Andy C

Andrew Clarke, known by his stage name Andy C, is an English DJ and producer and co-founder of RAM Records. He is considered a pioneering force in the drum and bass genre. In 2011 Andy C won the Best DJ title in the 2011 Drum and Bass Arena Awards, and since the awards' inception in 2009, he has won the people's vote in the awards for Best DJ each year. He specialises in fast mixing, often employing three turntables. A signature mixing style of Andy is what he refers to as "The Double Drop": lining up 2 tunes so that both basslines drop at the same time. Andy C has often organised events where he DJs continuously for 6 hours. In January 2011 Mixmag UK announced the result of 14 month global poll from 35 nominations chosen by other big names in dance music: the survey asked global voters to decide Who is the Greatest DJ of All Time Andy C was ranked number 4 on it and the highest British DJ on the list.

Music career

Early years

Andy C was a DJ in his own right but gained a strong reputation and more bookings off the back of the hugely successful "Valley of The Shadows" track, an early drum and bass track that walked the line perfectly between hardcore and drum and bass just as the genres were starting to split. The track, created and released by Origin Unknown (made up of Andy C and Ant Miles)—often referred to as "31 Seconds" or "Long Dark Tunnel" because of the samples it incorporates—made use of a heavy bassline, bell samples and a rolling drum track to produce a popular, easy to recognise track that was easy to mix and became a favourite in dance floors at raves across the UK and beyond. The track was released as an EP in 1993 and has been remixed and re-released several times, and is widely recognised as one of the most influential drum and bass tunes of the early 90s. His signature look (Andy C is rarely seen without a baseball cap) and energetic movement behind the decks when playing make him a recognisable figure.