Croatian producer Andrea Ljekaj follows releases on Get Physical and Save us with a killer remix on Constant Circles. We invited him for a chat & a guest mix on the radio show.
How did you get into electronic music?
I was introduced into the world of electronic music by the culture and festivals that have taken place in my area ten years ago (Pula, Croatia). My dad also had an influence on me because he was a DJ and an audiophile. So still in my early childhood the home was always shaking, and I was always digging in to my father’s collection, wanting to hear something new, something more. Ten years ago I started DJing in one small club-bar called Seasplash with the help of a couple of friends, and not so much later I started also playing in some clubs and festivals. From the very beginning I knew that I want to do this for a long time, and just few years later after moving from Pula to Berlin I defined myself as an artist and finally went to the desired path.
You are from Croatia but you have also lived in Berlin. How has your career been influenced by living there?
Berlin is certainly a place full of opportunities and for anyone who knows where they want to go with their career, Berlin will help them open some doors for sure. After my life there, everything went uphill because Berlin as a city inspired me and made me even more determined to live in my kind of reality. I have met some nice people there which are now my really good friends, so I’m going there often to see them and also to play at some clubs. It really feels like it’s my second home.
What is the most important thing for people to see or do when visiting Croatia?
Sea, nature, food and festivals!
How would you describe your sound? Do you think you usually fall into a certain genre?
Th best word would probably be multicolour, but also energetic and deep. I found myself producing many kinds of electronic music – from downtempo and dubstep to house and techno.
You are making your debut on CC with a remix of Mattia Pompeo & Haptic’s ‘Dismantle’ – how did you approach the remix and what direction did you take it?
Like always, when I’m remixing I never know what it will come out at the end. This time the flow took me more into a deep techno vibe and I really enjoyed remixing this one.
You have a close relationship with the label Get Physical, how did that relationship come about and are you releasing more music with them?
That relationship started about three years ago when my best friend and manager gave to M.A.N.D.Y. a few of my tracks as demos for Get Physical. The guys really liked some of those tracks and started playing them on tour and also one of the tracks finished in their Boiler Room Berlin set at Watergate. After that, tracks have been released on Renato Ratier’s compilation for Get Physical and I guess that’s how all started. Yes, there is more stuff coming up on Get Physical from myself. It’s our new project – my own compilation where will be a few of my exclusive tracks near new music from some fantastic artists and also I will be doing one remix that will be out on Get Physical as well.
What is your dream label to release on, and your dream venue to play at?
Ninja Tune and Fabric.
What do you have coming up in terms of releases and gigs?
In the year 2018 I have coming up a new EP on Brian Cid’s label Endangered, my own compilation on Get Physical where will be some of my exclusive tracks, and also one remix coming out on Get Physical as well, few more remixes on other solid labels and also a collaboration project with Jonas Saalbach. Gigs in Germany, Czech Republic, Croatia and mostly Europe.
How did you put together your guest mix for the radio show & what have you included – any exclusives or surprises?
I just recorded a DJ set at my studio. Inside you can find my Dismantle remix, one track from my forthcoming EP on Endangered, plus there is also one exclusive from my compilation that is coming out on Get Physical next year.
Check out Andrea’s guest mix on the radio show:
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