:: INTERVIEWS :: IN BED WITH ANDY WHITBY

Tidy Weekender 9, Pirates of Prestatyn, 26th March 2006

Interview by Ru Curthoys, with additional words by Jamie Haig
All pics - © www.ben-thomas.com

I'm fucked. Totally and utterly screwed. And it's all Andy Whitby's fault. Picture the scene; Sunday afternoon during a chill-out at Tidy Weekender 9. As you'd expect, a major topic of conversation is last night's DJ performances. But one performance in particular dominates the discussions, and one set comes up again and again; Andy Whitby's. His set last night was, as predicted, awesome. We knew it would be. But I think we were all taken aback by just how brilliant, how emotional, and how moving he was on this occasion. Yes, moving; when the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end in response to a DJ's set, when you're dripping with sweat, and when at the end you see a packed dancefloor full of beaming smiles and even people in tears of sheer delight, you know you have just witnesses something quite extraordinary. And more than likely you have just been Whitby-ed.

The phrase "Set Of The Weekend" is banded about with more frequency than the beats per minute he pumps out, and it's only Sunday. Mind you, it is not surprising that Mr Whitby evokes such strong opinion and praise; in a very short space of time this 23 year old has become something of s superstar on the hard-house scene, so much so that he has been christened by many as "The Saviour of Hard House" (more on that later). I myself have seen the Whitby perform on a dozen occasions now and so know first hand how exhilarating, captivating, fun and, well, fast his sets are.

Andy Whitby certainly gives his all during his performances, and last nights set was no exception. He's a real showman; he hooks his audiences with aggressive, powerful, emotional, hard and, dare I say sexy performances that are totally addictive. Andy Whitby's fans LOVE him. He never disappoints and his captive audience give as good as they get as they try to keep up with his pounding set. There is even the Whitby Wave that ricochets across the floor when he's done; hundreds of pairs of hands go in the air to form a "W" in salute to a young man that has taken the dancefloor to record breaking highs.

And so with Whitby-mania having gripped Tidy Weekender 9, I, along with my long suffering boyfriend Jamie, been given the privilege of interviewing the man himself.

Ru: "Hello Andy, how are you doing?"

AW: "I'm cool mate"

Ru: Thank you for taking the time out to see me today. How has the weekender been for you so far?

AW:
Absolutely awesome mate. Last night's set was a great knees-up, the atmosphere was electric. When I walked in to Arena 2 at first it wasn't as busy as I expected but just as I was about to power up the first track and happened to look up – the place was rammed.

Definitely my favourite Tidy set so far. The atmosphere was just perfect, everything was just right.

Ru: Loads of people are talking about your set today, many describing it as the set of the weekend...

AW:
That's really humbling as I had an amazing time. When my mix of N-Trance 'Set You Free' dropped, the place went mental. I thought YES... YES... this is what it's all about... the moments you remember for the rest of your life.
I had a moment and needed to compose myself – the crowd were fantastic, really up for it and that just makes me crank it up even more.

Ru: What does it mean to you to be asked to DJ at a Tidy Weekender?

AW:
It's nice to be asked. Big events are important for lots of clubbers, so they're definitely always up for it. I started playing at the 3rd or 4th one, and have played at every one since. It's brilliant to be asked back time and time again especially with so many DJs out there. To be among the one's that get to come back every time is a great thing.

Ru: How important do you think events like the Tidy Weekenders are to the Hard House scene?

AW:
Very important. It helps the scene to develop and expand. There's always some criticism for some of the more commercial DJs at these events, but they bring out all sorts of clubbers who wouldn't otherwise come to a hard house event but leave loving it. This makes weekenders really important to bring new people to the hardhouse scene.

Ru: If you could sum up a Tidy Weekender in five words, what would they be?

AW:
Good question. There are so many emotions Tidy Weekenders evoke. It's quite hard to explain. I went to my first Weekender as a clubber, the rest as a DJ so I've seen both sides of the fence. I guess words I would use... mad, fun, extremely friendly... they bring so many people together and so many smiles. That's obviously more than five words but it's actually a hard question to answer.

Ru: What is your favourite Tidy track and why?

AW:
My favourite Tidy track... ? It'll get a groan but it has to be Heaven's Cry 'Til Tears Do us Part', it was just out when I started gigging in Manchester so I have a lot of fond memories. I think a lot of people, despite the groans, would say the same.

Ru: Which has been your favourite Tidy Weekender and why?

AW:
The Tidy Boys asked me this on Galaxy just the other week, I've been to so many now I always forget which one is my favourite. I think TW7 was my favourite because I finished in the main room with the most insane bootleg of around 80 hard-dance records.

However, after last night, I cried a bit with the reaction to N-Trance when it dropped, I felt my throat go a little. So as of today my favourite weekender has to be this one. The reaction was just something else.

Ru:
You actually had people in tears last night. The atmosphere was amazing, people were hugging each other, it was without a doubt many peoples set of the weekend.

AW:
Well, that is really flattering; I should call you first thing in morning for an ego massage. [laughs]

 

DJing is only part of Andy's expanding portfolio of talent. He is soon to launch a new label called, rather appropriately, AWsum. He is currently putting the finishing touches to the B-side of AWsum's first release "You Ready?/Bump In The Night" and it's already causing excitement. "You Ready?" will, Andy says, be typical of what he hopes to achieve with AWsum. The A-sides will always be the big hook, the anthem, with the B side being the cooler side; still a hard house record but with a different feel. Andy refers to the quality mark that people associate with tracks released by Tidy and wants AWsum to have the same kudos. "Its early days, it's a young label, but I'm really excited about it".

In his short career to date, many big names have taken notice Andy. After a typical Whitby set at Hard House Academy, Mixmag described him as the "Saviour of Hard House". Will Patterson (Frantic) picked up on the tag and it's stuck. "It's very flattering, I try not to think about it too much, but it does get said quite a lot. I get a little embarrassed sometimes but ultimately it's very flattering, the key to long success however is to never read your own press and never believe your own hype".

Ru: How would you describe your style to someone who did not know what Hard House was?

AW:
[Laughs] My parents have asked me that. People don't like the word hard; it scares them away I think. I'd say Euphoric Hard Dance with a twist and explain it's fun euphoric music, loads of vocals. My parents have seen video clips, but have never seen me play live, I'm sure they'll come along one day though.

At this point it suddenly occurs to me that I have been clubbing for every year Andy has been on this planet and without thinking I point this out to him. "Great, you can bring them to one of my gigs then, you'll have lots to talk about, black and white TV's wind up cars..."

Ru: You are a cheeky bugger.

AW: I know, but you love me for it champ.

Ru: Damn you.

AW: You like it when I play with you

Ru: Stop it.

AW: You love it in fact [Laughs].

Ru:
That's for another interview, perhaps when Cally is not around. Is it true that you and Cally are just a front and that you are hiding your true feelings for me?

AW: Could well be.

Ru: And that secretly Cally is a lusty lesbian.

AW: Would you like that to be true?

Ru: [checking that voice recorder is working] It would make me very rich... I might sell this interview to Mixmag.

AW: No, it's not true. Honest.

Ru: We'll come back to this. How do you explain your meteoric rise as one of the UK's most popular DJs?

AW:
I think just from working hard and playing with the mentality of 'if I was on the dancefloor what would I want to hear?'.

You are only as good as your last set. I don't sit there and think I've made it, because I haven't. I still practice every day, for at least a couple of hours. I'm in the studio pretty much all day, throwing around ideas for tracks, bootlegs, ways to make my sets better constant improvement and innovation to keep the dance-floors rocking.

On the technical side I think I was the first hard house DJ to solely use CDs. They are more versatile than vinyl, which is why I moved over. All the other stuff; the tricks, chopping, original mixing ideas... that's all from locking myself in my deck room and just playing records for hours and hours.
Another factor that helped were my demos, still hugely popular today. When I did my first demo I made 300 copies, second demo = 300 copies and so on...

Ru: What projects are you currently working on?

AW:
Obviously my label. I'm also putting a DVD together, I had a camera crew at Hard House Academy, they recorded my whole set, including when I threw headphones into crowd after I'd finished. To be honest there are always lots of stuff going on in Whitbyworld, the last two years have been crazy and I'm having great fun.

Ru:
Heat UK recently had a whole evening dedicated to Spencer Freeland. Are we likely to see a similar event for Andy Whitby? Theoretically, who would you invite as yours guests?

AW:
Will [Patterson] always wants to do those sorts of nights for big DJs, such as Yoji Time, Tara Time, etc. We have spoken about a Whitby Time. It will come but when... I don't know. Not yet.

Who would I invite? Cally, of course, I'd think I would be a bit different... back to back with different styles maybe... a hardcore DJ like Hixxy, that would be different... I'd try to cross boundaries... Whitby VS Nu-NRG Collective, a different one-off night not just hardhouse as what might be expected.

Ru:

So Mr Whitby, your good looking, talented, shaved head, Immaculately dressed, great taste in music... why do you think you have such a huge gay male following?
AW: Who have you been talking to?

Ru: Why do you ask?

AW: Ironically, I got a text message from a mate this week saying that I was caught snogging DJ GRH.

Ru: Were you?

AW:
Naw, don't be silly (laughs). I think some people want that to be true though, bless em!

Did you see me in Bent Magazine [gay interest monthly publication – as if you didn't guess by the name]?

Ru: Yes, I have the article here.

AW: I guess I really do have a big gay following?

Ru: Er, yeah. Huge.

AW:
I have no idea why... Perhaps I should thank my Mum and Dad for their magical genes? I really don't know or think about it. Maybe I should play with my flies undone? [laughs]

Ru: Is there any rivalry with Cally? How did you meet her?

AW:
Not at all. I was doing a gig and spotted this really tasty blonde on the dancefloor. She came over and asked me about a remix of an Ingo track. How cool is that? We got talking and I gave her a demo and said that I'd be interested in her feedback. Cally emailed me and commented on every mix on every track. We then met up on Valentines Day in Manchester and have been together 2 years.
We have a lot in common but at weekends we are both working all over the place, so we only catch up real late.

Ru: Do you think the hard house scene has changed in the time you have been DJing?

AW:
I like to think it has changed. I started playing up north, then Will decided to throw me in deep end in London when I joined Frantic. It seemed really techno-based and serious at that time, alot of the DJs were trying to out-serious each other... when I think of hard house, it should be fun and euphoric.
I love the fluffy boots clubbers... I don't like the too-much-hair-gel posse, who pose all the time and judge other people.
I think the cheekiness has come back to scene in London, and not be so serious any more. It's a fun scene again.

Ru: If someone asked you to mix a Hard House version of James Blunt, would you?

AW:
I get sent lots of bootlegs, and some are really good. I was sent something with Robbie Williams' "Let me Entertain You", good idea in theory, but no, let's not go there.

As for James Blunt, that would not work, that is just wrong. James Blunt would be more than crossing the line...

Ru: When was the last time you cried?

AW:
This morning when I played N-Trance, not a full-blown break-down-and-start-sobbing, I just saw a few people getting emotional and it grabbed me a little. It was just one of those moments, the one's I'll reflect on when I'm done & dusted, and my kids (when I have them) ask me what I did with my life. May I add there is no shame in men crying (laughs). It was an awesome moment, a moment I shared with everyone in that room.

Sometimes I wish had a camera to see the crowd reaction, to see the hairs on the backs of their necks. I usually get told about these things afterwards, about groups of people losing it.

Ru: What CD are you currently listening to in your car?

AW:
I have the luxury of a driver so I get him to stick Hip hop on, bit of rap music, something other than hard-dance is nice from time to time.
I obviously listen to hard house when I get given demos. The CD in my car at the moment is Pendulum – Hold Your Colour, it's getting old now... but it's a monster.

Ru: What message would you put in to a thank you card to Will Paterson?

AW:
Good question. Hmmm. I wouldn't want it to sound too soppy, but he did change my life. He has made me the main focal point of Frantic; he spent a lot of time and effort on me... I'll always be part of Frantic because of that; it's a loyalty thing.

Perhaps "thank you for everything" and leave it at that?
Ru: If you were not a DJ, and being a basketball player was not an option, what do you think you would be doing?

AW:
That's such a good question, when I get asked what I would be doing if I was not a DJ I have a stock answer for that which is to be a basketball player!
My parents were very focused on me getting an education, they let me have my crazy dreams about being a basketball player or DJ, but they used to make me go upstairs and revise for my A-levels, which I got 4 of, before going to art collage.

I have a talent for art stuff but that was put on hold for basketball, which in turn was left for DJing.

Ru: If you were holding a dinner party, name three famous people you would invite, why would you invite them and what would your topic of conversation be?
AW:
Let me think... Michael Jordon, greatest basketball player who ever lived. I'd ask him about his motivation, what kept him focussed and kept him at the top of his game. Then someone a bit quirky like Mr.T from the A-Team. I'd probably get a couple of shandys down me, and tell him people mock the amount of gold jewellery he wears and how his fear of getting in planes lets him down.

Who would you ask?

Ru: You.

AW: Can you cook?

Ru: No

AW: I'm not coming to yours then. Who else would you invite?

Ru: I'm supposed to be asking the questions... Um, but since you ask, Justin Timberlake.

AW: Bet you'd ply him with drinks? [laughs]

Ru: Ahem... moving swiftly on... What is the one thing you would not leave home without?

AW:
Boring stuff I guess... my phone... and at least £50 in cash in case I lose my card. Hmmm, shouldn't say that, people will now think "ooh, he's always got at least £50 on him, let's rob him." (laughs)

I just think £50 is a good amount to ensure if you did lose your cards, you'd be able to get home and have enough for emergency cigarettes and food.

Ru: What would you say a perfect evening is... ?

AW:
Playing records. Or when I am not DJing... going out to nice place to eat, not somewhere too posh just relaxed, 5 or 6 mates, visiting some bars, a DVD, then sitting up all night chatting, just relaxing.

Ru: If you could choose one television program to remove from the schedules, which one would it be and why?

AW:
Not sure. Don't watch much TV... When Cally and I moved in to our new place in Peterborough we bought this incredible TV, but I hardly ever watch it. I only watch shit like 'Making The Band' when I've got spare time, which is rare.

Ru: If asked, would you ever consider DJing at a wedding?

AW: Yeah, I would. Lots of my friends are settling down now, and I do get asked...

Ru: Would you play Tragedy by Steps at a wedding?

AW:
I'd play whatever the kids want. I really want to stop the music and say "the buffet table is now open". Even if it wasn't.

Ru: Where did the Whitby wave come from?

AW:
Jenny at Twist, a close friend of mine, started that. It's actually the Wacaday-Wave from TV-am, but it's like I'm imitating Timmy Mallet, so that's not something I'd like to admit to.

Ru: Too late! Please finish this sentence. Secretly, I quite like...

AW: You.

Ru: Really?

AW:
Yes, and your boyfriend Jamie. But I bat for the other team... How about something more daring? [pauses]... OK, how about this... I like wearing Cally's mother's thongs. On Wednesdays.

Ru: We're so going to sell this to Mixmag.

AW: Want photos?

Ru: Yes Please.

AW: Another time!

Ru: Oh. OK... What would you say is a British icon?

AW: Erm... mmm. A cup of Tetley Tea, or fish and chips.

AW:
Tell me something about yourself that, despite trawling your website and various interviews, no-one would necessarily know about you?

AW: Me and Jackie Gage's underwear on Wednesday.

Ru: [nervously laughs].

AW:
OK... ummm... I'm left handed... what else?

I play video games to relax. The two tattoos I have mean 'Music Is Life' (as it is) and 'Live My Dreams' (as I am). The rubber bands I wear round my wrists are specially made with 'Saviour' engraved on them; some clubbers had them made for me in lots of different colours. Someone named their baby after me last year... but that's old news now. She made sweet love by the fireplace I imagine, just after seeing me play at WiLDCHiLD, so she called her baby Whitby.

Ru: My hamster is called Whitby.

AW: That's not as impressive as calling your baby Whitby.

Ru: Jamie can't have babies.

AW: Why?

Ru: We're both blokes.

AW: Oh, I get ya (laughs)

Ru: Would you ever do a nude photo-shoot for a female magazine or a gay magazine?

AW:
Yes to both. There would have to be a strategically placed hat or a Frantic logo, probably not full nude. Will [Patterson] would love that. My press guy would have a field day.

Ru: Finally, could you answer some quick questions for me? Say the first thing that comes in to your head:

Ru: Boxers or Briefs?

AW: Boxers

Ru: EastEnders or Coronation Street?

AW: EastEnders

Ru: Hard or Fast?

AW: [Laughs] Hard [Cally looks up]

Ru: Deep Pan or Thin and Crispy?

AW:
My favourite food! I love it! Deep Pan, Dominos. 13 and a half inch. I love 13 and a half inches of meat! Now there is a headline for you!

Ru: Tease. I've never felt quite so inadequate. Pussycat Dolls or Abba?

AW: Pussycat Dolls without a doubt.

Ru: Fish finger or saveloy

AW: Fish Finger

Ru: Next or Burtons?

AW: Don't go to either, but say Next because a mate works there.

Ru: Salford Quays or Manchester Piccadilly?

AW: It has to be Manchester Piccadilly.

Ru: Phone call or text message?

AW: Phone call but text is easier when things are hectic, so I'll say text message

Ru: easyJet or British Airways?

AW: British Airways, they look after me when I'm on my travels, and easyJet pack you in a bit.

Ru: Romantic Comedy or Horror Film?

AW: Comedy. I love a comedy. Cally always wants something deep and meaningful but I don't get down like that.

Ru: Pete Burns or James Blunt.

AW: I HATE Pete Burns, I wanna throw things at him. When I saw him on Big Brother I thought "He's a cock".

Ru: Please complete the following sentence: I, Andy Whitby...

AW: You, interviewer! [Laughs]

Ru: Finally, please tell us a joke...

AW:
Q. What do a walrus and Tupperware have in common?

A. They both like a tight seal.