Andy Stott is a British electronic musician and producer, living in

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

Biography

His debut album was ''Merciless'' in 2006, and was followed by ''Unknown Exception'' (2008) and ''Luxury Problems'' in 2012. ''Passed Me By'' (2011) marked a significant change in Stott's sound; it has none of the elements of his previous

dub techno Dub techno is a subgenre of techno that combines the style with elements of dub music, including its sparse, delay-heavy production and prominent bass. Characteristics and history In the early 1990s, producers Moritz Von Oswald and Mark Ernestus ...

release, opting for a much more bass-heavy sound. Stott has undertaken several productions under the moniker Andrea and these works were released on Daphne, a sublabel of Modern Love. Most of this work is in association with MLZ / Pendle Coven's Miles Whittaker who used the moniker Millie in the recordings and were released as Millie & Andrea. In 2012, Stott collaborated with the Brooklyn duo

The Hundred in the Hands The Hundred in the Hands (sometimes abbreviated as THITH) is an American electronic music duo from Brooklyn, New York City, formed in 2008. The band consists of Eleanore Everdell (vocals, keyboards) and Jason Friedman (guitar, programming). The ba ...

remixing ''Keep It Low'' from their 2012 album, ''Red Night''. Stott's album '' Luxury Problems'' received top album awards on both

Resident Advisor ''Resident Advisor'' (also known as ''RA'') is an online music magazine and community platform dedicated to showcasing electronic music, artists and events across the globe. It was established in 2001. ''RA''s editorial team provides news, musi ...

and ''

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'' in 2012. In March 2014, Stott and label-mate Whittaker released ''Drop the Vowels'', under the Millie & Andrea moniker.

Artistry

Stott analogised making his music as a scientist who creates compounds by figuring out formulas that use studio gadgets and parts of other music.Sokol, Zach (28 April 2016)
"Andy Stott Decodes the Mad Science Behind His Latest Sonic Experiments "
'' Thump''.

Vice Media Vice Media Group LLC is an American-Canadian digital media and broadcasting company. , the Vice Media Group included five main business areas: VICE.com (digital content); VICE STUDIOS (film and TV production) VICE TV (also known as VICELAND); V ...

. Retrieved 29 August 2017. He never borrows inspiration from his personal experiences when he produces material. As Zach Sokol explained when he interviewed Stott in 2016, "his music draws from where he's at creatively, functioning as a reflection of whatever curiosity is currently making the gears in his head churn." When creating albums, he also tries to make each track have a very different aesthetic by using a variety of equipment and musical influences. As he explained, "I go to the studio and I don't mess around, but at the same time, I don't really know what's going to come out." Modern Love boss Shlom Sviri also contributes suggestions and ideas to Stott when he creates tracks and sequences the order of songs on his LPs. All of Stott's work touches on many types of experimental styles and genre. ''

Tiny Mix Tapes ''Tiny Mix Tapes'' (also ''TMT'' or ''tinymixtapes'') is an online music and film webzine that focuses primarily on new music and related news. In addition to its reviews, it is noted for its subversive, political, and sometimes surreal news, a ...

'' writer Birkut analysed Stott's works employ neo-futuristic themes and are hard to label in specific genres because they are "shifting disfiguration of

Detroit techno Detroit techno is a type of techno music that generally includes the first techno productions by Detroit-based artists during the 1980s and early 1990s. Prominent Detroit techno artists include Juan Atkins, Eddie Fowlkes, Derrick May, Jeff Mil ...

grime Grime may refer to: * Dirt, in the form of black, ingrained dust * Grime (music genre), a genre of music * ''Grime'' (album), a 2001 album by Iniquity * ''Grime'' (video game), a 2021 Metroidvania video game * "Grime", a 2022 song by Dallas Woo ...

house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

, and

industrial music Industrial music is a genre of music that draws on harsh, mechanical, transgressive or provocative sounds and themes. AllMusic defines industrial music as the "most abrasive and aggressive fusion of rock and electronic music" that was "initiall ...

." Stott's music contains a melodic structure that has been compared by multiple critics to

Cocteau Twins Cocteau Twins was a Scottish rock band active from 1979 to 1997. They were formed in Grangemouth by Robin Guthrie (guitars, drum machine) and Will Heggie (bass), adding Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) in 1981 and replacing Heggie with multi-instrum ...

and

Dead Can Dance Dead Can Dance are an Australian music duo first established in Melbourne. Currently composed of Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry, the group formed in 1981. They relocated to London the following year. Australian music historian Ian McFarlane des ...

. A trademark element in his works is the use of rhythms that are slightly off beat, which often gives the tracks a feeling of anxiety.Tantum, Bruce (21 April 2016)
"Andy Stott ''Too Many Voices''"
''

XLR8R ''XLR8R'' (pronounced "accelerator") is a website that covers music, culture, style, and technology. It was originally also a print magazine. History and profile ''XLR8R'' was founded as a newsprint zine in 1993 by publisher Andrew Smith in Sea ...

''. Retrieved 29 August 2017. Since ''Luxury Problems'', vocals from Stott's former piano teacher Alison Skidmore appear on his music, and numerous pieces about Stott's second, third and fourth studio albums highlighted, as well as praised, the interplay between the menacing instrumentals and the light tones of Skidmore's singing.Jones, Daniel (16 November 2012)
"Angelic Engines: Daniel Jones recommends Andy Stott’s Luxury Problems"
''

Electronic Beats Telekom Electronic Beats (TEB) is an international music marketing program of Deutsche Telekom AG focusing on electronic music and international club culture. The program was founded in 2000. It comprises a media portfolio and has been organizing ev ...

''. Retrieved 4 September 2017. The vocals have a bright pop tinge and an ethereal tone that contradict the otherwise sinister vibe of the instrumentals. As Stott discussed creating ''Luxury Problems'', "when it was suggested that I use a vocalist, I was worried that it would sound different to the normal way that I write tunes, but when I heard that bass coming from the speakers, that visceral bass, I knew that I still wanted that undertone as a counterpoint to her vocals."Brophy, Richard (14 November 2012)
"Solving life’s luxury problems: An interview with Andy Stott"
. ''Juno Plus''.

Juno Download Juno Records is a UK-based online dance music retail store, selling vinyl records, CDs, music downloads and music accessories, founded by Richard Atherton and Sharon Boyd. The website was created in 1996 as an information-only site called ''The D ...

. Retrieved 4 September 2017. An ''

'' review of ''Luxury Problems'' described its sounds as presenting "the beautifully decayed aura of concrete and chrome, halogen and grime—the soul of a heaving, monstrous city at twilight, equal (yet often struggling) parts fragile light and enclosing darkness." Writing a ''

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...

'' article about ''Too Many Voices'', Alex Franquelli wrote that "patches of comfort" are included for the "sole purpose of creating an imbalance that makes the darker elements stand out and shine in all their misty glare."Franquelli, Andy (27 July 2016)
"Andy Stott: Too Many Voices"
''

''. Retrieved 29 August 2017. Reed Scott Reid's review of ''Luxury Problems'' for ''

'' analyse it "represents an apogee of scruffy elegance, curdled rhythms growling within the crumbling masonry of its bitworn shunt." He wrote the vocals "dimly illuminate a pervasive auroral gloom, shafts of ecru and dun mottled with putrescent tinctures; a mournful, angelic presence – a long-deceased sacristan, perhaps – bleeding through the aether as faint drumsteps crack gravel."Scott Reid, Reed
"Andy Stott – Luxury Problems"
''

''. Retrieved 4 September 2017.

Personal life

Stott is married, and has a son who was born in August 2012.

Discography

Albums

Singles and EPs

As Andy Stott: *2005: ''Replace'' (EP) *2005: "Ceramics" *2005: ''Demon in the Attic'' (EP) *2006: "Choke" / "For the Love" *2006: "Merciless" *2006: ''The Nervous'' (EP) *2007: "Handle with Care" / "See in Me" *2007: ''The Massacre'' (EP) *2007: ''Fear of Heights'' (EP) *2007: "Hostile" *2008: ''Bad Landing'' (EP) *2009: "Brief Encounter" / "Dripping" *2010: "Tell Me Anything" / "Love Nothing" *2011: ''We Stay Together'' (EP) *2011: ''Passed Me By'' (EP) *2013: ''Anytime Soon'' ;As Millie & Andrea *2008: "Black Hammer" / "Gunshot (Stripped)" *2009: "Spectral Source" / "Ever Since You Came Down" *2009: "Temper Tantrum" / "Vigilance" *2014: '' Drop the Vowels'' (Album) ;As Andrea *2010: "You Still Got Me" / "Got to Forget" *2010: "Retail Juke" / "Write Off"

Remixes

*2011: "Know Where (Andy Stott Remix)" on

Holy Other Holy Other is an English electronic musician and producer originally from Stockport, Greater Manchester. He is best known for his debut album ''Held''. Music career Holy Other made his debut in 2010 with the release of a 7" single, ''We Over'', ...

's EP ''With U'' *2011: "Great (Andy Stott Remix)" on Hatti Vatti EP ''Great'' *2012: "Keep It Low (Andy Stott Remix)" on

EP ''Keep It Low'' *2012: "Pleasure (Andy Stott Remix)" on Blondes' album '' Blondes'' *2013: "Valentine (Andy Stott Remix)" on False Idols' One sided-12" *2013: "Concrete (Andy Stott Remix)" (remix of Batillus song) *2015: "Boys Latin (Andy Stott Remix)" (remix of

Panda Bear The giant panda (''Ailuropoda melanoleuca''), also known as the panda bear (or simply the panda), is a bear species endemic to China. It is characterised by its bold black-and-white coat and rotund body. The name "giant panda" is sometimes ...

's song "Boys Latin" off of his 2015 release "

Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper ''Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper'' is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Panda Bear (aka Noah Lennox). Coproduced by Sonic Boom of Spacemen 3, it was released on January 9, 2015, by the Domino Recording Company. ''Panda Bear Mee ...

") *2015: "MG – Europa Hymn (Andy Stott Remix) " (remix of

Martin Gore Martin Lee Gore (born 23 July 1961) is an English songwriter, musician, singer, record producer and DJ. He is one of the founding members of the electronic rock band Depeche Mode and is the band's main songwriter. He is the band's guitarist an ...

's song)

References

External links

Andy Stott page on Modern Love website
*
Andrea at DiscogsMillie & Andrea at DiscogsAndy Stott on Last.fm
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stott, Andy English electronic musicians Living people Musicians from Manchester Ableton Live users Year of birth missing (living people)