Lush, moving atmospheres, echoing dub-scapes, and deep, intimate grooves are essential for Los Angeles-based Anderson M, whose keen ear and timeless taste in stripped-down house and techno have earned him numerous coveted gigs in the region. Following a two-year residency as co-founder of Like.Minded Sundays at the stylish Kitsch Bar in Costa Mesa, Anderson has since been crafting a string of polished original releases, drawing from over a decade’s production experience to conceive carefully-produced house gems that fit effortlessly in his signature DJ sets.
Today, we sit down with Anderson M to learn more about the release of his ‘Dimensions’ EP on Music Is 4 Lovers, his background, inspirations, expectations, and views on music.
Electronic Groove: Hi Anderson! Welcome! It’s a pleasure to have you down with us. How have you been doing?
Anderson M: Hello, thanks for having me. I’m doing good now. This year’s been a little rocky but overall grateful for the positives.
Electronic Groove: Let’s get to know you better…When did you first discover music was your thing? Did you have a musical upbringing?
Anderson M: I grew up playing different instruments including the piano, violin, and guitar. I want to say it started around 10 or 11 years old.
Electronic Groove: Do you have a favorite record or cut that pushed you into DJing and producing?
Anderson M: I can’t think of just a single record that pushed me as I was influenced by so many different genres of electronic music. Although, I do remember Daft Punk’s ‘Alive 2007’ album had a huge impact on me.
Electronic Groove: Speaking about productions…You’ve had quite a busy year, including your latest EP on Music Is 4 Lovers, which hit stores just a month ago. What’s the story behind this one?
Anderson M: I’ve had my eye on this label ever since its inception a few years ago. It’s locally based and has included a lot of great artists and releases, so it made sense to send them demos. Back in May of this year, I saw them post about releasing a ‘California Compilation’ and they were looking for artists in the area to send them music. The compilation was divided into two parts and my single was included in the second release. I had some finished tracks on my computer without homes and it made perfect sense to send them to Music Is 4 Lovers to complete the follow-up EP to the compilation.
“I prefer to work in happiness, but for some strange reason, I tend to knock out the best music when I’m under pressure. I don’t think it’s healthy but that’s what it is.”
Electronic Groove: What kind of things inspire you? Do you work best in happiness, or in sadness?
Anderson M: I’m usually inspired by great art and music. Whether it be films or tracks, if something resonates with me, it’s usually a good boost of inspiration. Every time I come across any inspiring photos on my Instagram feed, I save them to a folder to reference later when I’m in the studio. Travel and good music events also inspire me. I prefer to work in happiness, but for some strange reason, I tend to knock out the best music when I’m under pressure. I don’t think it’s healthy but that’s what it is.
Electronic Groove: How would you describe your music to someone who’s never listened to Anderson M before? And if you had to do it using only colors, what palette would you be?
Anderson M: That’s a great question! I always aim to make tracks groovy and they usually have a melodic component to them. It might be because I grew up playing different instruments with melodies. My music is definitely not aggressive so I guess I would assign a marine color palette to signify deeper vibes.
Electronic Groove: What’s your studio set up looking like at the moment? Are you more of a hardware or software kind of person?
Anderson M: I was a software person for a long time—mostly out of laziness and comfort to be honest. Going back to what inspires me, the last time I traveled to Miami, I made music with some friends there who own a full studio with a lot of hardware. I fell in love with all of it and even felt like I’d used it before! It might have triggered the part of my brain that remembers playing instruments as a kid. This familiarity felt so right to me and it inspired me to invest in more gear. These days I only use a Microkorg, but I do want to acquire more hardware down the road. My current space is also very limited, so I don’t think I’ll be stocking up until I move into a bigger place. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way of producing music but it’s definitely important to work in ways that are fun and interesting to you.
Electronic Groove: Are there any artists that you have recently discovered that you’d recommend? Any friends everyone should keep an eye out for?
Anderson M: I can’t think of anyone I’ve recently discovered, but I’ve been really digging Somersault and Markus Homm the past few years. They both embody two different spectrums of house which I produce and play.
And, yes! Please keep an eye out for Drew Dapps, Womack, Laura Peck, and Barbara Alvarez to name a few. They all work very hard, make incredible music and inspire me to do the same.
“I’m happy to announce that I’ll be making my Mexico debut next weekend in Playa Del Carmen. I also have a collaborative EP with Bloh from Argentina which comes out on HardCutz Records in early December”
Electronic Groove: What else is there for Anderson M? What new milestones are you looking forward to in the coming months?
Anderson M: Last month I took a little break from producing to recharge my mental batteries and focus on other aspects of my music career and personal life. It was much needed and now I’m ready to push out tracks again! I’m happy to announce that I’ll be making my Mexico debut next weekend in Playa Del Carmen. I also have a collaborative EP with Bloh from Argentina which comes out on HardCutz Records in early December. I’m very excited about these things and can’t wait to release more music soon!
Electronic Groove: Thank you for your time Anderson! We wish you all the best for the future!
Anderson M: Thank you as well! I love EG and wish you and your team the best!
Anderson M’s ‘Dimensions’ EP is out now via Music Is 4 Lovers. Purchase your copy here.
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