Home > Blogs > Review Room > The Trance Floor: Andy Moor’s Zero Point One review & interview

The Trance Floor: Andy Moor’s Zero Point One review & interview

July 6, 2012

 

It’s hard to imagine that an artist could have a career spanning over a decade without ever releasing a full solo artist album.

Rumors of this album have been swirling among the fans for a few years; the date has finally arrived and the product holds as proof that good things do in fact come to those who wait.

Zero Point One truly has the gift of wonderful vocalists as well as a variety of tracks that range from dance floor-ready anthems to down tempo relaxation tracks best accompanied by a summer breeze and sunset.

This is an album that is meant to be listened to in traditional fashion – from start to finish. You’ll find it difficult to skip to your favourite song because Zero Point One exists as a complete piece of art – not a combination of many smaller pieces. This is the feeling that I most enjoy from albums; singles exist and are released on their own for a purpose whereas albums are the truest representation of the entire spectrum of an artist’s creativity. You spend upwards of an hour listening to their creation as opposed to the standard song length of five minutes. I think that this time allows you the greatest opportunity to feel and understand the music and turn artists that you like into artists that you love.

 

One of my choice moments from the album is the track In Your Arms featuring Jessica Sweetman as the vocalist. Her unique voice is impeccably matched to the haunting melody to give a product that would stop you in your tracks wherever you heard it.

Another fabulous choice was to team up with Sue McLaren once again after the incredible success of Fight The Fire. This time they come together to give us Trespass which is ready for any and every trance live set this summer.

When I saw that there was a collaboration with Ashley Wallbridge – what I heard was not exactly what I was expecting but was a most welcome surprise. The club mix of World To Turn has been in circulation for a while now but the chill out version on the album is beautiful. I like each version in it’s own way but I have a soft spot for well crafted chill out music that stands alone from what others have created before.

We managed to have Andy sit down for a few moments in the mayhem of preparing for the album release to answer a few questions that we had for him.

Q:  You’ve been involved in electronic music for over a decade – how do you think starting and building a career is different now in comparison to when you began?

I don’t feel it is too much different now. The majority of DJs still get known through producing, it is now even easier to produce than ever due to technological advancements. Now there is even more sub genres to choose from, but there is also a lot more competition. The quality of productions have improved across the board, not necessarily musically, but in terms of making your musical ideas into a polished product, so I suspect that somebody starting their career now will have to be at the top of their game.

 

Q: If you had to start your career fresh again is there anything that you would change?

There are many things, but I try to use those points to influence the future. I am always learning, that will continue, and one way is to analyse your own actions and learn from them. So that is one of the only reasons in which I look back, to help the future.

 

Q: Is there anything about the electronic music scene that bothers you or you would like to see change?

There are many extremely good points about the scene, which is surprising given the perception that most people outside the industry have of it. There are a few things that bother me, piracy, the ‘over appreciation’ that we get as DJs, the ever growing role of marketing, but some of these are relevant in all businesses. In the grand scheme of things I am quite proud of being involved in the electronic music scene.

Q: This album has been rumored and in the works for so long – what does it take to put together something of this magnitude? What drawbacks did you experience along the way?

I had to reassess my over laborious production process, and also to manage my touring schedule better to get the balance right. I also had to learn not to go too far down a certain path before deciding it was the wrong path. Once I got on top of these things, the process became a lot easier and quicker. The album that you hear didn’t take that long, the time was spent on tracks / ideas that were not used on the album.

 

Q: There are many collaborations on Zero Point One – do you prefer collaborations to solo efforts or just find different pros and cons in both?

There are only pros in my eyes with regards to collaborations. I love being in the studio with other people, vibing from them, I get motivation from being around others and love the company too. Even when working remotely, the process is so much better in my eyes. You do something, then you hear something from them which triggers off sparks in your own head etc. It is a longer process to get inspiration from a musical element that your own mind created.

 

Q: What do you hope that your fans take from Zero Point One in terms of emotion, feeling and overall experience?

I hope they gain a long player that they can listen to and find a use for in many situations. I hope they can associate with many tracks, get to know them and almost befriend them. I like to add a lot of depth in both feeling and production, this normally leads to longevity, so hopefully they can get along with the album rather than it be disposable as so much music is these days.
Q: What should we be excited and watching for this year on AVA Recordings?

We have a lot of good music signed to the label, and have expanded the roster to include some great tracks from artists such as RAM, Faruk Sabanci etc. We want to keep the quality high, keep one foot in trance music but then keep swiveling the other foot into different areas.

 

Q: Do you have any funny horror stories from shows/performances where things didn’t go as expected?

There are quite a few, mainly situations such as the police shutting a venue down half way through my set, somebody throwing a flipflop for me to sign (which seems to be the fashion in some European countiries at the moment) and it landing directly on the start stop button of the CDJ. Last week there was a sandstorm on the beach of an event which swept through the arena and killed all the equipment, we all ended up just having a chat instead!

 

Q: Are there any producers whose work you are particularly a fan of?

I like artists that retain quality in their productions, but are not content with just copying off other people and want to try new things. Artists such as Rafael Frost at the moment, Tom Fall etc. All creating huge club tunes that appeal to trance fans too.

 

Q: Do any specific memories come to mind from being in Canada and doing performances here?

I love coming into Canada, it’s always been a favourite place of mine. The people are always great, the steak! Big fat steaks, amazing! One particular memory is whilst playing The Guvernment in Toronto, where the DJ booth moves up and down. I remember turning around whilst the stage was high up, then turning back and suddenly all the crowd were around me. It took me a bit too long to realize that the crowd weren’t actually floating and that the stage had moved down.

Ultra Spin Featuring Andy Moor in the Kool Haus 2012

Q: Are there any specific goals that you’d still like to achieve? (Not necessarily from a career stand point)

I get frustrated when things aren’t done right, and this over rules my mind, therefore being able to achieve a better balance would be most welcome in this regard. I am also into so many other things in life along with music, so I have many goals in these areas that I want to fulfill when I find the time. Finding the right balance in everything is the ultimate goal.

 

 

Head over to iTunes to pick up your copy of Zero Point One which is released today!

Connect with DJ Mag Canada on Facebook to stay posted on all the latest news, reviews, contests, and more!

Voting has begun for the 2012 Top 100 DJ’s List – Follow the steps to make sure your favourites make the cut!

Controversy! More than $600,000 goes missing from the incredibly successful Escapade Festival last weekend.