Daddy Squad combines Andrew’s musical career: from Rave, Big Beat, Breaks, Electro, Disco, French Touch, Italo, Synthwave and Synthpop, everything with a bit of disco dust and a mustache as the culmination. The first single is a collaboration with Violet Chachki, winner of Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 7, which was released in March 2021. You can see it here.
Now Andrew is back with a new single with longtime collaborator and burlesque superstar Dita Von Teese. Dita Von Teese, who met Andrew on Twitter, has long performed for Andrew, including songs for his Show de el and performed on a number of Monarchy tracks, including Disintegration, which was an underground hit across Europe. You can see the video for this song here.
Andrew is now completely independent and self-financed. He runs his own record label to publish his music, as well as the art director of the project, is looking for employees, coordinates sessions and remixes and produces all of the music. The result is a feast for the eyes and an impressive performance.
Andrew is probably best known as half of the Monarchy band who write the music with vocalist Ra and produce all of the tracks. Monarchy has performed all over the world, from Coachella to club gigs, touring the USA, Canada and Mexico to packed summers at festivals in Spain and Europe. Seven have five albums and were released on the French boutique label Kitsune Records, Neon Gold Records, US Ultra Records and Warners Music and Universal Records UK.
Regardless, Andrew has worked with a variety of artists over the years including Dita Von Teese, Violet Chachki (Ru Paul’s Drag Race), SIA, Charli XCX, Blondie and more. Besides Monarchy, Andrew is one half of the «swamp pop» group Horixon, with releases on Kitsune and Eskimo Records in Belgium. He has also written music for the famous Parisian burlesque club Crazy Horse for creative director Ali Mahdavi and for Dita Von Teeee’s new show, which debuted in Los Angeles on New Years Eve 2018 and features Dita on a giant lipstick. On the writing front, Blondie picked up a track boil Andrew wrote with Charli XCX for Blondie’s comeback album, which was released in 2017. On the remix front, he’s remixed everyone from Sebastien Tellier to Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, Jamiroquai, OMD and Kelis. , Ellie Goulding, Kieza and the pioneers of the S’Express house. His remix of Lady Gaga was the most downloaded one on his remix album of him.
He has been a DJ at numerous clubs and events, from the famous Plastic Club at Milan for Fashion Week for several years in a row to events with brands and fashion weeks all over the world. He has DJed for Fucking Young Magazine in London, Los Angeles and Copenhagen and closed the dance tent at the MadCool Festival in 2019.
From writing, producing, mixing, DJing, performing live, writing for film and theater, everything speaks to him when it comes to music. A restless soul that continues to draw.
We had the pleasure to interview him and that was the result.
Can you tell us a little about your experience? Where are you from / how did you get into music? Was it all internet based?
My experience is pretty the same as everyone elses, but also different. I started in Perth, Australia, Djing ambient music, and then a bit of rave. I started producing my own experimental music, and collaborating with lots of Australian producers, making drum and bass and breaks. That was back in 1997 I released my first music. It was definitely not internet based. We had really bad computers: a modern washing machine probably has more computing power than what we had back then. That was a drum and bass project, I think one of the first in Australia. Very weirdly, it’s just been re-issued on vinyl by a Melbourne label and it’s sold out. They probably sold more on the re-issue than the original release.
From there I made some electro, and then some breaks, and then into synth pop with Monarchy. Now I am doing a mix of all my background, with my old analogue equipment and a bunch of new things, and bringing my experience together for this project. It has 90’s house, Italo disco, synth pop influences, all with a sprinkle of disco dust and a Daddy Squad moustache pasted on.
Who have been your main inspirations (both musical and in «life»)? And how have they affected your sound?
Musically, I have many influences. One of my first was early club music, like S’Express, and also the humour and chaos of The Orb. I think you can still hear this in my music. I love the retro element of club music, before it became quite dry and serious. It was never meant to be serious. It was fun. It was a celebration, everyone dancing together.
In life I am inspired a lot by spirituality, and also by open creativity. I try and dismiss my ego, and create from a point as though it’s the very first song I have ever created. This is the key to keeping on creating. I approach every new song with a sense of wonder and joy and curiosity. And then we see what comes out.
Creative life inspirations for me span from Pharrell Williams to The KLF. Oliver to Brian Eno.
How would you define your sound?
If you can do the running man to it, it’s a very good start. I think all my productions you can do the running man to.
How has your sound evolved so far? I’m always evolving, always learning new things, always changing. Of course, technology has changed so much. Now people are using Splice where before they were digging through obscure vinyl for a little sample. But also synths have changed so much. I try and embrace everything old, and everything new, at the same time. I think there’s so much freedom with modern production, but also so much warmth from old style.
What can you tell us about your last job? What inspired you? What do you want to convey?
My last track is called Day Break featuring a Japanese/ American singer called Saucy Lady I discovered on a long lazy wander through Spotify one day. I really loved her music, and image and everything. I had a backing that was kind of 90’s French Touch sound, with funky bass line and a guitar hook, like StarDust or Modjo. I sent it over, and we bounced some ideas around, and we came up with a cute little song. It doesn’t have a traditional verse/ chorus idea. It’s more just sections, but they slot together well.
What can you tell us about each song that makes up your latest work? What is hidden behind?
I approach each song differently. Sometimes it’s based on a little sample, or sometimes I sit down and set myself a task. Like “I want it to be 90’s hip house, but with a secret modern touch inside it that no one will suspect”. Or maybe “I want to write a modern “Stevie V- Dirty Cash” song”. Then I see where I end up. Sometimes I limit myself to just using sounds from one synth. Or not having any vocals at all. Or using inspiration from an old sci fi I saw. Each track is different.
How are you living the current situation because of COVID? Has your work affected you a lot? Do you think there is hope? I feel like the underground scene will continue to persist.
For sure the underground scene will continue. Probably it will flourish! When there is hardship, then all the freaks come out. It’s the pressure, and it’s great. It’s when people are comfortable that everything goes commercial.
Covid was interesting because I changed my life a lot. My band Monarchy broke up, and I found my new sound and inspiration. I’ve been working so hard, and also put in a really solid structure. I meditate everyday, I am drinking less and going partying less. So overall, between the inspiration and healthier life, I have made the most of the situation. Of course, it’s a global disaster, but we have to make do what we can, and make the most of the situation. I think a lot of people changed their lives and refocussed a bit over this time. What is important in life became more clear. For me, that was writing music and being healthy.
What projects are you working on right now?
I am constantly writing. I have a white board in my studio of the music I want to write, some little ideas I have and so on. There’s about 7 tracks on there, that I am just waiting to have time enough to work on them. Luckily, I can work quite quickly to get ideas down. It’s the vocals that always take a bit longer to get finished. I am currently working on a collaboration with HardTon. It’s got a great HiNRG vibe about it, but it’s also quite gritty. I’m really excited for it!
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