it will fill your soul
• Don’t expect anything if it is meant it will come

Finally, if you could collab with Solomun and remix any Diynamic released record, what would it be, and why? Now you got me! This is the best yet the hardest question. I’m thinking about that a lot in the last year, now someone would ask but you followed him for so long that should be an all-time wish? I wasn’t ready and now I am. But how i imagine collab with such a big artist is totally different.

Recently i was driving through Macedonia and I had that vision. To make an album called Pictures from Balkan. This will be a mixture of sounds from here but also a dance floor music. Sounds weird and maybe hard to make but i have a clear vision for each country about instruments and arrangements and how i would like that to sound. This is something that i would like to collaborate with Mladen and also some other projects but this one would be special, really close to my heart.

What i would like also is him to be present personally with his crew at least for day or two, usually everyone works online, but it vibrates differently here. Regarding remixes this is a though question and delicate thing for me. I don’t make them often because it really needs to fit. Since i follow the label for many years back i have a lot’s of favorites that i have played so this i would leave for them to choose.