Andy C
Encyclopedia
Andy C born Andrew John Clarke, is an English DJ and producer
and co-founder of the RAM Recording Studio. He is the son of Mick Clarke, bass player and founder member of the Rubettes, who had hits in the seventies like Sugar Baby Love
, Tonight and I Can Do It.
He is considered a pioneering force in the drum and bass
genre. He specializes in fast mixing, often employing three turntable
s.
Andy C ranked #61 in DJ Magazine's 2010 Top 100 DJs annual poll announced October 27, 2010.
At 15, together with Ant, Andy created 'Valley of the Shadows (31 Seconds)' under their Origin Unknown alias. Often referred to as the 'darkcore prototype', the track won Best Hardcore Tune at the 1993 Hardcore Dance Awards where Andy also collected the prize for Best Newcomer. His DJing career progressed at a meteoric rate. He had a show on pirate station Cyndicut FM and secured slots at key raves including Imagination, Club Elevation, Dreamscape, Innovation and Telepathy, where he became a resident. By 1994 together with Ant, he assumed another alias, Desired State, under which he created 'Beyond Bass' and 'Here And Now'. In the same year, he began to branch out with collaborations, connecting with DJ Randall to create the dancefloor smash hit, 'Sound Control'. Subsequent studio hook ups would involve Shimon and Moving Fusion.
Origin Unknown's 1997 album, 'Origin Unknown Presents...Speed Of Sound' won Best Dance Album at the Kiss FM Dance Awards and Best Album at the Hardcore Dance Awards, where Andy also collected the gong for Best Producer. The 1998 follow-up, 'Origin Unknown Presents...Sound In Motion', preceding the birth of RAM Trilogy, Andy C's studio collaboration with Ant Miles and Shimon. In the same year Andy squeezed in his Wednesday night radio show on London's Kiss FM between global DJing commitments.
In 1999 & 2000, Andy C took the award for Best DJ at the Knowledge Awards. His numerous high profile remix accomplishments include Busta Rhymes
'Woo Hah!' (as Origin Unknown - which won Best Remix at the 1996 Muzik Magazine Awards), Adam F
'Circles', and Jay-Z
'Can't Knock The Hustle'. Andy C also won the Best D&B DJ award on Drum & Bass Arena poll in 2001 & 2002 in which over 90,000 people voted, and at the Accelerated Culture's 'Peoples Choice Awards' in December 2002. Andy C is also the highest ranking D&B DJ in DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJs.
Andy C has become one of the world's most revered drum and bass DJs, performing at drum 'n' bass events and festivals worldwide. Between Andy C, Ant Miles and Shimon as Ram Trilogy, they have produced many enduring anthems such as "Titan", "No Reality" and "Valley of the Shadows
", as well as a large number of remixes. The 2002 Shimon & Andy C hit "Body Rock" also achieved the rare distinction of being a Drum and Bass record that entered the UK pop charts (reaching number 28 in the UK Singles Top 40 Chart on January 6 2002).
Andy C's record label RAM Records is based in Hornchurch
, Essex. Ram Records consists of DJs and producers: Shimon, Red One, Moving Fusion and Sub Focus. Some of Ram Records' most popular releases of recent times are Noisia's "Facade", Sub Focus' "Airplane", Sub Focus' "TimeWarp", Shimon's "The Shadow Knows" and Chase & Status's "Pieces". Ram Records held a residency at the London club until 'The End
' nightclub decided to shut their doors on the 31st of January 2009.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and co-founder of the RAM Recording Studio. He is the son of Mick Clarke, bass player and founder member of the Rubettes, who had hits in the seventies like Sugar Baby Love
Sugar Baby Love
"Sugar Baby Love", recorded in autumn 1973 and released in January 1974, is a bubblegum pop song, and the debut single of the Rubettes. Written by Wayne Bickerton and Tony Waddington and produced by Wayne Bickerton, engineered by John Mackswith at Lansdowne Recording Studios, "Sugar Baby Love" was...
, Tonight and I Can Do It.
He is considered a pioneering force in the drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
genre. He specializes in fast mixing, often employing three turntable
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
s.
Andy C ranked #61 in DJ Magazine's 2010 Top 100 DJs annual poll announced October 27, 2010.
Biography
Andy Clarke began experimenting with programming breaks as a teenager. He met Ant Miles at the studios where he was working through a family connection. They began working together in Ant's converted garage studio where Andy nurtured what was to become a talent for chopping up and re-programming breaks. Andy decided to set up his own label in early 1992 with a budget of £1000. RAM - named for his astrological sign, Aries - launched his solo debut with RAMM001 - Sour Mash E.P.At 15, together with Ant, Andy created 'Valley of the Shadows (31 Seconds)' under their Origin Unknown alias. Often referred to as the 'darkcore prototype', the track won Best Hardcore Tune at the 1993 Hardcore Dance Awards where Andy also collected the prize for Best Newcomer. His DJing career progressed at a meteoric rate. He had a show on pirate station Cyndicut FM and secured slots at key raves including Imagination, Club Elevation, Dreamscape, Innovation and Telepathy, where he became a resident. By 1994 together with Ant, he assumed another alias, Desired State, under which he created 'Beyond Bass' and 'Here And Now'. In the same year, he began to branch out with collaborations, connecting with DJ Randall to create the dancefloor smash hit, 'Sound Control'. Subsequent studio hook ups would involve Shimon and Moving Fusion.
Origin Unknown's 1997 album, 'Origin Unknown Presents...Speed Of Sound' won Best Dance Album at the Kiss FM Dance Awards and Best Album at the Hardcore Dance Awards, where Andy also collected the gong for Best Producer. The 1998 follow-up, 'Origin Unknown Presents...Sound In Motion', preceding the birth of RAM Trilogy, Andy C's studio collaboration with Ant Miles and Shimon. In the same year Andy squeezed in his Wednesday night radio show on London's Kiss FM between global DJing commitments.
In 1999 & 2000, Andy C took the award for Best DJ at the Knowledge Awards. His numerous high profile remix accomplishments include Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
'Woo Hah!' (as Origin Unknown - which won Best Remix at the 1996 Muzik Magazine Awards), Adam F
Adam F
Adam F is an English jungle and drum and bass DJ, and film actor.-Career:An early album was the techstep effort, Metropolis/Mother Earth, released in 1997 on the Metalheadz record label. His other early successes were the tracks "F-Jam" and "Circles"...
'Circles', and Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
'Can't Knock The Hustle'. Andy C also won the Best D&B DJ award on Drum & Bass Arena poll in 2001 & 2002 in which over 90,000 people voted, and at the Accelerated Culture's 'Peoples Choice Awards' in December 2002. Andy C is also the highest ranking D&B DJ in DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJs.
Andy C has become one of the world's most revered drum and bass DJs, performing at drum 'n' bass events and festivals worldwide. Between Andy C, Ant Miles and Shimon as Ram Trilogy, they have produced many enduring anthems such as "Titan", "No Reality" and "Valley of the Shadows
Valley of the Shadows
"Valley of the Shadows" by Origin Unknown is a highly influential jungle music track from 1993 released on Ram Records. Originally featured as a B-side of the 4th Ram Records release "Valley of the Shadows" proved a lot more popular than the A-side, "The Touch", and the 12" went on to become one of...
", as well as a large number of remixes. The 2002 Shimon & Andy C hit "Body Rock" also achieved the rare distinction of being a Drum and Bass record that entered the UK pop charts (reaching number 28 in the UK Singles Top 40 Chart on January 6 2002).
Andy C's record label RAM Records is based in Hornchurch
Hornchurch
Hornchurch is a large suburban town in England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Hornchurch is in North-East London .It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan. It comprises a number of shopping...
, Essex. Ram Records consists of DJs and producers: Shimon, Red One, Moving Fusion and Sub Focus. Some of Ram Records' most popular releases of recent times are Noisia's "Facade", Sub Focus' "Airplane", Sub Focus' "TimeWarp", Shimon's "The Shadow Knows" and Chase & Status's "Pieces". Ram Records held a residency at the London club until 'The End
The End (club)
The End was a nightclub in the West End of London, England. Started in December 1995 by DJs Layo Paskin and Mr C, The End was world-renowned. It was also responsible for the label End Recordings....
' nightclub decided to shut their doors on the 31st of January 2009.
Releases
| Year | Release | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Sour Mash (extended play) | RAM Records Ram Records (UK) Ram is a dance music record label, primarily releasing drum and bass music.Established in 1992 by Andy C with the help of close friend Ant Miles, the label and business today is run Andy C and business partner Scott Bourne Ram is a dance music record label, primarily releasing drum and bass... |
| 1993 | Bass Logic (extended play) | |
| Slip N' Slide / Bass Constructor | ||
| 1994 | Sound Control / Feel It (with Randall) | |
| 1995 | Cool Down / Roll On | |
| Sound Control / Feel It (Remixes) (with Randall) | ||
| 2001 | Get Ready (Andy C) / Warehouse Dub (Digital) | Music House |
Mix CDs
| Year | Release | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Pure Rollers | Sub Base Records USA |
| 2001 | RAM Raiders - The Mix | RAM Records |
| 2002 | World Dance: XPRS YRSLF | Ministry of Sound |
| 2002 | Nightlife | RAM Records |
| Andy C - Drum & Bass Arena | React | |
| Andy C - Drum & Bass Arena, Version 2 | ||
| 2004 | FabricLive.18 (with DJ Hype DJ Hype DJ Hype is a stage name of drum and bass producer and DJ, Kevin Ford. His 1993 track, "Shot in the Dark", appeared in the UK Singles Chart in 1993.-Biography:... ) |
Fabric |
| Nightlife 2 | RAM Records | |
| 2006 | Nightlife 3 | |
| 2007 | Andy C - Drum & Bass Arena: Babylon | Mixmag |
| Andy C & Grooverider - Drum & Bass Arena | Resist Music | |
| 2008 | Nightlife 4 | RAM Records |
| 2010 | Nightlife 5 |
External links
- RAM Records Web site
- RAM Records on Soundcloud
- Andy C's profile at The End
- Drum & Bass Arena
- Andy C bio at TheDJList.com