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ANDREA OLIVA: from teaching himself the art of DJing in the early days to international success, IBIZA, Ushuaïa, ANTS and the WORLD
We just spoke to Andrea to learn more and to help spread even further about his music, label and story!
The road to the current success Andrea Oliva experiences today is not fruit of luck. The journey began long time ago when, at the age of 12 old, when he started teaching himself the art of DJing.
Soon after, he started working in a record store, which helped him to build his extensive collection of promos and white labels from Europe and beyond.
That move, underrated for many, ended up helping him achieve bookings at some of Switzerland’s best clubs and later residencies at Terminus and Pravda.
With his status in his home country growing, Andrea teamed up with the owner of Nordstern in Basel, Agi Isaku, and the duo were soon throwing sold out ‘Banditz’ parties across Switzerland.
His reputation took him across the continent and all the way to Ibiza, where in 2004 he was first invited to DJ at Space.
In 2013 he landed regular headline slots at ANTS in Ibiza - Ushuaia’s premiere underground party - still running today.
Indeed the ANTS brand has itself gone on to tour the world, and Andrea’s sets, which are synonymous with the ethos of the party, have rocked stages from Miami to Dubai, from Mexico to Argentina and from Croatia to the UK.
By 2016, Andrea had cemented himself at the heart of Ibiza culture; becoming one of seven all-night guests to regularly take over the Space Terrace for Elrow, made his Music On debut at Amnesia, all whilst maintaining his ANTS headliner commitments.
His skill for crafting stand out sets attracted Pete Tong’s attention, who helped Andrea to make his Essential Mix debut with a set recorded live from Ushuaia.
After an incendiary back-to-back between the two DJs at the All Gone Pete Tong Miami Music Week pool party earlier that year, Andrea was also a natural choice to mix the All Gone Pete Tong Ibiza 2016 compilation alongside the influential broadcaster.
Meanwhile, his underground credentials were further bolstered with a debut EP on Desolat, ‘Get Down’. Displaying a skill for creating tougher-edged tech to full effect, tracks from the EP were regularly heard being played out by DJs far and wide, with label boss Loco Dice hammering ‘Elephant’ in particular.
This was followed by a killer release on Hot Since 82’s “Knee Deep” imprint entitled “Scream”, a track that became a summer anthem and was credited as one of Pete Tong’s Essential new tunes as well as one of his top 10 tunes of the year.
Shortly after Andrea unleashed ‘Vermona’ on Cuttin Headz, another Ibiza anthem with label heads, the Martinez Brothers, keeping it on constant rotation at DC-10 and virtually every DJ on the circuit hammering it far and wide.
Needless to say, Andrea’s dedication to the underground scene has garnered him widespread support and his music is appreciated by a range of dance music luminaries.
His incredible sustained work ethic and love of the ever evolving scene means there’s no sign of this trajectory slowing down any time soon.
We spoke to him to learn more and help spread even further about his music, label and story. Read on!
Hi Andrea, great speaking to you and thanks for your time! Could you please tell a bit of your story to the Brazilian audiences that may not know you yet. How was your start?
I was 12 years old when I discovered electronic music and the art of DJ’ing, ever since I am obsessed with the sounds, the culture & industry around our kind of music.
I started DJ’ing at a very young age back in my hometown in Switzerland, later during the years I’ve worked in record distribution, record stores, and promoted my own events in Switzerland.
Through my music, I’ve slowly gained international attention and here we are today 26 years later travelling the world and having fun working on different projects all around our beloved music.
We learned you taught himself to DJ at the age of 12. How did you manage your first DJ equipment, what type of setup did you have and what artists inspired you at the time?
Yes indeed, I was captured by the sound at a very young age.
My friend’s dad had a company where we could go and do some small works in order to earn some money, with that money I bought myself some very bad belt-driven turntables and so I began teaching myself how to mix one record into the other.
Living in Switzerland was a true blessing cause we had a big rave scene at this time and being close to Germany I was following artists like Sven Väth, Jam&Spoon or Cosmic Baby which were my biggest inspiration at this time.
I was 12 years old when I discovered electronic music and the art of DJing, ever since I am obsessed with the sounds, the culture & industry around our kind of music
In 2004 got first invited to DJ at Space Ibiza and would later headline ANTS Ushuaia for many years. How did you manage to reach such achievements? How important was playing at an iconic venue like Space to the development of your career?
I’ve played an “In Bed Sith Space“ party back in Switzerland, the promoter liked my DJ set so much, that he invited me to play their weekly party at space Ibiza and so my love story with Ibiza began.
I’ve played regularly during the years in Ibiza until the time was right to build something very own and so together with my manager and its team we came up with the ANTS party at Ushuaia.
Ibiza is still super important for my career, especially since Ushuaia gives me such a big playground and exposure to the world of electronic music.
Every gig in Ibiza gives me so much inspiration and drive to develop more ideas into projects we can take on tour.
You have released music on labels like Hot Creations, Desolat, Truesoul, Play It Say It, Saved and Relief Records. Where (which label) you first label you released your music on? Can you share the evolution of your releases?
My very first release was on a label called Joia Records. Later in the years I’ve had 3 very significant labels who supported my music from the early days of producing music, Nic Fanciulli with Saved Records, Shlomi Aber with his label Be As One imprint and Luciano with his iconic Cadenza label.
After a few releases on their labels I’ve gained attention from other labels and so I’ve had the chance to release my music on pretty much all of my favourite labels you mentioned.
My very first release was on a label called Joia Records. I’ve had 3 very significant labels who supported my music from the early days of producing, Nic Fanciulli' Saved Records, Shlomi Aber' Be As One and Luciano's Cadenza label
Now we’d like to learn more about All I Need, the label that celebrates its first year of life but already is making impact in the Dance Music scene. When did you first feel like launching your own label and what was the main goal of this new project? What type of music best fit the label? How can artists send music?
I’ve always wanted to close the circle in my career and having my own music label but also build a brand around the music with different sectors such as events and a own fashion line lined to the rest, which goes hand In hand with our idea of how we wanna have an impact in the world with a 360 brand, covering all our passions together.
Some will ask: what’s the link between fashion and music and it’s exactly those challenges of collaborations which makes our work creative and interesting. The form of communication through music and fashion for example is the same in my eyes; it can be a strong statement. Connecting those 2 worlds for example and sending a certain message out into the world is exactly what were aiming for.
Looking at your summer tour’ schedule, which includes some of the world’s greatest venues and events such as Ushuaïa Ibiza and Kappa Futur Festival, we start to wonder if there is any place you haven’t played yet. Any venue or event you wish to play soon for the first time?
The best example is Brazil, I love Brazil but never played in Brazil and hopefully our projects open the doors into this market. That’s why you have concepts like all I need which have potential to open certain territories I’ve played pretty much everywhere in the world but there are still so many new places to discover.
I love Brazil but never played in Brazil and hopefully our projects open the doors into this market
How is the ANTS, Ushuaïa Ibiza residency going this year?
ANTS had an incredible impact in Ibiza this year, we had almost every show sold out and we had also many new names added to our line ups such as your very own Brazilian Vintage Culture, Boris Brejcha, ARTBAT but still having our all time favourites since day one with us, such as Kölsch, Maya Jane Coles or Nic Fanciulli to name a few.
Speaking about the All I Need label, can you share anything about the next releases that fans can expect next?
The newest release is by our good friend and amazing artist black circle. A melodic bomb!
Back on your career as DJ & producer, how is the schedule ahead for 2022 on the collabs, remixes and the releases? Any Brazil trip planned ahead?
I am focusing mainly on all I need for the label, just finished remixing that upcoming black circle release and I am working on putting out some more original tracks on the label.
After a very busy summer here in Europe, we’re just working on North and South America tour for later at the end of the year and early next year, so hopefully, we get to make Brazil, finally!
Tell us about your new fashion line for All I Need and what was the inspiration behind launching it?
Talking about the message we wanna transmit we based our first drop on: music, freedom and love, thats ultimately. All I Need and all we need in this world!
Last: we always ask for advice for the new talents hustling to get careers off the ground. Any knowledge you can share with them?
The most important thing for me is the music part. Make your own music, build your own fanbase but also take time for your fans, and followers and make them be part of your journey.
Make your own music, build your own fanbase but also take time for your fans!
Watch Andrea Oliva playing Live at the Zurich Street Parade 2022 below!
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Photos: Divulgação Andrea Oliva
