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Meet Andrew Marks
What first drew you into music production?
Music has always been really important to me, studying piano from a young age. I never quite knew how my love for music would manifest over the course of my life, but when I saw Avicii perform for the first time, it awakened something I always knew was there. It was pretty much no turning back after that point. The freedom and wholeness that dance music brought to me, I knew I wanted to bring to others, and that passion has only increased.
You are one of the best up and coming remixers/producers we have encountered on the internet! And your latest remix of “Til the sun rise up” is one of our all time favorites. How do you know if a song is a good candidate for a remix? Also, what is your creative process like when making a remix?
Thanks! I had a lot of fun making that remix. Remixes have always been a fun process for me and give me a creative outlet to learn and be inspired by great artists. My creative process really starts with the song moving me, either the vocal itself or hearing a new bass line in my head that makes you want to dance. I’m all about live shows and experiences, so my mission with remixes is to enhance the dance experience for the audience and allow their bodies to feel the music in a brand new way.
Your latest track “Dirty bird” is another great example of how capable you are as a producer! The mixing is on point and the melodies/ideas are out of this world! Could you tell us more about your studio setup and some of your favorite plugins?
Definitely! Ableton is life haha, and then I’m a sucker for Waves Plugins. They are tried-and-true in my opinion, and I have been using them for years. I also love Fab-Filter plugins, Plugin Alliance software, and the Ableton stock Saturator. God Bless the Saturator. Then for studio set up, I’ve been using KRK VXTs for a while now. Most recently I changed my visual monitor to a curved 34 inch Gaming Montior, and my workflow has improved. It may not help everyone, but increasing my visual field while producing has helped me a lot, even if just to give a fresh feel to my music production process.
Your signature sound reminds us of the sound of some of the greatest House producers in the world (Oliver Heldens, Michael Calfan etc). How did you manage to achieve such a professional sound in such a short time? Can you tell us more about your musical background?
Wow.. so honored to be mentioned with those producers. Their sounds have been something I connected with early on. Truthfully, like so many have said, it takes hard work and dedication. I usually produce music 10-12 hours on days where my schedule permits. I have always been relentless with myself in aiming for the most professional sound I can achieve by comparing my productions to those of the best producers in the world. I also spent a lot of time earlier in my career working on multiple different genres of dance music to learn new techniques and to train my mind and ears. I guess the biggest part of my musical background would be that I grew up playing piano and writing original compositions at an early age, so songwriting and arrangement have always been near and dear to my heart. Years of piano lessons gave me such a cool foundation in how music blends together and how melodies are created and come to life. Pair that with an unquenchable desire to learn and lots of studio time, and I’m on the path I’m on today.
You have only started putting up music on Soundcloud a year ago and you are already getting of thousands of views! How does it feel to receive such a warm welcome from the community?
It’s humbling and exciting at the same time. Having a sound that resonates with people and makes them feel free to physically move in music is why I started pursuing production. I think the support I’ve seen so far mostly speaks to the collaborative nature of electronic music, both the producers and the audiences that make it all possible. There’s such a strong bond between the community that you can truly feel, and it’s something I am so grateful for. It’s an honor to be a part of the global dance community and to have been able to connect with so many people across the world.
What are your goals for 2019? Any upcoming projects we can get excited about?
This past year was a huge year of growth in learning and navigating the music to find a sound I was truly proud of. I played some shows, was able to play at Miami Music Week, and made so many new/unreleased tracks (my team couldn’t even keep up haha). The main goal for 2019 is to keep putting a sound forward that I am truly proud of and to continue bringing that vision to more live audiences. We have a label released slotted for later this year and some new collaborations in the coming months with some incredible producers and vocalists who I am truly honored to work with. I’m so excited about all the music I’ve been finishing up and gearing up to release, and I can’t wait to share it all so that I can keep showcasing who I am as an artist, and so that I can inspire others to feel free and alive in their love of dance music.
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