Louder Than The Music

The internationally acclaimed British Christian DJ Andy Hunter is back with his new EP 'Glow' this month. With his songs turning up in movies and video games, we caught up with this much in demand man to find out about the inspiration behind his music.

Tell us a little bit about your new EP 'Glow' and what the inspiration behind it was?

Well Glow was a challenge that I set myself back at the start of the year to see if I could get an EP recorded and out by the end of May... I missed my goal, but only by 2 months which isn't bad for me. Also I recorded weekly video blogs for people to see my progress.

All the tracks have different inspiration behind them, so in a nut shell:

Rise Up - A call to everyone within the church to get up, stand up and get active in the things that God has called them too.
One Motion - As I travel around the world I get to experience many different expressions of church and this track is about coming together and moving as one rather than pulling against each other.
Spiral (ft Beth Bullock) - This is inspired by spirals, how a spiral is always ongoing, always taking new ground, always evolving. Beth puts herself in this place by liking it to the way we learn through life's mistakes and how we are going to get up and carry on.

Which is your favourite track on the EP and why?

That's a tough question. I would say that Glow is one of my favourites because of what inspired it. Back in February I had the chance to go to Kolkata with the charity Compassion UK to see up close the work that they do and also have the privilege of meeting the boy that my wife and I sponsor. Needless to say the trip was very challenging and life changing.

I was reading Isaiah 58 as well at the time where it talks about how we should serve the poor and if we do that God will make us Glow. So I wrote the track with Monique Thomas who is the featured vocalist and also who I met on the Compassion trip. In the breakdown of the track you can hear a recording of my sponsored child and his school mates as they performed a song.

If you could collaborate on a track with anyone, who would it be and why?

I guess it would be a producer and DJ, BT from the US. I love his production, he has certainly inspired and pioneered a lot of the sounds that we hear in EDM.

What has been your career highlight so far?

A few memories spring to mind, headlining main stage at Flevo Holland, Parachute in New Zealand, Touring America with Tiesto, Playing a Microsoft party on a boat in Cannes, playing alongside Grandmaster Flash. Playing shows in Latin America, they have just been amazing. My music in big films, I guess the Matrix is the one that everyone talks about.

How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?

I would just class my music as EDM, as I dabble in a lot of different genres and that covers it all. My influences are very eclectic from singer song writers, bands and DJs. At the moment I love Labrinth, Sigor Ros and Ben Howard.

How would you define success in your career as a musician?

When you hear from people who love your music and what it means to them. How it helped them through tough times or just that they want to drive fast to it! It really does vary. Also I guess making a living from something that I love.