| Andy C | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Andrew John Clarke |
| Also known as | The Executioner, The People's Champion, Double Vision |
| Origin | Unknown |
| Genres | Drum and bass |
| Occupations | Turntablism, Record producer |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Ram Records (UK) |
| Associated acts | Concept 2 Desired State Origin Unknown Ram Trilogy Telepathy Crew Tyranny |
Andy C (alias "The Executioner'), 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. Andy C attended Emerson Park School in Hornchurch.
He is considered a pioneering force in the drum and bass genre.[1] He specializes in fast mixing, often employing three turntables.
Andy C ranked #61 in DJ Magazine's 2010 Top 100 DJs annual poll announced October 27, 2010.[2]
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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 20, 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.[3]
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.
On Dec 1st 2011 Andy C won the Best DJ title in the 2011 Drum and Bass Arena Awards [4].
| Year | Release | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Sour Mash (extended play) | RAM Records |
| 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 |
| 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) | 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 |