The Mix
Talk us through the track selection of the mix, and how you recorded it.
"It's a live recording of our recent label night at Hamburg's ‘Übel & Gefährlich' club. As I played at the beginning of the night, it starts out quite deep and then later progresses into more upbeat tunes."
What are the musical influences that have allowed you to arrive at this mix?
"The mix shows my love for stripped back Deep House music. It's really important to me that a track is reduced to its essence and not cluttered with any elements that are unnecessary. Inspiration-wise, you'll mainly find hints from the 80's & 90's, combined with current production techniques."
The Plug
What is keeping you busy personally at the moment?
"I am always juggling my time between the label, my DJ career and my music productions. People often think a DJ's life consists of just traveling around the world and rocking the dance floors, but there is so much more work to be done in the background, especially if you run a busy record label. It is not always so easy to understand where best to set ones priorities. Right now I am focusing on writing new music and I am also working on some collaboration projects."
And with the label? What releases are on the horizon?
"Plenty! A sure hit is the single track EP of Steve Bone & Marlon Hoffstadt ‘Girl', out on the 8th of May. Then we have another exciting EP by Climbers with a remix by UK's rising stars Jaymo & Andy George. The next EP is by my good friends Mat & Joe from Berlin and includes a great remix by Forrest."
Who would you say we should keep an eye on within the OFF Records family? Someone new, someone fresh.
"It is hard to tell as we have so many amazing artists. But if you're asking for someone new and fresh, I would definitely say to check out Marlon Hoffstadt. He is really young but exceptionally talented."
You have a weekend off. What do you do? Where do you go?
"Easy: I would take my new motorbike out on a trip! It's a Suzuki Bandit 1250 and it's black and beautiful. I only bought it a few days ago and I am really in love with it :)"
Finally, you're playing Sankeys and Departure on Saturday 25th May with your label, how does it feel to be bringing OFF Recordings to the island?
"It feels great! I have been to the island many times, both on holiday and for gigs. I really love Ibiza and I have been dreaming for years about starting a label night out there. I feel Sankeys is exactly the right place for OFF Recordings and I will do my best to rock the place and make sure that we can do more than just one party. I I am actually considering moving to Ibiza for a month in the summer."
Biography
Andre Crom had an amazing start into 2013: a #1 Beatport Deephouse Charts hit (Teenage Mutants & Andre Crom 'Hanging On'). Besides that, both his label and himself entered the most charted labels/artists of 2012 list of Resident Advisor with # 8 for OFF Recordings and # 40 for Andre Crom.
The future does not look bad either: solo shows and label showcases all over the world are confirmed for the first half of 2013, including key events such as Sonar, A.D.E. and several ibiza gigs. What's the reason for this popularity? Quite simple, Andre Crom and OFF Recordings release music to give people on the dancefloor a good time. The sound selection is moving fluidly from deep underground pop tunes over big primetime records, from jacking house to reduced groovetools diversity and fresh trends are welcome and keep things interesting.
The OFF sound, as well as Andre's own productions, take influences from all kinds of musical genres such as disco, 80s pop, jazz, funk, soul, blues, and hip hop with house, produced in a modern yet raw, cuttingedge style.
However, it's Andre Crom's sets, playing a mix of his own productions, unreleased OFF signings and carefully selected new tracks, grooving behind the decks just as much as the crowd on the floor – that are the best proof for his deep and profound love for house music and a good party.
